Chestnut Street Incident [Import]

John Mellencamp | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Castle Music UK
• ASIN: B000024503
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,407,056 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. American Dream

2. Oh, Pretty Woman

3. Jailhouse Rock

4. Dream Killing Town

5. Supergirl

6. Chestnut Street

7. Good Girls

8. Do You Believe in Magic

9. Twentieth Century Fox

10. Chestnut Street Revisited

11. Sad Lady

12. Hit the Road Jack [*]

13. I Need Somebody [*]

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on Snapper of his debut album, originally released on Mainman in 1976 & now with twobonus tracks: 'Hit The Road Jack' & 'I Need Somebody'. 13 tracks total. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars one he'd rather forget, August 17, 2000

By 

eileen flynn (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chestnut Street Incident (Audio CD)

You won't hear these tracks at any Mellencamp concerts, and for the most part, there's good reason for him to shun his early work. Mellencamp fell prey to a sleazy manager who wanted to craft a slick pop star image for the naive singer. The result is an awkward and, in some places, downright bad display songwriting, vocals and instrumentation. But Chestnut Street Incident must be understood in its context (it is, after all, 1976 and Mellencamp's first stab at making an album). The raw honesty about real life that would later make Mellencamp famous is evident here, particularly in "Dream Killing Town" and "American Dream," and -- if you can stand the slightly maudlin lyrics -- "Incident on Chestnut Street" and "Revisited." I wouldn't recommend this CD to someone who isn't passionate about Mellencamp or eager to explore all the phases of his career. But I rate "Dream Killing Town" up there with his best songs, and, as always, Mellencamp is no slouch when it comes to covers. He does a great version of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic?" On a personal level, this album holds particular sentiment for me. I got it when I was at the height of my Mellencamp adoration. I wore out the vinyl playing it over and over on my father's record player. And somehow, even as a kid, I identified with the yearning and sense of desperation Mellencamp felt growing up in a stifling small town. But later the album was stored away,and without a turntable of my own, I didn't listen to Chestnut Street Incident for years. Then, recently, while browsing through a record store, I discovered it on CD. And I can say the best, most heartfelt writing on Mellencamp's debut has the same impact 16 years later as it did when I first spun it on my dad's phonograph.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrible but pure Mellencamp at his humblest., June 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chestnut Street Incident (Audio CD)

5 stars??? For a sensless trashy album of terrible music and even worst lyrics? Yes! Because when you listen to this album you go past what the album sounds like as a Mellencamp, or anyone's, release and realise that this future legend's roots and improbable rise to the top was as real and honest as he let on to make you believe. And this album is the proof. With songs like "Chestnut Street" and the unbelievable "20th Century Fox", you can just see and feel the young kid inside trying to grow up and make you a fan. Although this and following releases didn't do it for him or you, untill, maybe, 'American Fool' (82). The album may be unlistenable in many senses of the word, but when you go beyond what you're hearing and into who and why you're hearing it, it then becomes the highly precious jewel you stumbled over accidentally. Thank you, John. 'Your Life Is Now"

1.0 out of 5 stars Positively terrible., January 29, 2012

By 

Geoff Tate (Lafayette, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chestnut Street Incident (Audio CD)

This may very well be one of the worst LPs/CDs of all time. Re-releasing it on CD was almost cruel to those of us that can hear. It's actually worse than Cuttin' Heads, Trouble No More, Freedom's Road, and Life, Death, Love and Freedom. Quite a feat, indeed!