13 hours ago
Creedence Clearwater Revival Approaches Diamond Status With Its Two Biggest Hits
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" are now certified ... More eight-times platinum, with diamond status on the horizon. UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Creedence Clearwater Revival Photo by Michaelgetty
Creedence Clearwater Revival hasn't released new music in decades, but some of the singles the Southern-style rock group left behind remain staples — cuts that Americans continue to consume in huge numbers. The band recently earned several new awards from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), and two of its most iconic tracks are now tied once again as the biggest ever for a band that is inching closer and closer to a coveted milestone.
Both "Fortunate Son" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" are now certified eight-times platinum by the RIAA. That means the tracks have shifted eight million equivalent units in the United States alone, factoring in pure purchases and streaming equivalents — both of which count toward these types of honors today.
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and "Fortunate Son" have been tied as Creedence Clearwater Revival's most-certified hits for at least half a decade. The two earned triple platinum status in December 2020, but hadn't been certified again until now.
In the fewer than five years since then, the tracks have collectively moved an incredible five million additional equivalent units. That's a stunning leap, especially considering the tunes were released more than half a century ago and required decades to collect their first few million copies, but only a relatively short period of time to more than double those totals.
At the rate "Fortunate Son" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" are being purchased and streamed, it's only a matter of time before they achieve diamond certifications. The RIAA hands down that honor to albums and songs that have moved 10 million equivalent units in the U.S. Creedence Clearwater Revival has yet to snag such a win with a tune, but soon, the long-defunct rock outfit will likely become one of the few from generations past to earn a diamond smash single in America.
As those two tracks advanced to eight-times platinum, several other Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes also picked up new certifications. "Looking Out My Back Door" and "Up Around the Bend" both surged from platinum to double platinum. A handful of other popular cuts also became gold wins for the first time.
