The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 by John Mellencamp (CD, Nov-1997, Mercury)

Album Features
UPC:	731453673823
Artist:	John Mellencamp
Format:	CD
Release Year:	1997
Record Label:	Mercury
Genre:	Rock & Pop

Track Listing
1. I Need a Lover
2. Ain't Even Done with the Night
3. Hurts So Good
4. Jack and Diane
5. Crumblin' Down
6. Pink Houses
7. Authority Song
8. Lonely Ol' Night
9. Small Town
10. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
11. Paper in Fire
12. Cherry Bomb
13. Check It Out
14. Without Expression

Details
Playing Time:	59 min.
Contributing Artists:	Larry Crane, Mick Ronson, Lisa Germano, Brian Bekvar
Distributor:	Universal Distribution
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
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).Producers include: John Punter, Steve Cropper, John Mellencamp, George Green, Don Gehman.Engineers include: John Punter, Bruce Robb, Dee Robb, Don Gehman, George Tutko.Includes liner notes by Timothy White.All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Larry Crane (guitar, harmonica, background vocals); Mick Ronson, Mike Wanchic, Andy York (guitar, background vocals); Kenny Aronoff (hammer dulcimer, vibraphone, drums, background vocals); Lisa Germano (violin, fiddle); Miriam Sturm (violin); John Cascella (accordion, keyboards); Crystal Califero (accordion, background vocals); Moe Z, Carroll Sue Hill (keyboards, background vocals); Eric Rosse, Jay Ferguson, Brian BecVar (keyboards); Rick Shlosser, Tom Knowles, Dane Clark (drums); Crystal Taliefero, David Parman, Robert Frank , Pat Peterson, Toby Myers, Sarah Flint (background vocals).Liner Note Author: Timothy White .Recording information: Air Studios, London, England; Belmont Mall, Nashville, TN; Cherokee Studios, LA, CA; Criteria Studios, Miami, FL; The Shack, Brownstone, IN; TRC Stdios, Indianapolis, IN; TRC Studios, Indianapolis, IN.Photographer: Paul Jasmin.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.

Editorial Reviews
...by keeping one foot planted squarely in his native Seymour, Ind., Mellencamp put the pop in populism and artfully bridged the realms of town and country. - Rating: B
Entertainment Weekly (19971212)