John Mellencamp Songs Ranked
John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, painter, actor, and film director. He is known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation. Mellencamp rose to fame in the 1980s while “honing an almost startlingly plainspoken writing style” that, starting in 1982, yielded a string of Top 10 singles, including “Hurts So Good,” “Jack & Diane,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “Pink Houses,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “Paper in Fire,” and “Cherry Bomb.” He has amassed 22 Top 40 hits in the United States. In addition, he holds the record for the most tracks by a solo artist to hit number one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with seven. Mellencamp has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one. His latest album of original songs, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, was released on April 28, 2017.
Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008. On June 14, 2018, Mellencamp was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His biggest musical influences are Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, James Brown, and the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone contributor Anthony DeCurtis said: “Mellencamp has created an important body of work that has earned him both critical regard and an enormous audience. His songs document the joys and struggles of ordinary people seeking to make their way, and he has consistently brought the fresh air of common experience to the typically glamour-addled world of popular music.” Here are all of John Mellencamp’s songs ranked.
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20. Martha Say (Big Daddy, 1989)
“Martha Say” represents either a satirical or a solemn portrait of a power-hungry woman. Some of the lines seem a little over the top for sincerity. One of his most powerful songs and Lisa Germano’s violin cuts through the songs.”
19. Your Life Is Now (John Mellencamp, 1998)
“The song “Your Life Is Now,” could not have been written when Mr. Mellencamp was in his 20s. Its theme is more altruistic and portrays a man doing some serious soul searching; not poontang searching! Musically, it could have easily appeared on “Lonesome Jubilee” or just about any Mellencamp album since then. Nonetheless, the haunting melody and probing lyrics help send a lump directly to the throat.”
18. Teardrops Will Fall (Trouble No More, 2003)
“Mellencamp depends even more overtly on these most recent additions to his musical repertoire, as “Teardrops Will Fall” howls like wind through a golden vase with its chiming carnival of strings. Simply stripping down the sound and billing this as Mellencamp’s “return to roots unplugged album” might have caricatured both he and his latest project into a parody of their own good intentions.”
17. Human Wheels (Human Wheels, 1993)
“The lyrics may be a bit on the dark side, but it’s not all doom and gloom. As usual he manages to put together a series of quality tracks based on a driving rhythm section, some excellent guitar riffs and his gravelly vocals. The title track is the standout song for me, a sad but beautifully worded poem on the state of the nation.”
16. Hand to Hold on To (American Fool, 1982)
“Hand to Hold On To” was a minor chart hit, but it’s nowhere nearly as good as the other two hits from this album. Also, it’s a ballad, and all of the ballads on this album come off as sounding cliched and insincere.”
See more: John Mellencamp Albums Ranked
15. Yours Forever (The Perfect Storm, 2000)
“Beautiful, beautiful song. This is of course taken from the soundtrack of the film ‘The Perfect Storm’ which is also a beautiful and terribly sad film. This song brings me close to tears every time I hear it and, well I won’t spoil the plot”
14. Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First) (Mr. Happy Go Lucky, 1996)
“The big hit, “Key West Intermezzo,” glides atop a shuffling groove, but has the traditional drum clap and home-baked electric piano moving things along under Mellencamp’s usual gruff melodic singing.”
13. Paper In Fire (The Lonesome Jubilee, 1987)
“Possibly the strangest of JCM’s singles, and definitely the strangest one he got into the Top Ten. Elements of both blues and gospel combine with his rootsy American pop to create this tale of woe and warning. Strangely compelling, and kudos to him for continuing to push outside of his box.”
12. I Need a Lover (A Biography, 1978)
“The lyric here is kind of dickish. You don’t even have to read between the lines much here. “Someone to thrill me, and then go away” is just slightly more polite than “make me come, than GTFO”. And the idea that any other type of lover would “drive him crazy” seems more than a bit selfish.”
11. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (Scarecrow, 1985)
“There he is and will always be! Stardom cemented-In ROCK in the USA-in a lifetime, John Mellencamp is one of many kings in rock & roll! A brilliant tribute to the music itself-equally?|”
10. Ain’t Even Done With the Night (Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did, 1980)
“One of the best songs by one of the ultimate “Greatest Hits” artists. This is one of the ultimate tunes that happens to come on at bar close when you realize your blood alcohol content is higher than the amount of numbers you pulled that night, or when you’ve actually just found a girl so you’re dancing with her and trying to impress her so you lip sync to it but it’s still very uncool.”
9. Cherry Bomb (The Lonesome Jubilee, 1987)
“Cherry Bomb is a pretty piece of folksy Americana which was a bit more soulful than a lot of what was on the radio back in 1987. For that matter it is a bit more soulful than a lot of Mellencamp’s back catalog as well. A lot of the credit here may be due to Lisa Germano, whose country-fiddle accents make this much more believably rootsy than his earlier songs about the Midwest.”
8. Small Town (Scarecrow, 1985)
“Musically, it’s one of his best rootsy-rock numbers, with an agreeable hook that carries along nicely. Hhe concept of the song isn’t bad, and some of the lyrics work quite well. But the repetition of the title phrase starts to paint John as something of an ignorant hick, and other lines just don’t cut it.”
7. Lonely Ol’ Night (Scarecrow, 1985)
“This is a pretty good power-pop type track from 1985. Like Springsteen, I am not a fan of Mellencamp but every now and then like most artists, he had a good number and this was one of them in my belief. The song is very catchy, very mainstream, sticks in your head. Now please don’t for god sakes call him John Cougar.”
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6. Crumblin Down (Uh-huh, 1983)
“Crumblin’ Down” is one of his all-time best songs, with it’s pulsating bassline and wall of the sound chorus, the song explodes out of your speakers. The backing music is great. It helps that he doesn’t push the “authentic American sound” he later would so often – so no fiddle, no banjo, no gospel choir.”
5. Authority Song (Uh-huh, 1983)
“”Authority Song” has the feeling of a loose remake of Bobby Fuller’s “I Fought Law. The acoustic version is absolutely chilling. The snarling “Authority Song”, a great flat-out top-down-convertible rocker if there ever was one, gives Mellencamp three classics in a row.”
4. Hurts So Good (Footloose, 1982)
“This tells how the simple man’s hard work and taxes pay for the winners who “go to work in the high rise and vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico. It is a good classic rock song. The riff is great and completely makes the song, really catchy. The singing is good and the hook is great to sing along to. Overall it is nothing especially, just a good poppy rock song which is very enjoyable to listen to.”
3. Rain on the Scarecrow (Scarecrow, 1985)
“The lyrics to the verses live up to the dramatic imagery of the title phrase “Rain on the scarecrow, blood on the plough” while the tom-tom drums pound out their protest in the background. A brave angry protest when others who also could have given a damn were hiding behind MTV videos and stadium rock excess.”
2. Pink Houses (Uh-huh, 1983)
“The truth is Pink Houses is what it ain’t-a hymn of praise and greatness! No sir! Instead-Our Cat from Bloomington-the Heartland of the Midwest on an Indiana Farm Pink Houses” is one of the most earnestness songs of the 80’s. With it’s look at life in America, Mr. Mellencamp shows that he has a finger on the pulse of the people.”
1. Jack & Diane (American Fool, 1982)
“The corniness of the opening lyrics of “Jack & Diane” are all part of the punchline: these kids have no idea how numbing their future will be, and their loss of innocence shouldn’t be praised – merely commented upon.”