John Mellencamp (album)

John Mellencamp is the 15th album by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp, released on October 6, 1998. It was the first of three albums Mellencamp would record for Columbia Records. "On this record, we ended up quite a bit away from where we started," Mellencamp told Guitar World Acoustic in 1998. "Initially, I wanted to make a record that barely had drums on it. Donovan made a record (in 1966), Sunshine Superman, and I wanted to start with that same kind of vibe—Eastern, very grand stories, fairy tales. We ended up with a few Eastern instruments. But everybody prepared to make that record. After the last tour, I gave everybody Sunshine Superman, and I said: 'Listen to this record, because you're going to need to know it.'"

John Mellencamp
Studio album by John Mellencamp
Released	October 6, 1998
Recorded	1998
Genre	Rock
Length	45:56
Label	Columbia
Producer	John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp chronology
The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 (1997) John Mellencamp (1998) Rough Harvest (1999)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

While it's unusual for an artist to release a self-titled album this late in their career, Mellencamp was asked by Columbia Records to self-title his debut album for them to mark a fresh start and a creative rebirth.

Track listing

CD

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Fruit Trader"	John Mellencamp	3:57
2.	"Your Life Is Now"	Mellencamp, George Green	3:59
3.	"Positively Crazy"	Mellencamp, Green, Andrew York	4:09
4.	"I'm Not Running Anymore"	Mellencamp	3:26
5.	"It All Comes True"	Mellencamp, Green	3:58
6.	"Eden Is Burning"	Mellencamp	3:50
7.	"Where The World Began"	Mellencamp; Green	3:29
8.	"Miss Missy"	Mellencamp	3:40
9.	"Chance Meeting at the Tarantula"	Mellencamp	4:05
10.	"Break Me Off Some"	Mellencamp; Moe Z M.D.; Green	4:10
11.	"Summer Of Love"	Mellencamp; York	4:01
12.	"Days Of Farewell"	Mellencamp; Toby Myers	3:12
Total length:			45:56

Personnel

• John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar

Band

• Dane Clark – drums, percussion
• Toby Myers – bass, vocals
• Miriam Sturm – violin, keys, vocals
• Mike Wanchic – guitars, vocals
• Andy York – guitars, Indian instruments, keys, vocals
• Moe Z M.D. – keys, loops, vocals

Guests

• Lisa Germano – violin, harmonica on "Miss Missy"
• Janas Hoyt – vocals
• Killa – vocals
• Stan Lynch – drums on "Miss Missy"
• Pat Peterson – vocals on "Miss Missy"
• Vess "Elvis" Ruhtenberg – bass on "It All Comes True"
• Jimmy Ryser – vocals
• Izzy Stradlin – guitar on "Miss Missy"

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States)[4]

Year	Chart	Position
October 24, 1998	The Billboard 200	41

Singles – Billboard (United States)[5]

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1998	"Your Life Is Now"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	15
		Adult Contemporary	19
1999	"I'm Not Running Anymore"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	37
		Adult Contemporary	22

References

1. AllMusic review
2. Entertainment Weekly review
3. Rolling Stone review
4. Billboard.com – Discography – John Mellencamp – John Mellencamp
5. Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – John Mellencamp