Normally I like to focus on artists I think many people would not have heard about, but this one I'm writing as a more personal story. Obviously most of you know who John Mellencamp is, and if you don't you owe it to yourself to find out!
Flash back to my youth. Like most children, my music awakening started by listening to what was on the radio and what the other kids were listening to. So basically I just listened to pop music of the day, then in 1985 when my brother brought home John Cougar Mellencamp's Scarecrow that all changed. he was also my first "favorite artist". Up until that point, I thought music was just fun sounds to listen to. Of course I wasn't even a teenager yet.
With Scarecrow I would come to appreciate how music can educate. Scarecrow was Mellencamp's attempt to bring attention to the plight of American farmers. (Although I expect farmers everywhere were and indeed still are facing the same problems).
From that moment on my taste in music changed. It was no longer enough to just be fun to listen to. It thought it should be saying something. While following Mellencamp's career I also learned to appreciate the craft. So then I was appreciating music on a whole different level as well. To this day, Scarecrow remains one of my all time favorite albums.
To people less familiar with his entire body of work, you might think American Fool would be his strongest album because it contains probably two of his biggest commercial successes (Jack & Diane, Hurts So Good). However, to me it's not even close to his best work. In my mind, his best three albums were those released between 1983 and 1987. Uh Huh, Scarecrow, The Lonesome Jubilee. I still think he released many fine albums after this, but those three are his best in my opinion.
Although today I can't possible have a "favorite artist". It would depend on a mood and so on, so I have a list of favorite artists. John Mellencamp to me will always be a special artist, and I have a special respect for this man and how he has handled his career. I have also never grown tired of his music.
My Trusted MOGs
I always loved that song Just Another Day, has been one of my favorite Mellencamp songs for awhile.
My Trusted MOGs
That is a good song from one of his riskier albums.
John Mellencamp's following by that time was pretty much straight classic rock, heartland rock fans. "Mr. Happy Go Lucky", the 1996 album that included that song was influenced by dance music. Many of his fans were confused, but I thought it was one of his more creative album in years.
Of course it did spawn his first significant hit in awhile with "Key West Intermezzo (I saw you first)". If you haven't heard the album and wonder what I mean by influenced by dance try to check out "Emotional Love" from that album.
My Trusted MOGs
Oh, yeah, I like that Key West Intermezzo song as well. In 1996 I was listening to top 40 radio, so I was introduced to Mr. Mellencamp by that song and Just Another Day. Good stuff, I also dig his older stuff, too. I'll have to check out Emotional Love.