Three Best John Cougar Mellencamp Songs
I had the pleasure — and I sincerely mean, pleasure — of meeting Johnny Cougar Mellencamp back in 1983 (or thereabouts) when he was touring behind American Fool. He was just starting to be huge at the time, touring as an opener for Heart. (I got to meet Nancy Wilson, too, which was a darn fine pleasure, as well. Such a nice lady).
JCM was a nice guy in his own right. Still young, with the ruffian-on-video good looks that won him so many lady fans, confident but not cocky, self-effacing but not at all a pushover. A real down to earth kind of guy, just like he seems.
I wasn’t much of a fan of American Fool — maybe a little too much Jack and Diane overload on MTV at the time — but I thought Scarecrow was brilliant.
So, for no particular reason, the best three tunes by John Mellencamp, in order of preference. Rebut if you like.
John Cougar Mellencamp – Minutes To Memories (from Scarecrow)
John Cougar Mellencamp – Jackie Brown (from Big Daddy)
John Cougar Mellencamp – Let It All Hang Out (hidden track on Big Daddy)
between a laugh and a tear
to live
paper in fire…i could go on and on
Fine selections, all of them. But not the ones that I spin the most.
If I had to pick favorites, I would say Paper in Fire, The Real Life, and that rockinest of rockers, Hurts So Good. I guess my picks run straight down the beaten path.
It’s nice to know there’s someone else in this world who think that Minutes to Memories is one of JCM’s best…! Tells such a wonderful story…
I like your other choices too, although I think you’ve got to put Let it All Hang Out in a separate category, since it’s a cover.
I think Case 795 (The Family) is also one of his best of meldings of music and story…(“the beds are made, but there’s no sheets on”)
Thanks for a terrific blg…!
I think all his best songs are on Scarecrow, his best overall album.
I was pleased when he dropped the Cougar thing. How on earth did he ever agree to become Cougar in first place. That riff on Jack And Diane, and that whipl-loke crack, are iconic sounds of the 1980s. In a good way, which is rare for that blasted decade.
Hmm. I probably would have gone with “Small Paradise”, “What If I Came Knocking” and “Rain On The Scarecrow”, but I can’t really disagree too strongly to your choices. I seem to have lost interest in him sometime in the mid-90s and stopped following him. Anyone feel the same way or want to make a case that I made a mistake?
I’m not sure what my third would be, but “Human Wheels” and “Jackie Brown” both make my list.
Maybe “Ain’t Even Done With The Night.”
that big daddy record is just great…the rawness of the title track has gotta be up there
also his version of farewell angelina and you can go way back and sample golden gates from uh huh…that’s 3 great tracks