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Sad Clowns & Hillbillies marks the first time in a decade that a John Mellencamp studio record finds him in the producer's chair. It's the first time ever that he's shared billing on an album cover. Carlene Carter is a singer/songwriter and music biz veteran; the daughter of country music royalty -- Carl Smith and June Carter Cash -- making her the stepdaughter of Johnny. She and Mellencamp worked together on 2012's Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the musical theater project he scored for Stephen King; they collaborated further on the soundtrack for Ithaca -- the "Sugar Hill Mountain" reprised here is one of a handful of excellent duets between them. Things don't begin well, however. Mellencamp's attempt at Mickey Newbury's "Mobile Blue" (from his classic 'Frisco Mabel Joy album) is utterly dull despite using a full band driven by Miriam Sturm's excellent fiddling. "Battle of Angels" hearkens back to the songwriter's Lonesome Jubilee/Big Daddy period, and works like a charm. It's got everything: A killer hook, a poetic lyric, and a gritty vocal. Martina McBride appears as his duet partner on first single "Grandview," a rocking paean to trailer parks -- -- though guest guitarist Izzy Stradlin almost steals the show with a greasy blues-rock shuffle and break. "Indigo Sunset," the first duet between the headliners -- is kicked off by Carter's soulful country contralto. She frames the lyric's haunted loneliness while Mellencamp's grainy rasp -- framed by B-3, mandolin, fiddle, and guitars -- balances perfectly to bring it home. "All Night Talk Radio" is classic Mellencamp: Its dark vision is painted in compelling, ironic, and dark imagery packaged as in a taut, acoustic rocker. Morally, he should share the royalties for "You Are Blind" with Leonard Cohen's estate: A careful listen reveals that the strategic manner of stacking images and metaphors to draw out the last syllables bears the unmistakable imprint of the late songwriter's classic "Suzanne." Carter's soaring lead opening the duet of the rocking blues-gospel of "Damascus Road" is another set highlight. That theme also guides "My Soul's Got Wings," with Mellencamp's melody and chart accompanying a Woody Guthrie lyric -- Carter's command of the country church vernacular (after all, she sang with her mom in the Carter Family) lights the fuse for Mellencamp -- no stranger himself to rural Sunday services -- and he brings it home. While the words in closer "An Easy Target" rank among Mellencamp's most politically charged and socially arresting, his faux Tom Waits' delivery blunts the tune’s impact a bit, but it's too powerful to be completely buried under a stylistic mistake. While Sad Clowns & Hillbillies is a bit of a mixed bag, it's better than all of his other records that bear that mark (Dance Naked, Whenever We Wanted, Rough Harvest, et. al). It puts all his strengths -- excellent original songs, unforced arrangements, and (mostly) inspired performances -- on full display. Well, almost. Because Carter's dynamic presence here, and the pair's unmistakable chemistry, lift this album above the ordinary.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mickey Newbury, ComposerLyricist - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Upright Bass, Baritone Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stan Lynch, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Martina McBride, FeaturedArtist - Toby Myers, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Izzy Stradlin, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Clark, ComposerLyricist - Mike Wanchic, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Harp, Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Organ, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lily Jurkiewicz, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Madeleine Jurkiewicz, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Piano, Hammond B3, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Christie Brinkley, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - KENNY ARONOFF, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Myers, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy York, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lane Tietgen, ComposerLyricist - Carlene Carter, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dane Clark, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlene Carter, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Woody Guthrie, ComposerLyricist - Andy York, Acoustic Guitar, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Miriam Sturm, Violin, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dane Clark, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Wanchic, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Harmonica, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Christie Brinkley, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
David Leonard, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Davis, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Miriam Sturm, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Mellencamp, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mike Wanchic, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Troye Kinnett, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John Gunnell, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
Presentación del Álbum
Sad Clowns & Hillbillies marks the first time in a decade that a John Mellencamp studio record finds him in the producer's chair. It's the first time ever that he's shared billing on an album cover. Carlene Carter is a singer/songwriter and music biz veteran; the daughter of country music royalty -- Carl Smith and June Carter Cash -- making her the stepdaughter of Johnny. She and Mellencamp worked together on 2012's Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the musical theater project he scored for Stephen King; they collaborated further on the soundtrack for Ithaca -- the "Sugar Hill Mountain" reprised here is one of a handful of excellent duets between them. Things don't begin well, however. Mellencamp's attempt at Mickey Newbury's "Mobile Blue" (from his classic 'Frisco Mabel Joy album) is utterly dull despite using a full band driven by Miriam Sturm's excellent fiddling. "Battle of Angels" hearkens back to the songwriter's Lonesome Jubilee/Big Daddy period, and works like a charm. It's got everything: A killer hook, a poetic lyric, and a gritty vocal. Martina McBride appears as his duet partner on first single "Grandview," a rocking paean to trailer parks -- -- though guest guitarist Izzy Stradlin almost steals the show with a greasy blues-rock shuffle and break. "Indigo Sunset," the first duet between the headliners -- is kicked off by Carter's soulful country contralto. She frames the lyric's haunted loneliness while Mellencamp's grainy rasp -- framed by B-3, mandolin, fiddle, and guitars -- balances perfectly to bring it home. "All Night Talk Radio" is classic Mellencamp: Its dark vision is painted in compelling, ironic, and dark imagery packaged as in a taut, acoustic rocker. Morally, he should share the royalties for "You Are Blind" with Leonard Cohen's estate: A careful listen reveals that the strategic manner of stacking images and metaphors to draw out the last syllables bears the unmistakable imprint of the late songwriter's classic "Suzanne." Carter's soaring lead opening the duet of the rocking blues-gospel of "Damascus Road" is another set highlight. That theme also guides "My Soul's Got Wings," with Mellencamp's melody and chart accompanying a Woody Guthrie lyric -- Carter's command of the country church vernacular (after all, she sang with her mom in the Carter Family) lights the fuse for Mellencamp -- no stranger himself to rural Sunday services -- and he brings it home. While the words in closer "An Easy Target" rank among Mellencamp's most politically charged and socially arresting, his faux Tom Waits' delivery blunts the tune’s impact a bit, but it's too powerful to be completely buried under a stylistic mistake. While Sad Clowns & Hillbillies is a bit of a mixed bag, it's better than all of his other records that bear that mark (Dance Naked, Whenever We Wanted, Rough Harvest, et. al). It puts all his strengths -- excellent original songs, unforced arrangements, and (mostly) inspired performances -- on full display. Well, almost. Because Carter's dynamic presence here, and the pair's unmistakable chemistry, lift this album above the ordinary.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
Acerca del álbum
- 1 disco(s) - 13 pista(s)
- Duración total: 00:46:48
- Artistas principales: John Mellencamp
- Compositor: Various Composers
- Sello: John Mellencamp 2023 (Republic)
- Género Pop/Rock Rock
© 2017 John J. Mellencamp ℗ 2017 John J. Mellencamp
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