John Mellencamp (album)

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John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp eponymous cover.jpg
Studio album by
John Mellencamp
ReleasedOctober 6, 1998
Recorded1998
GenreRock
Length45:56
LabelColumbia
ProducerJohn Mellencamp
John Mellencamp chronology
The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988
(1997) 		John Mellencamp
(1998) 		Rough Harvest
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
Rolling Stone4/5 stars[3]

John Mellencamp is the 15th album by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp, released on October 6, 1998. It was the first of three albums Mellencamp would record for Columbia Records. "On this record, we ended up quite a bit away from where we started," Mellencamp told Guitar World Acoustic in 1998. "Initially, I wanted to make a record that barely had drums on it. Donovan made a record (in 1966), Sunshine Superman, and I wanted to start with that same kind of vibe—Eastern, very grand stories, fairy tales. We ended up with a few Eastern instruments. But everybody prepared to make that record. After the last tour, I gave everybody Sunshine Superman, and I said: 'Listen to this record, because you're going to need to know it.'"

While it's unusual for an artist to release a self-titled album this late in their career, Mellencamp was asked by Columbia Records to self-title his debut album for them to mark a fresh start and a creative rebirth.

Track listing[]

CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fruit Trader"John Mellencamp3:57
2."Your Life Is Now"Mellencamp, George Green3:59
3."Positively Crazy"Mellencamp, Green, Andrew York4:09
4."I'm Not Running Anymore"Mellencamp3:26
5."It All Comes True"Mellencamp, Green3:58
6."Eden Is Burning"Mellencamp3:50
7."Where The World Began"Mellencamp; Green3:29
8."Miss Missy"Mellencamp3:40
9."Chance Meeting at the Tarantula"Mellencamp4:05
10."Break Me Off Some"Mellencamp; Moe Z M.D.; Green4:10
11."Summer Of Love"Mellencamp; York4:01
12."Days Of Farewell"Mellencamp; Toby Myers3:12
Total length:45:56

Personnel[]

  • John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar

Band

  • Dane Clark – drums, percussion
  • Toby Myers – bass, vocals
  • Miriam Sturm – violin, keys, vocals
  • Mike Wanchic – guitars, vocals
  • Andy York – guitars, Indian instruments, keys, vocals
  • Moe Z M.D. – keys, loops, vocals

Guests

  • Lisa Germano – violin, harmonica on "Miss Missy"
  • Janas Hoyt – vocals
  • Killa – vocals
  • Stan Lynch – drums on "Miss Missy"
  • Pat Peterson – vocals on "Miss Missy"
  • Vess "Elvis" Ruhtenberg – bass on "It All Comes True"
  • Jimmy Ryser – vocals
  • Izzy Stradlin – guitar on "Miss Missy"

Charts[]

Album – Billboard (United States)[4]

Year Chart Position
October 24, 1998 The Billboard 200 41

Singles – Billboard (United States)[5]

Year Single Chart Position
1998 "Your Life Is Now" Mainstream Rock Tracks 15
Adult Contemporary 19
1999 "I'm Not Running Anymore" Mainstream Rock Tracks 37
Adult Contemporary 22

References[]

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ^ Rolling Stone review
  4. ^ Billboard.com – Discography – John Mellencamp – John Mellencamp[dead link]
  5. ^ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – John Mellencamp
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