I'm a child of the 80s and came up with Mellencamp's most popular/played albums and tunes. I always liked and respected him for writing songs during this time that might have dovetailed a little with a Springsteen-working-man perspective, but from a heartland perspective and context, as you've written. I found him scrappy and genuine with a lot of heart, which was not a cool posture at the time, but I think it's served him well.
Ahhh yes. I *did* grow up in the midwest! I was a Minneapolis suburban girl, but my much-older sister lived in small town Iowa with her family and I loved listening to Mellencamp as I drove down to visit. Loved him, and loved this song.
It’s been a long time since I listened to/played Mr. Mellencamp, and I don’t recall “Between A Laugh And A Tear” at all. But as I was listening to it now (again? I dunno) I caught a lyric that made me stop! “Sometimes life is to ridiculous to live” is pretty much straight out of the 1970 film “Little Big Man” as Dustin Hoffman’s character Jack Crabbe narrates the scene where his tribal enemy, who is trying to kill him, is killed by a cavalry soldier, though in Crabbe/Hoffman voice it comes out as “ridiculus”. Made me laugh and a little envious....
I generally never want to listen to JCM based on the little that I know, but this is growing on me...dammit. The snare hits on this song and this record are really high in the mix. I like it, and I'm realizing he's a master of this particular americana rock groove that makes a lot of his work really danceable- I think the groove is just right at the front end of the beat, making it easy to follow, even for small town folk. ha!
A stand out track from a favourite 80's album. Loved the sound of this album, played by a cracking band:
surely, if they had been credited a la 'The Heartbreakers' , 'SIlver Bullet Band', etc. the group of musicians Mellencamp surrounded(s) himself with would have garnered much more acclaim (even beyond the subsequent career successes of Kenny A & Lisa Germano)
Unlike some of the other comments here, I am still a big Mellencamp fan, finding at least some worthwhile, frequently excellent music on every release since his 80's heyday.
But of course 'Scarecrow' was a landmark album for Mellencamp, with many great songs and it is fully deserving of it's recent reappraisals and, yes, another listen
He's gotten older and much crankier. And disowning his earlier work is disappointing because those are the songs that will be played a hundred years from now. That said, he remains one of my favorite artists - but he's an artist in the truest sense, and I suspect he'll eventually come back around to those tunes. In the meantime, play the FLUCK out of his catalog from the 1980s and you will hear EXACTLY what it was like growing up in the Reagan era. he captured it all, not just the Midwest vibe, so brilliantly.
But I do agree Terry, anything past Whenver We Wanted was John attempting to remain popular and relevant... and those tunes are hit or miss - mostly miss imho. And those sound dated, and have not worn so well. But anything from Uh-Huh to Big Daddy and into Whenever... that is peak Mellencamp. And is ageless.
Ya'll remember when Rolling Stone had illustrations on the back page? Well, there was one illustration of a classroom with Woody Gutherie as the teacher, and in the first seat was Bob Dylan, looking over his shoulder was Bruce Springsteen, and looking over Springsteen's shoulder was John Mellencamp - and that about sums it all up. Boy I wish I could find a copy of that.
And yea, I am a Midwesterner - you can take the person out of the Midwest, but you can't take the Midwest out of the person. Cheers!
Oh, dang, relistening to Scarecrow again after many years away...I'd forgotten how great it is. Mellencamp is wrong about his own music, though I imagine his distaste for his own stuff is borne of performance fatigue rather than actual musical quality. That acoutic bonus version of "Small Towns" is incredible–far more lonely and aching than the big version.
Yes, of course Art Cullen is extremely well known. The talent in that group of writers is astonishing. I’ve attempted to publish a bit on Substack, but am missing the mark. My topic is mental health from my personal perspective. It’s just not going anywhere.
Perhaps it’s the topic, too personal, or that some days when I attempt to write I’m struggling from my illnesses. So I’m on hiatus until I can figure it out.
I used to love him, but he hasn't worn so well. I still think "jack and Diane" is one of the best pop/Rock songs of the 70's.
I'm a child of the 80s and came up with Mellencamp's most popular/played albums and tunes. I always liked and respected him for writing songs during this time that might have dovetailed a little with a Springsteen-working-man perspective, but from a heartland perspective and context, as you've written. I found him scrappy and genuine with a lot of heart, which was not a cool posture at the time, but I think it's served him well.
Scarecrow still still holds up, captures and yet transcends a decade.
Ahhh yes. I *did* grow up in the midwest! I was a Minneapolis suburban girl, but my much-older sister lived in small town Iowa with her family and I loved listening to Mellencamp as I drove down to visit. Loved him, and loved this song.
One of my favorites from him, along with “Jack and Diane”, “Human Wheels” (both the original and acoustic versions) and “Your Life Is Now”.
I like the clean sound in the mixing and recording in “Between a Laugh and a Tear” and also the background vocals of Rickie Lee Jones.
It’s been a long time since I listened to/played Mr. Mellencamp, and I don’t recall “Between A Laugh And A Tear” at all. But as I was listening to it now (again? I dunno) I caught a lyric that made me stop! “Sometimes life is to ridiculous to live” is pretty much straight out of the 1970 film “Little Big Man” as Dustin Hoffman’s character Jack Crabbe narrates the scene where his tribal enemy, who is trying to kill him, is killed by a cavalry soldier, though in Crabbe/Hoffman voice it comes out as “ridiculus”. Made me laugh and a little envious....
Cool little essay on Mellencamp 👍
I generally never want to listen to JCM based on the little that I know, but this is growing on me...dammit. The snare hits on this song and this record are really high in the mix. I like it, and I'm realizing he's a master of this particular americana rock groove that makes a lot of his work really danceable- I think the groove is just right at the front end of the beat, making it easy to follow, even for small town folk. ha!
I’ll join you on the Jimmy Buffett leg, but I’m out on Midwestern Poor Man’s Springsteen (nice write up though)!
A stand out track from a favourite 80's album. Loved the sound of this album, played by a cracking band:
surely, if they had been credited a la 'The Heartbreakers' , 'SIlver Bullet Band', etc. the group of musicians Mellencamp surrounded(s) himself with would have garnered much more acclaim (even beyond the subsequent career successes of Kenny A & Lisa Germano)
Unlike some of the other comments here, I am still a big Mellencamp fan, finding at least some worthwhile, frequently excellent music on every release since his 80's heyday.
But of course 'Scarecrow' was a landmark album for Mellencamp, with many great songs and it is fully deserving of it's recent reappraisals and, yes, another listen
Rain On The Scarecrow is a powerful song and yes, as you write, tells a fast sad story of some farmers' experience in the 1980's.
This is some really great writing! Killing it. 🔥
He's gotten older and much crankier. And disowning his earlier work is disappointing because those are the songs that will be played a hundred years from now. That said, he remains one of my favorite artists - but he's an artist in the truest sense, and I suspect he'll eventually come back around to those tunes. In the meantime, play the FLUCK out of his catalog from the 1980s and you will hear EXACTLY what it was like growing up in the Reagan era. he captured it all, not just the Midwest vibe, so brilliantly.
But I do agree Terry, anything past Whenver We Wanted was John attempting to remain popular and relevant... and those tunes are hit or miss - mostly miss imho. And those sound dated, and have not worn so well. But anything from Uh-Huh to Big Daddy and into Whenever... that is peak Mellencamp. And is ageless.
Ya'll remember when Rolling Stone had illustrations on the back page? Well, there was one illustration of a classroom with Woody Gutherie as the teacher, and in the first seat was Bob Dylan, looking over his shoulder was Bruce Springsteen, and looking over Springsteen's shoulder was John Mellencamp - and that about sums it all up. Boy I wish I could find a copy of that.
And yea, I am a Midwesterner - you can take the person out of the Midwest, but you can't take the Midwest out of the person. Cheers!
Oh, dang, relistening to Scarecrow again after many years away...I'd forgotten how great it is. Mellencamp is wrong about his own music, though I imagine his distaste for his own stuff is borne of performance fatigue rather than actual musical quality. That acoutic bonus version of "Small Towns" is incredible–far more lonely and aching than the big version.
Living in Iowa it was great to hear someone representing the time, place, and issues of the Midwest on mainstream FM radio.
Yes, of course Art Cullen is extremely well known. The talent in that group of writers is astonishing. I’ve attempted to publish a bit on Substack, but am missing the mark. My topic is mental health from my personal perspective. It’s just not going anywhere.
Perhaps it’s the topic, too personal, or that some days when I attempt to write I’m struggling from my illnesses. So I’m on hiatus until I can figure it out.