Right my gazillion followers… put your tissues away … the Top 100 countdown is BACK. I am going to do something slightly different here, combining slots #81 and #80 as this features the same artist.
In slot #81, an American troubadour in the early 80’s with the release of American Fool Johnny Cougar Mellencamp finally made the charting grade. Released in November 1982 the album sold 5 million copies with a number of Top 20 singles.
Singing radio friendly arena rock for the ‘radio’ masses he hit his strides with the ‘little ditty’ Jack and Diane, a fairly decent rendition of the Bruce Springsteen brand…. A Billboard #1 single.
Jack and Diane
The first track on the album Hurts So Good was destined to become a ‘mini’ rock classic, making it to the #2 spot on the billboard Top 20.
Hurts So Good
To my mind the rest of the album is seriously moderate so we move swiftly along to slot #80. It took Mellencamp a further three years to produce a bestselling album releasing Scarecrow in November of 1985. Despite no #1 singles the album was extremely received much critical acclaim. Three Top 10 singles ensued which I shall include here.
Lonely old Night
I reckon his lyrics were a lot sharper than his previous works yet still very much focused on the American lifestyle. This next number , also a Top 10 single, is my favorite (and I use that word very loosely) track on the album.
R.O.C.K in the USA
Good foot tapping rhythm and decent instrumentation makes this extremely listenable.
So what are your thoughts? JCM a good rocker? Muso? Share them below peeps and come back for #79
As always, thanks for stopping by and your support is fully appreciated
Footnote: This project was inspired by the publication “The 100 Best Selling Albums of the 80’s” authored jointly by Peter Dodds, Justin Crawthorne, Chris Barret and Dan Auty and published by Amber Books (ISBN: 1-904867-12-1).This and other great music inspired books can be found on their website www.amberbooks.co.uk
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