What does it sound like?:
John Mellencamp: musician, songwriter, actor, artist, social activist and storyteller. Over the long stretch of his career he’s come up with some great songs, and yet hasn’t received the same attention as, say, Bruce Springsteen. This concert, captured on this CD and DVD combo, touches on those musical high spots, but combines this with a spoken narrative during which Mellencamp reminisces about his childhood, the trials and tribulations, not to mention the many triumphs of his career, together with his philosophy and outlook on life. Some of the anecdotes, especially about growing up in the Mid West, are fascinating, but it’s rather frustrating at times that just as a song gets going, the sound is muted for a voice over section. The producers obviously twigged this too, as the DVD has a ‘non-commentary’ option, allowing just the concert itself to be viewed, with the soundtrack being duplicated on the CD as well. As for the music, there’s a fantastic career spanning selection going back as far as 1985’s superb Scarecrow album, drawing in a handful from one of my favourite albums, 1987’s The Lonesome Jubilee, and coming up to date with last year’s Sad Clowns and Hillbillies. Small Town, Rain On The Scarecrow, Pink Houses, Check It Out, Cherry Bomb, Paper In Fire – one classic follows another, and there’s even a guest appearance from Carlene Carter thrown in for good measure. Very enjoyable – watch it twice though, once for Mellencamp’s commentary and once more when the music does his talking for him.
What does it all *mean*?
I’d rather lost track of Mellencamp’s work over the past few years, but this has inspired me to investigate his later albums, and of course to dig out his older stuff for another listen. Does anyone capture life in the American heartland better?
Goes well with…
Appreciating some artists just get better with age.
Might suit people who like…
Singer/songwriters, Americana.
He’s massively underrated. I’ve followed John Mellencamp’s career from American Fool onwards, and there isn’t really an album of his that I don’t like. Last year’s Sad Clowns & Hillbillies was as good as anything he’s done of late, but my favourite album is probably Big Daddy from 1989. Of his later albums, there’s plenty of good stuff to choose from, but I’d recommend Freedom’s Road for some good rockin’ Americana and Plain Spoken (the 2014 album, not the current blu-ray) for more acoustic material.
Nice review too.
Big Daddy was album I played to death at the time.
Off to revisit!
Me too, along with Scarecrow.
As it happens I was in a record store the other day idly browsing. Scanning alphabetically I noticed a John Cougar section in the “C’s”. You can guess what I found when I reached the “M’s”. I’m pretty sure Scarecrow was in both.
The Lonesome Jubilee was the album that soundtracked my 2 year sojourn in the USA. Cherry Bomb is such an infectious song.
The recent album No better than this is very good but also there is an excellent 2cd compilation Words and Music. Great artist.
Beginning to think I’m stalking you @SteveT which we know is the other way round.
Anyway J. M., a great singer/songwriter whose music I have loved since ‘Scarecrow’, I wasn’t too keen on his J. C. M. albums but he has a fine discography with a bit of a lull in the early ’90’s but I enjoy them anyhow. I was unaware of this release, so thanks Bargie, tax dodgers here I come.
So I guess it was ok for BP to review this album then Baron?
Am I missing something Junior? Bargie does a good job but keeps costing me money!
I suspect it’s Lodestone Of Wrongness you are thinking of, Junior.
Lonesome is the one for me: I remember at the time a reviewer stating that he and Steve Earle seemed on opposite journeys as they travailed their respective sojourns between rock and country/country and rock.
Best fiddle and accordion with bass and drums record of its day, that well known grammy accolade.
Great songwriter. I’ll never forget hearing this on the radio, before the album came out, in ’96. Next day I was in London and walked down the steps to the Tube. A kid was busking this and absolutely NAILED it. I stood transfixed, applauded, asked if he’d heard it yesterday,
“Nah,” he grinned, “I work in the post room at the record company. I’ve had it a week.” I handed him a tenner and grinned myself, all the way home.
Of course, the tale would have more resonance if I posted the video.
Thank you. And there was I convinced it would be Jack and Diane…