Speaking of the S/T album, I just learned something new: 1979's John Cougar album was actually titled Miami for the Australian release. And it didn't have "I Need A Lover" on it, but it did have "Take Home Pay"! Whoa, my mind is blown! I thought "Take Home Pay" was an outtake that was unreleased until the 2005 re-issue.
John probably wouldn't have a career if he started today. He took a few albums to find himself and back then the record companies would let acts do that. I've got everything from Nothin' Matters up through his S/T. Kinda lost me after that although I hear his last couple have been really good.
Glad someone started this; although his impact on the UK market was negligible (one minor forgotten Top 40 hit), his run of great albums in the US is enviable. American Fool through to The Lonesome Jubilee all did and continue to do it for me.
I enjoy much of John's work however have none in my CD collection. Would some of you recommend a top 5 list?
I’d love to see Human Wheels and Dance Naked get reissued on vinyl. I liked the Key West single but after that I lost touch with what he was doing
Whenever We Wanted Life, Death, Love and Freedom No Better Than This Human Wheels The Lonesome Jubilee
1. Scarecrow (It's in my top 10 albums of the 80's) 2. Lonesome Jubilee 3. Mr. Happy Go Lucky 4. Whenever We Wanted 5. John Mellencamp
if this is an appreciation thread, why is Cougar being included in his name? he hated it and officially dropped it almost 30 years ago!
You probably know they built I-65 right through downtown Indianapolis and cut through the heart of some well established neighborhoods. I read somewhere Mellencamp wrote this song while driving through Indy and pretty much witnessed that lyric with a pink house and all. It's a shame what they did to those neighborhoods; looks terrible now.
The 5 most popular in one neat little box. Branch out from there. https://www.amazon.com/1982-1989-CD...pID=51apHE7b2FL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
A very good point, and I thought about that - but did it to help with related searches. Quite a few people use one or both last names to this day. Out of curiosity I just checked - we’re only on the second page of this thread, and all three variants of his last name have been used in the posts therein.
that's true... there are many lines or lyrics in "lil pink houses" that can be applied to recent social problems.... "its the simple man behbeh pays the thrills the bill s and the pills that kill" to me that just screams about the opioid problem . "Has an intersate through his front yard and he thinks he's got it so good" don't think there is a town anywhere that cant identify with that one... im pretty sure lil pink houses, in itself is a reference to Hooverville.
American Fool Uh-Huh Scarecrow Lonesome Jubilee Words and Music compilation would cover the rest if it’s down to five. If you stretch it to seven I’d include the self titled “debut” John Cougar (although The Chestnut Street Incident and the Kid Inside albums, are technically the debut, from what I remember), and Nothin’ Matters and What if it Did. Worthy albums as well.
Some of this likely stems from Mellencamp not really finding his sound - Americana or heartland rock- until around the time Born in the U.S.A. made it big. I think both artists do a wonderful job giving voice to American culture and the blue collar worker (even though they're not), and to me that's why they'll always be compared.
My parents are fans (and around his age), so I grew up on John. I’ve been a lifelong fan. His songwriting just gets better and better, and his voice gets worse and worse.