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From the Vault...
07/07/2002
#793 |
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info
John Cougar Mellencamp
"Scarecrow"
© Riva Records
Year of Release: 1985
Rating:
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track listing
Rain On The Scarecrow
Grandma's Theme
Small Town
Minutes To Memories
Lonely Ol' Night
The Face Of The Nation
Justice And
Independence '85
Between A Laugh
And A Tear
Rumbleseat
You've Got To Stand
For Somethin'
R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.
(A Salute To 60's
Rock)
The Kind Of Fella I Am
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John Cougar Mellencamp related sites:
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John Cougar Mellencamp
"Scarecrow"
A great choice for the month of July, around Independence Day: John
(Cougar) Mellencamp's 1985 release, Scarecrow. Likewise, Mellencamp
makes his official debut on the WSVNRadio website. 1985 -- A triumphant year
for me with personal memories, and for the career of John Mellencamp.
Despite hearing many tunes on the radio from this album, let's count them --
6 out of 12 -- many felt that his music was overplayed. Whether the fact
remains true or not, Mellencamp's music has portrayed him as the working-class
hero, an All-American musician, next to the likes of another popular artist
in the same time period, Bruce Springsteen (Born In The U.S.A.).
Almost 20 years later, Scarecrow sounds as fresh and entertaining,
and now, cannot be classfied as being overplayed.
Radio favorites were "Rain On The Scarecrow," "Small Town," "Minutes To
Memories," "Lonely Ol' Night," "Rumbleseat," and "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A."
"Lonely Ol' Night" is never tiring; it is a great song of energy and
lifting spirits, despite the Lonely title. "Small Town" has
become a song of Americana, the video of this song also represents the
small-town boy from Seymour, Indiana, and how life is enjoyed in such a
small town: "No I cannot forget where it is that I come from, I cannot
forget the people who love me, Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town,
And people let me be just what I want to be."
"Rain On The Scarecrow" has a somewhat eerie effect, yet you can't
help but enjoy the song, as it grabs your interest, with the guitars being the
driving force. "Minutes To Memories" is another well-known tune, as
it became yet another Mellencamp radio favorite.
"Rumbleseat" is a cute pop ditter, and it has the pop status of
Bruce Springsteen. However, there is one song that did get kind of tiring
for me, and that was "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock)"
With the great references to 1960s idols, this song did get quite tiring,
not only hearing it on the radio, it was also a song performed in a band I was
in at the time, and since I never could compare my vocal styles to that of
Mellencamp's, I was the fortunate one to take on the vocals on this tune in
my band, yet I never thought it was not one of my finest moments.
Just clocking under a minute, "Grandma's Theme" is from Mellencamp's
public domain; this little tune was sung by Laura Mellencamp, John's grandmother.
What a treat to include on an album, having family members participate.
Especially parents and/or grandparents, knowing the fact as the years and
decades go by, you will always have a warm feeling hearing your relatives again,
and also sounding fresh and vibrant, despite that they may be alot more
older, or have passed away.
"The Face Of The Nation" and "Justice And Independence '85"
are just as equal as the other radio favorites; they're great to listen to,
and it's always a treat to listen to the less-than-popular tunes of a well-known
artist.
"Between A Laugh And A Tear" is a great lost album track. Having
the common sound of Mellencamp, it can also be compared to the later years of
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. The guitars on "You've Got To Stand
For Somethin'" is the giveaway -- it's easily identified as John Mellencamp,
and is another good album track. A harder-edged Mellencamp is heard on the
closing number, "The Kind Of Fella I Am," where Mellencamp rocks out
just a little bit harder than the standard so-called pop style most fans are
familar with.
Mellencamp's Scarecrow is a classic. It represents Americana
at its finest. Mellencamp, like Springsteen, displays himself as the
average working-class American worker, and always making a name for himself
in working hard, and accomplishing popularity with his fans. No doubt,
Mellencamp did just that, and he has been popular ever since. His future
albums may not have been as his heyday years of say, 1982-1985, yet
Mellencamp's fans can easily be proud of his American representation, of
being a great R.O.C.K.er in the U.S.A.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Riva Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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