It’s Turntable Tuesday because life is too short not to listen to great music! Last week 35 years ago in August 1985 John Mellencamp released the album “Scarecrow.” If you look at the cover of the album you see the name John Cougar Mellencamp. Some of you will know the name as one that was given to him as a stage name by the man who took David Bowie to fame. That man was John’s first manager Tony DeFries. I was an early fan of this music and knew the story. I never liked that name and always called him John Mellencamp out of respect for his talent.
So lets talk about the album! This album was recorded mostly in the months of March and April of 1985. It was released in August of 1985 to follow the earlier releases of John Mellencamp and this one really exploded when it was released. This was the era of MTV video and music promotion with video was being watched by everyone in my generation. There are three songs that quickly reached into the top ten as singles. They were “Small Town,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” and “R.O.C.K in the USA.” This music was suddenly everywhere and the album ended up as number two on the Billboard 200 only behind “Miami Vice” which was a huge TV program at that time. I have everything John has ever recorded except the very first “Chestnut Street Incident” album which I have never personally seen for sale. I feel like this “Scarecrow” album was really the beginning foundation of the feel that defines the music of John Mellencamp. By “feel” I mean intensity, message, awesomely simple, and brilliant melodies. This album just continued the building of his career following the hits of the “American Fool” and “UH-HUH. albums.” It was also the first album recorded in John’s Bloomington, Illinois studio.
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Don Gehman who produced “Scarecrow” explained in an interview once that the band practiced over 100 Rock and Roll songs from the 1960’s to prepare for the recording of this album. You can hear some of that in “R.O.C.K. in the USA.” You can hear that in the sound of many of the songs on this album. It is stripped down two guitars, bass, and drums delivering an intense sound at you. The lyrics are speaking to you from the heartland of America. Later in 1985 after this album released Willie Nelson reached out to John Mellencamp to ask if he would help with a benefit show to help farmers. That next month on September 22, 1985 the first Farm Aid concert was born in Champaign, Illinois. I have been to many of these shows all over the country and I believe in the cause, I love the music, and still want to be a part of the support structure for this benefit as I have in the past.
“Scarecrow” Track Listing: All songs written by John Mellencamp, except where noted.
- “Rain on the Scarecrow” (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 3:46
- “Grandma’s Theme (In The Baggage Coach Ahead)” (traditional) – 0:56
- “Small Town” – 3:41
- “Minutes to Memories” (Mellencamp, Green) – 4:11
- “Lonely Ol’ Night” – 3:45
- “The Face of the Nation” – 3:13
- “Justice and Independence ’85” – 3:32
- “Between a Laugh and a Tear” – 4:32
- “Rumbleseat” – 2:58
- “You’ve Got to Stand for Somethin'” – 4:32
- “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)” – 2:54
- “The Kind of Fella I Am” (cassette and CD only)^ – 2:55
- “Small Town” (acoustic version) (2005 re-issue bonus track) – 4:14
^also appears as the B-side to “Lonely Ol’ Night”
Personnel
- John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar, harmonica on “Small Town”
- Larry Crane – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, backing vocals
- Kenny Aronoff – drums, tambourine, vibes, backing vocals
- Mike Wanchic – electric guitars, backing vocals
- Toby Myers – electric bass, backing vocals
- John Cascella – keyboards
- Rickie Lee Jones – vocals on “Between a Laugh and a Tear”
- Sarah Flint – background vocals on “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”
- Laura Mellencamp (John Mellencamp’s grandmother) – lead vocal on “Grandma’s Theme”
- Mimi Mapes – backing vocals on “Minutes to Memories”
- A. Jack Wilkins – saxophone on “Justice and Independence ’85”
- Richard Fanning – trumpet on “Justice and Independence ’85”
- Ry Cooder – slide guitar on “The Kind of Fella I Am”
Well that is Turntable Tuesday for this week. What are YOU listening to as you read this? TURN THAT TV OFF! Crank up your local speaker and listen to some awesome music! Share your musical journey with us all and don’t forget to support live music! Buy music media! Until next time, I’ll see you, down the road.
