John Cougar Mellencamp "Scarecrow" cassette tape

This is the album wherein Johnny Cougar became John Mellencamp. It has the handclappin’ cheese (“R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”). It has the Bruce-ish rockers (“Lonely Ol’ Night’). And it has the heartland anthems (“Small Town”). Before we had cool, accidental Americana stars like Wilco, we had earnest Roots Rock like this. A genuinely great album from an artist who sometimes got too much credit — but not this time.