Customer Reviews

Mr Happy Go Lucky (New Cover Art)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Persoanlly, I think this is the best Mellancamp album. Clearly John's brush with death (heart attack before this) left him focused and it shows in this album. Not your typical Mellancamp effort - many fans might be left somewhat confused and disappointed, but from a more objective perspective this might be his best album. Integrated and thematically consistent in a way that many of his others albums are not. One could think of this as his "Sgt. Pepper." Highly reccommended for anyone.

I've been a Melloncamp fan for decades now and return to his albums again and again when I need an authentic music encounter. Mr. Happy Go Lucky is by far his best complete work. The album is a seemless dark journey that is strangely humerous and sad. Not a moment on this disk is dull or boring;hen you put it on you are compelled to listen to it top to bottom. Of all his disks, and I have them all, this is the one I grab on the way out of a burning house.

As so often happens in music, one of Mellencamp's least-heralded album's turns out to be his finest. From start to finish it is a complete collage of powerful, compelling, moving tunes. This album does indeed have a "dark and witty" character: from the haunting "Overture" and "Jerry" to the darkish, powerful pop of "Just Another Day" and "Life is Hard," to the uplifting, optimistic "Key West Intermezzo" (about John's wife), Mellencamp has crafted a complex bit of pieces that, put together, form a masterpiece. Would that more people felt the joy I receive from this album!!

Not his best album but is highly recommended - give a listen to "Circling Around the Moon", "Just Another Day", and "Large World Turning"

NOTE: Kenny Arnoff quit Mellencamp's band when Mellencamp and Junior Vasquez decided to remix over Kenny's original drum work when editing this album

Some albums sound like group of songs thrown together randomly. Some work together towards a story, like Tommy or Kilroy Was Here. But, this album is different than most. Mr. Happy Go Lucky is a collection of songs that have a sound that is different than what you hear with most modern rock, and they all hang together in a melodious way.

Overall, I found this to be a wonderfully different listening experience. The tunes are not toe-tapping pop music, but are enthralling, and make for a fascinating music session. I really enjoy this album, and give it my highest recommendations.

Some albums sound like group of songs thrown together randomly. Some work together towards a story, like Tommy or Kilroy Was Here. But, this album is different than most. Mr. Happy Go Lucky is a collection of songs that have a sound that is different than what you hear with most modern rock, and they all hang together in a melodious way.

Overall, I found this to be a wonderfully different listening experience. The tunes are not toe-tapping pop music, but are enthralling, and make for a fascinating music session. I really enjoy this album, and give it my highest recommendations.

I've been a rock affectionado for 30 plus years. This is my first Mellancamp record. Not interested in Pink Houses and his other commercial successes. Bought this on a whim and am having difficulty extracting it from the CD player. This is rock the way it was meant to be...Large World Turning, Circling Round the Moon, Full Catastrophe, Emotional Love, all terrific. The violin play is icing on the cake. I can only hope Mr. Mellancamp continues on this less commercial road!

Has it really been 14 years between "American Fool" and "Mr. Happy Go Lucky"? Like most people, "American Fool" was my introduction to JM, and while I liked the record, I doubted whether he would go on to produce anything 'substantial'. Obviously, I was wrong. This album may be the finest work of his career, and, looking back at his catalog, that is saying alot. While it is not my style to critique the individual tracks, I'll say this: There is no song on this record that is less than fantastic, and the best numbers can cure all that ails you. So, once and for all, quit calling the man a "poor man's Springsteen" or words to that effect. At this point, his catalog matches up to the Boss, and then some. A big Springsteen fan myself, I find myself re-listening to "Scarecrow", "Lonesome Jubilee", "Whenever We Wanted", and this record far more often than I replay "Born to Run", "Darkness on the Edge of Town", "Born in the USA", etc. In closing, all I can really say is: Buy this album. Buy this album.

I've been listening to Mellencamp's music since i was a child (my brother likes him) i still don't think of his general music as catchy. But this is amazing, it's absolute perfection... John did really good on this album, & i like the way he sings on the "get-tough" songs & on the romantic ones, the album's very different than his usuall stuff (beats & bass lines). shame that it's underrated by the public & hardly anyone knows about this album (it's his best ever)

now, after listening to "Mr. happy goes lucky" for nearly 3 years i finally found similiar music to his. Train (meet virginia, I am..etc...) is the other version for this great music, both are alike in being very masculin :P (i should drop that i know)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who appreciates good rock.

Hands down, this is Mellencamp's best work. If you still think of "Jack and Diane" when you think of John Mellencamp, this CD will bring you up to date with this fantastic artist. I don't really care for John's early work anymore. It's not bad but pales in comparison to his recent releases. He's come a long way and this is the CD that made me understand why he's so popular. If there's a better Mellencamp song than "The Full Catastrophe", then I haven't heard it. "This May Not Be the End of the World" and "Emotional Love" are other highlights. Great melodies and more hooks than a tackle box! Absolute top-notch production is the icing on the cake. The symphonic medley of all the songs at the beginning of the CD is a nice touch. I've never heard that done before. To sum it up, Check it Out!