The song was inspired, both musically and for Fogerty's vocal delivery, by 1950s rock 'n' roll songs, particularly those of Little Richard. Musically, it has also been described as nearly identical to The Monkees' 1967 song, "No Time". In October 1972, the company that held the publishing rights to Richard's "Good Golly, Miss Molly" felt that "Travelin' Band" bore enough similarities to warrant a plagiarism lawsuit that was later settled out of court. The lyrics of the song describe what life is like for a musician on the road. The opening line "Seven-thirty-seven coming out of the sky" refers to the Boeing 737, then coming into service on short-to-medium range routes.
Reception
Billboard called it a "blockbuster side" and a "wild blues shouter."[2]Cash Box said that it "features the team’s drive focused on an updating of the 'Long Tall Sally' rock sound."[3]Record World called the single a "two-sided smash."[4]
Cover versions
It has been covered by a few artists, most notably Elton John, who recorded a cover of the song early in his career, and Bruce Springsteen, who has incorporated it into his "Detroit Medley" during live shows on numerous occasions. Jerry Lee Lewis sang the song with Fogerty on the album Last Man Standing.
On 1994, Rata Blanca, an Argentinian band, covered the song and appears in its album Entre el cielo y el infierno[1]. The entire album is in Spanish, except for this cover.
The song appeared in the Brazilian film O Homem Que Copiava in relation to an over-the-hill rock fan who has a preference for Creedence. It plays during the armored car robbery sequence.