John Mellencamp – Scarecrow (2 CD Deluxe Edition, 2022 Mix), FLAC+MP3

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I don’t know you, but “Scarecrow“, JOHN ‘COUGAR’ MELLENCAMP‘s LP from 1985 is one of the PLOTN08 team non-metal / hard rock albums from the mid-Eighties. ‘Scarecrow’ is the eighth studio album by Mellencamp, in a time when he still uses the ‘Cougar’ nickname, and it’s a milestone in his career.

“‘With Scarecrow,’ he is determined to make an album that’s not about John Cougar Mellencamp, but about—yes—America. He wants to pay tribute to the heartland’s workers, to stick up for the unglamorous life and to counsel grit and steadfastness.” (Jon Pareles, New York Times)
This album contained three Top 10 hits, a record for a Mellencamp album: “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” which peaked at #2 in the U.S.; “Lonely Ol’ Night,” which peaked at #6; and “Small Town,” which also peaked at #6. “Lonely Ol’ Night” also peaked at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, his second chart-topping single on this chart.
This newly ‘remixed & remastered edition’ of John Mellencamp’s Scarecrow features the original album, a full disc of rare & previously unreleased tracks, ATMOS, and new hi-resolution stereo mix of the album + bonus tracks.
“Scarecrow 2022 Mix” sounds great, refreshed.

John “Cougar” Mellencamp wanted to take a chance on the classic rock stuff – called at the time ‘heartland rock’ – during his heyday, dismissing the electronic-driven sound of the 80’s. This dedication was so apparent that he even brought his band to be required to learn tons of old singles to heart, all while rehearsing for Scarecrow’s recording sessions. Mellencamp wanted the album to carry the American roots setting, particularly the transitional economy affecting the daily lives of farmers and their families, which is spread onto the infectious 60’s style musical approach.

Welcoming the listener is “Rain On The Scarecrow”, a bright, folky arrangement that has Mellencamp chanting the lyrics in a haunting mood. “Grandma’s Theme” follows, which takes inspiration from the traditional tune “In The Baggage Coach Ahead”. Mellencamp even goes as far as having his own grandmother Laura Mellencamp sing for good measure.
“Small Town” ensues after, now sporting a rocking cadence and arrangement to it. “Minutes To Memories” still adopts the folk-rocker concept for a seamless blend with the previous track.

John “Cougar” Mellencamp wanted to take a chance on the classic rock stuff during his heyday, dismissing the electronic-driven sound of the 80’s. This dedication was so apparent that he even brought his band to be required to learn tons of old singles to heart, all while rehearsing for Scarecrow’s recording sessions. Mellencamp wanted the album to carry the American roots setting, particularly the transitional economy affecting the daily lives of farmers and their families, which is spread onto the infectious 60’s style musical approach.

Welcoming the listener is “Rain On The Scarecrow”, a bright, folky arrangement that has Mellencamp chanting the lyrics in a haunting mood. “Grandma’s Theme” follows, which takes inspiration from the traditional tune “In The Baggage Coach Ahead”. Mellencamp even goes as far as having his own grandmother Laura Mellencamp sing for good measure.

“Small Town” ensues after, now sporting a rocking cadence and arrangement to it. “Minutes To Memories” still adopts the folk-rocker concept for a seamless blend with the previous track.
“Justice And Independence ’85” has Mellencamp taking from funk influences to turn it into a gritty rock track. “Between A Laugh And A Tear” takes us back to the old Johnny Cougar days with its nostalgic rocker formula with a light dusting of riffs and backing vocals. “Rumbleseat” is an acoustic-based record that has an upbeat weave of guitar melodies and perfectly complementing bass parts.
The album closes with “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)”, hits the nail on the head with how the album should be tied together. It features the bright jangliness, with intersecting lead parts in the middle.

So, what else do we find in this deluxe edition of the reissue? Writers’ demos for “Small Town,” “Between a Laugh and a Tear” and “Rumbleseat” show up, giving the listener an earful of the early days of those tracks.
New-to-us songs “Carolina Shag” and “Smart Guys” are spotlighted, and the former in particular is a nifty flashback to a time when “shag” referenced not to Austin Powers but a rather innocent dance and a trip to Myrtle Beach with (presumably) fewer golf courses and strip clubs.
Covers like “Under the Boardwalk” (originally, a suitable B-side to “R.O.C.K.”) and “Shama Lama Ding Dong” spring from Mellencamp’s penchant for running his band through rock classics as a sort of revivalist warm-up exercise The band’s take on James Brown’s “Cold Sweat,” in particular, shows that, even with a shift in his songwriting focus, Mellencamp stayed committed to rock ‘n’ roll tradition.

But the best moment on the Scarecrow reissue may be the acoustic version of “Small Town” at the end of the first disc. This is a gorgeous take on what would become a “big rock song” later on. This cut, though, hews closest to the demo found on Disc 2, and also presages more use of the country-fied arrangements Mellencamp would delve into a few years later.

This reissue remix was handled by Mellencamp and Mike Wanchic, and mastered by legendary Bob Ludwig.
A timeless American Rock album which sounds better than never.

Disc 1
01. Rain On The Scarecrow (2022 Mix) (3:45)
02. Grandma's Theme (2022 Mix) (0:55)
03. Small Town (2022 Mix) (3:42)
04. Minutes To Memories (2022 Mix) (4:15)
05. Lonely Ol' Night (2022 Mix) (3:48)
06. The Face Of The Nation (2022 Mix) (3:14)
07. Justice And Independence '85 (2022 Mix) (3:31)
08. Between A Laugh And A Tear (2022 Mix) (4:30)
09. Rumbleseat (2022 Mix) (2:59)
10. You've Got To Stand For Somethin' (2022 Mix) (4:33)
11. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock) (2022 Mix) (2:56)
12. The Kind Of Fella I Am (2022 Mix) (2:56)
13. Small Town (Acoustic / 2022 Mix) (4:08)

Disc 2
01. Under The Boardwalk (2022 Mix) (3:55)
02. Lonely Ol' Night (Rough Mix) (3:49)
03. Between A Laugh And A Tear (Writer's Demo) (1:16)
04. Carolina Shag (2022 Mix) (3:35)
05. Cold Sweat (2022 Mix) (3:26)
06. Rumbleseat (Writer's Demo) (2:01)
07. Smart Guys (2022 Mix) (3:08)
08. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock) (Rough Mix) (2:48)
09. Minutes To Memories (Rough Mix) (4:13)
10. Shama Lama Ding Dong (2022 Mix) (3:21)
11. Small Town (Writer's Demo) (1:21)

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