John Mellencamp: Five Favorite Songs

Definitely an artist who has gotten better the farther into his career you venture.

 

I simply can't agree with this! I have several of his post Cougar years and, without exception I find them a little boring, they seem to lack his youthful innocence/excitement and just drone on a bit. Don't get me wrong he still has something to say and he still writes good songs, however, I just don't appreciate his later work as much as his early stuff. What's more the mastering of his albums went down hill from Whenever We Wanted onward!

 

Make Me Feel
To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)
Jackie Brown
Rain On The Scarecrow
Ain't Even Done With the Night

 

Pink Houses
Check it Out
Paper and Fire
Cherry Bomb
Small Town

I was a big fan when he added accordion to his music.

 

"I Need A Lover"
"Ain't Even Done With The Night"
"This Time"
"Hand To Hold On To"
"Small Paradise"

 

I cannot agree with any of this, except maybe for the ''youthful innocence/excitement'' part, but i think of it as maturing/growing, as happens in real life, his music reflects that, there's a reason most of us outgrow AC/DC and KISS. As far as the mastering going downhill i personally think both ''Human Wheels'' and ''Mr Happy G0-Lucky'' as well as his latest one are better sounding albums then WWW.

 

R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A.

 

Small Paradise
Ain't even done with the Night
Jackie Brown- Rough Harvest version
Key West Intermezzo
Cherry Bomb

 

Human Wheels
Paper In Fire
Rain On The Scarecrow
Small Town
Lonely Ol' Night

 

I saw Mellencamp last night in Davenport IA. It was a great show. Much better than I expected. I've heard he is reluctant to play a lot of his '80s stuff, but he did most enough last night to satisfy my wife and me. I haven't seen him since his '84 Pink Houses tour. I may look into his newer records now though.

 

Jackie Brown
Taxi Dancer
Ain't Even Done With The Night
Pink Houses
Hard Times For An Honest Man

and a bunch more are equally amazing, but these ones are the soundtrack to my teens and twenties, so they are special to me -- just like music at its best should be!

 

Rumbleseat
Hard Times for an Honest Man
Minutes to Memories
Thundering Hearts
Authority Song

(Yes, I have most of his later albums, but they just don't reach the heights of these gems.)

 

Another tough call, I start out with eight or nine standouts and then make a value judgment.

"Pink Houses"
"Small Town"
"R.O.C.K. In The USA"
"Ain't Even Done With The Night"
"Hurts So Good"

 

I just watched "Plain Spoken" that I had DVR some time ago.

Man, John has some great musicians surrounding him.

 

Check It Out
The Full Catastrophe
Paper In Fire
My Aeroplane
When Jesus Left Birmingham

 

Between a laugh and a tear has always been my favorite song
Backing vocals rickie lee jones

 

1) Pink Houses
2) Check It Out
3) Cherry Bomb
4) Jack And Diane
5) Dance Naked

 

No Mellencamp song has grown on me more over the years than this one, great song title too.

 

I need a lover
Pink houses
Paper In Fire
Thundering hearts
Down and out in paradise

 

Rain on the Scarecrow
Pink Houses
Cherry Bomb
Small Town
Peaceful World

"Peaceful World" especially has some personal significance. We attended the Formula One US Grand Prix at Indianapolis. It was the first major sports even after the WTC. Had never heard the song before, and John Mellancamp performed it live there before the race. Very appropriate and a great memory!

 

Rodeo Clown
Rain on the Scarecrow
Pink Houses
Check It Out
Paper in Fire

 

His one and only CD hidden track, you'd have to go back to the mid 90s for a song of John's that rocks as hard.

 

Looks like a greatest hits prior to 1990.

 

More deep cuts please.

 

Human wheels
Get a leg up
The big jack
Eden is burning
Forgiveness