1. RAIN ON THE SCARECROW 2. GRANDMA'S THEME 3. SMALL TOWN 4. MINUTES TO MEMORIES 5. LONELY OL' NIGHT 6. THE FACE OF THE NATION 7. JUSTICE AND INDEPENDENCE 8. BETWEEN A LAUGH AND A TEAR 9. RUMBLESEAT 10. YOU'VE GOT TO STAND FOR SOMETHIN' 11. R.O.C.K. IN THE USA 12. THE KIND OF FELLA I AM 13. SMALL TOWN (Acoustic version) This is the VINYL version of this album

John Mellencamp's “Scarecrow” is a singular treasure. It reveals an artist expanding his ambitions and creating a work that will live for ages. He is searching for American soul. Not as in “soul music;” as in “heart and soul.”

As other great rock musicians have done, he demonstrates the universality of certain human experiences. When he sings about his small town, it's about everybody’s small town...even if you live in New York City. John showed us his ability to craft little stories in the confines of a pop song with “Jack & Diane” and here he develops it into a science...his own branch even. Every song is filled with character, images; some even have a plot, propelled by irresistable melodies and backed by a terrific rock band.

The album opens with the harrowing drums and brittle guitars of “Rain On The Scarecrow,” and right away, you get the feeling Mellencamp is out to make a statement. Not only in a socio-politocal manner, but in an independent, artistic one. He’s telling us “look at me now.” His declaratory tone during that song — hushed comments followed by anger — is the sound of a farmer sitting on his porch, telling you why life ain't that great right now. And it still feels “right now.” as there's an immediacy to this music that makes you feel like it was recorded today. This album has not aged a bit.

After a guest appearance by his grandmother, we hear the familiar chords of “Small Town” with John once again visiting territory he explored in “Pink Houses.” “Minutes To Memories” is another example of a maturing Mellencamp, more confident in his songwriting skills, and also in his production. The relatively quiet verses versus the proclamatory choruses — both rising as the song progresses, mixing in a varied palette of instruments he’d never used before — all contribute to an amazing listening experiencing. This remastered NEW vinyl blows all previous versions of this album away. Drum patterns that sounded the same before can now be heard on different drums, altering the sound dramatically. Guitars have “edges” on them. The bass is bottomless. Overall, it's three-dimensional. All the instruments have their “place.”

“Lonely Ol’ Night” is a classic rock single, with those revved-up intros, the rat-ta-tat-tat drumming, the boozy back-up vocals. “Face Of A Nation” flirts with being ham-fisted and heavy-handed, but it holds interest as you hear John experimenting with one of his different voices. He alters his tone and inflection, furnishing the voice the song demands. “Justice & Independence ’85” is a thrilling tour-de-force of all that is good in rock. “Between A Laugh And A Tear” will allow you to catch your breath, as it's a soothing duet with Rickie Lee Jones. “Rumbleseat” shows Mellencamp to be a master at this type of fun0loving, story-song, mid-tempo rocker. He'd soon perfect this with “Cherry Bomb.” “Kind Of Fella I Am” is a small song, one of John’s pseudo-autobiographical tunes tagged on at the end. It rocks nevertheless. The bonus, acoustic version of “Small Town” is great.

John Mellencamp, born in Indiana in 1951, has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and had 22 Top 40 hits in the U.S. Born with spina bifida, for which he had corrective surgery as an infant, he formed his first rock band at 14. His early musical influences were Woody Guthrie, James Brown and the Rolling Stones. He's made several forays into movie acting and helped co-found Farm Aid, loathed Ronald Reagan, was one of the first to speak out against the Iraq War and campaigned against George W. Bush. He also insisted Republican John McCain stop using his music at campaign rallies.

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