John Mellencamp - The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 (2 LP)

Ever since he burst out of Indiana in the mid-'70s, The Artist Formerly Known As John Cougar never allowed success to smother his humble beginnings as an Indiana boy done good. This inevitable best-of follows him down the long, strange road of his career. Mellencamp's initial success came via a bar-band anthem ("I Need A Lover"). He then turned his attention towards writing about life in the Midwest ("Small Town" and "Pink Houses"). Along the way, the self-named "Little Bastard" embraced roots music by incorporating fiddle and squeezebox into his sound ("Paper In Fire"), setting the stage for the later success of alt-country acts such as Uncle Tupelo and The Jayhawks. Always a fan of late '60s rock and soul, Mellencamp paid homage to the T.A.M.I. shows of his youth in "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." and added a cover of Terry Reid's obscure "Without Expression" to this package of otherwise previously released material.

Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals); Larry Crane (guitar, harmonica, background vocals); Mike Wanchic, Mick Ronson, Andy York (guitar, background vocals); Lisa Germano, Miriam Sturm (violin); Kenny Aronoff (hammered dulcimer, vibraphone, drums); John Cascella (accordion, keyboards, background vocals); Carroll Sue Hill, Moe Z. (keyboards, background vocals); Brian Bekvar, Eric Rosser, Jay Ferguson (keyboards); Robert Frank, Toby Myers (bass, background vocals); Chocolate Perry, Willie Weeks (bass); Tom Knowles, Rick Shlosser, Dane Clark (drums); Dave Parman, Sarah Flint, Pat Peterson, Crystal Taliefero (background vocals).

Includes liner notes by Timothy White.

All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rock
• Released: 09/28/2018

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Tracklist