Search - John Mellencamp :: The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988

The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
John Mellencamp
The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

The Best That I Could Do collects the singles that led John Mellencamp into the radio/jukebox pantheon he celebrated in "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." and "Cherry Bomb." While albums such as American Fool, Uh Huh, and Scarecrow ...  more »

     
   

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CD Details

All Artists: John Mellencamp
Title: The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 7
Label: Island
Original Release Date: 11/18/1997
Release Date: 11/18/1997
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock, Metal
Styles: Singer-Songwriters, Roots Rock, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 731453673823, 0731453673823

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The Best That I Could Do collects the singles that led John Mellencamp into the radio/jukebox pantheon he celebrated in "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." and "Cherry Bomb." While albums such as American Fool, Uh Huh, and Scarecrow held Top 10 spots for months, their spinoff hits made this Hoosier disciple of Jagger, J.B., and Iggy into something like a Reagan-era John Fogerty: not only were "Pink Houses," "Paper in Fire," and "Crumblin' Down" wise (and wiseacre) dispatches from an America where it wasn't always morning, they could fill a dance floor and get you pounding the dashboard on the way home. --Rickey Wright

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Member CD Reviews

Jes G. (jesgear) from DAVENPORT, IA
Reviewed on 3/21/2012...
"Hurts So Good"
"Jack and Diane"
"Pink Houses"
"Lonely Ol' Night"
"R.O.C.K in the U.S.A."
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Ann K. from ALACHUA, FL
Reviewed on 10/2/2010...
Every single song on this CD from its beginning to end is absolutely amazing!!! I have only owned it for 2 months and have already played it 50 times or more. A must have for all Mellencamp fans.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Amy T. (simplyamy) from DAKOTA DUNES, SD
Reviewed on 8/16/2007...
John's best!
Victor T. (FlashAce) from JACKSONVILLE, FL
Reviewed on 5/3/2007...
Greatist Hits Album

CD Reviews

A near-perfect compilation
John Jones | Chicago IL | 06/14/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who's ever stepped foot in a bar or put money in a jukebox is more than familiar with the work of John Mellencamp. His earthy pairing of rock and country, not to mention lyrics that often celebrate the American dream as well as its disillusions, produces a down-home feel that appeals to any hard-working guy sidling up to the bar for a cold one. Listening to a Mellencamp record always sounds like you're sitting in on a jam session; the musicianship is tight as can be but it still sounds like everybody's hanging loose. This compilation, then, featuring almost all of his major hit singles, sounds like a party from start to finish.Early hits like "I Need a Lover" and "Ain't Even Done With the Night" still hold up well, and even the most modern rock would be hard-pressed to match the weight of the grooves found in "Hurt So Good" and "Jack and Diane." The songs that proved him heir to the Springsteen throne, "Pink Houses" and "Small Town," still sound as earnest as they did upon release, and if ever a pair of pop songs justified testing the volume limit of your stereo, they would be "Lonely Ole Night" and "Crumblin' Down."To have the collection stop at 1988 is puzzling, however; this leaves out his amazing cover of "Wild Night" with Me'shell N'Degeocello, and the two major VH1 staples from his "Mr. Happy Go Lucky" release, "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" and "Just Another Day." Had these been included (instead of the less-deserving "Check it Out," a "Cherry Bomb" knockoff) the compilation would have felt a touch more complete. Still, you hold in your hands thirteen classic examples of down-home, feel-good rock, one of which is a brand-new cut (the impressive "Without Expression"). Get your friends to a pool hall, order a round of brews, drop a couple of bucks into the jukebox, and enjoy."
The Best I Could Do
rocknroll26 | 12 year old music fan from Lucasville, Ohio | 05/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I now own all but two of the original albums that these came from ,and many other Mellencamp albums, this is my favorite of his CDs. It only goes through 1988 and there should be a Volume 2.
I Need A Lover- Great opening track.
Ain't Even Done With The Night=- One of his best.
Hurts So Good- You gotta like this.
Jack And Diane- See above.
Crumblin' Down- This is awesome and the drums on it are great.
Pink Houses- The best on this CD.
Authority Song- I love the guitar on the intro.
Lonely Ol' Night- In my opinion, this is a good song but not one of his best and Rain On The Scarecrow should be in it's place.
Small Town- One of the highlights of the Scarecrow album is also a highlight here.
R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.- A tribute to the music he grew up on
Paper In Fire- A different style from his earlier stuff but is still great.
Cherry Bomb- I love this
Check It Out- Pretty good.
Without Expression- Bonus track and proves he still has it.
John has a new album called Trouble No More coming out June 3!!!"