John Mellencamp- Scarecrow 40th Anniversary 7-28

It is the fortieth anniversary of Scarecrow, John Mellencamp’s eighth (!) studio album and a major musical signpost for the entire Eighties decade. No less than three of Scarecrow‘s songs cracked the Billboard Top Ten, including “Small Town” and “Lonely Ol’ Night” (both #6), and “R.O.C.K. in the USA” besting those at #2. But the chestnuts of songs including “Rain on the Scarecrow” and “Minutes to Memories” contain first-person narratives and incisive dialogue which gives Mellencamp’s songs the epic literary scope and cinematic sweep of a Larry McMurtry novel.

John Mellencamp joins me In the Studio the week of July 28 to honor the 5,000,000-seller Scarecrow on its fortieth anniversary. -Redbeard