![]() ![]() The song reached #6 on the US pop charts and was adopted as a rustic theme by many subsequent interests. This links to “Small Town”, a standard folk-rocker built with a strong and direct drum beat by Kenny Aronoff. “Grandma’s Theme” follows as a short interlude of a traditional tune called “In the Baggage Coach Ahead”, sung by Laura Mellencamp, John Mellencamp’s actual grandmother. Mellencamp’s chanting lyrics are dark and desperate, while musically this track builds on a sixties-type folk riff with bright guitars and a direct bass by Toby Myers. The main album theme is portrayed on the opening track, “Rain On the Scarecrow”, co-written by George M. Kenny Aronoff – Drums, Percussion, Vocals John Cougar Mellencamp – Lead Vocals, Guitars Recorded: Belmont, Indiana, March 20-April 29, 1985 Produced by: Don Gehman & John Mellencamp Along with the definitive 60s music theme, the lyrical theme of this album was the transitional economy which saw the ruin of many family farms during the era, giving the album an overall bittersweet tone. 1983’s Uh-Huh was another commercial success and the first to feature both Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic on guitars.Ĭo-produced by Don Gehman, the album was the first to be recorded at Mellencamp’s studio in Belmont, Indiana, known as “The Belmont Mall”. Following this success, he insisted on using his birth name, Mellencamp, on future releases. Mellencamp’s breakthrough album was 1982’s American Fool, his fifth release as “John Cougar”. The result was a highly entertaining and successful album which set the template for many future works. In fact, Mellencamp was so dedicated to incorporating the sound of classic 1960s music that he mandated to his band that they learn about a hundred old singles verbatim while rehearsing for recording the album. While much of popular music in 1985 was moving towards more synth-based compositions and refined production, John “Cougar” Mellencamp decided to return to his roots on Scarecrow. ![]()
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