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Although Mercury Records had delivered five consecutive platinum albums for John Mellencamp, he left the label in 1997, complaining about its inability to break hit singles for him anymore, and signed to Columbia Records. His self-titled label debut, issued the day before his 47th birthday, seemed intended to mark a new beginning for an artist who had managed more than one career rebirth. Commercially, it did not fulfill that ambition, becoming his worst seller in 19 years. Artistically, it represented not so much a new Mellencamp as another Mellencamp album. The musical style remained firmly rooted in 1966 pop/rock (you had to figure the man's personal jukebox included songs like Los Bravos' "Black Is Black," Donovan's "Sunshine Superman," and the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown"), despite a few interludes of unusual instrumentation (like what Brian Jones used to bring to the Stones). Lyrically, Mellencamp continued to preach an unearned pessimism that he seemed to hope would be mistaken for thoughtfulness. Still obsessed with being taken seriously, he continued to think that the best way to achieve that was to sound serious, and he did, on Biblical treatises like "Fruit Trader" and "Eden Is Burning" and simple-minded philosophical statements like "Your Life Is Now." But the album's best material was found in songs he probably thought of as throwaways, the catchy Caribbean rhythm number "I'm Not Running Anymore" (which could have been a hit single) and the best of the romantic tunes, "Miss Missy," songs that were actually about something. If he really wanted to reinvent himself again (and ignite his record sales), he would have been better advised to invest his music with more of this sense of fun -- dare we say it? -- to put a little Johnny Cougar back into John Mellencamp.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - George M. Green, Composer - George M. Green, Lyricist - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P) 1998 John Mellencamp
Andrew York, Composer - Andrew York, Lyricist - Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - George M. Green, Composer - George M. Green, Lyricist - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P) 1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - George M. Green, Composer - George M. Green, Lyricist - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal - Vess Ruhtenberg, Bass
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Engineer - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - George M. Green, Composer - George M. Green, Lyricist - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Izzy Stradlin, Guitar - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Lisa Germano, Harmonica - Lisa Germano, Violin - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Pat Peterson, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Stan Lynch, Drums - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - George M. Green, Composer - George M. Green, Lyricist - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Composer - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Lyricist - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andrew York, Composer - Andrew York, Lyricist - Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Recording Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Andy York, Guitar - Andy York, Piano - Andy York, Vocal - Bob Ludwig, Recording Engineer - Dane Clark, Drums - Dane Clark, Percussion - David Thoener, Mixing Engineer - David Thoener, Recording Engineer - Janas Hoyt, Vocal - Jimmy Ryser, Vocal - John Mellencamp, Composer - John Mellencamp, Lyricist - John Mellencamp, Mixing Engineer - John Mellencamp, Performer - John Mellencamp, Producer - Kílla, Vocal - Mike Wanchic, Co-Producer - Mike Wanchic, Guitar - Mike Wanchic, Vocal - Miriam Sturm, Piano - Miriam Sturm, Violin - Miriam Sturm, Vocal - Moe Z. MD, Loops - Moe Z. MD, Piano - Moe Z. MD, Vocal - Paul Mahern, Co-Producer - Paul Mahern, Mixing Engineer - Paul Mahern, Recording Engineer - Rick Fettig, 2nd Engineer - Toby Myers, Bass - Toby Myers, Composer - Toby Myers, Lyricist - Toby Myers, Vocal
(P)1998 John Mellencamp
Album review
Although Mercury Records had delivered five consecutive platinum albums for John Mellencamp, he left the label in 1997, complaining about its inability to break hit singles for him anymore, and signed to Columbia Records. His self-titled label debut, issued the day before his 47th birthday, seemed intended to mark a new beginning for an artist who had managed more than one career rebirth. Commercially, it did not fulfill that ambition, becoming his worst seller in 19 years. Artistically, it represented not so much a new Mellencamp as another Mellencamp album. The musical style remained firmly rooted in 1966 pop/rock (you had to figure the man's personal jukebox included songs like Los Bravos' "Black Is Black," Donovan's "Sunshine Superman," and the Rolling Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown"), despite a few interludes of unusual instrumentation (like what Brian Jones used to bring to the Stones). Lyrically, Mellencamp continued to preach an unearned pessimism that he seemed to hope would be mistaken for thoughtfulness. Still obsessed with being taken seriously, he continued to think that the best way to achieve that was to sound serious, and he did, on Biblical treatises like "Fruit Trader" and "Eden Is Burning" and simple-minded philosophical statements like "Your Life Is Now." But the album's best material was found in songs he probably thought of as throwaways, the catchy Caribbean rhythm number "I'm Not Running Anymore" (which could have been a hit single) and the best of the romantic tunes, "Miss Missy," songs that were actually about something. If he really wanted to reinvent himself again (and ignite his record sales), he would have been better advised to invest his music with more of this sense of fun -- dare we say it? -- to put a little Johnny Cougar back into John Mellencamp.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:46
- Main artists: John Mellencamp
- Composer: John Mellencamp
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock
1998 John Mellencamp
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