Scarecrow

John Cougar Mellencamp, John Mellencamp

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: November 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001FCY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,825 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rain on the Scarecrow

2. Grandma's Theme

3. Small Town

4. Minutes to Memories

5. Lonely Ol' Night

6. Face of the Nation

7. Justice and Independence '85

8. Between a Laugh and a Tear

9. Rumbleseat

10. You've Got to Stand for Somethin'

11. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.

12. Kind of Fella I Am

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Though the comparison has often been applied to him unfairly, it's fair to say that Scarecrow is to John Cougar Mellencamp what Born in the U.S.A. is to Bruce Springsteen: a hugely popular hit that solidified both his fan base and his critical reputation. The one important difference is that U.S.A.'s message was largely misinterpreted (Ronald Reagan co-opted the title song in a manner that's tragically ironic), while Scarecrow's ode to Mellencamp's native Indiana comes through loud and clear. Shortly after the release of this album, Mellencamp got involved in the Farm Aid benefit-concert series, and his concern for that lifestyle is evident on songs like "Small Town," "Rain on the Scarecrow," and "Rumbleseat"; other songs ("Lonely Old Night," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.") are straight from the heart(land). --Randy Silver

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of rock and roll's finest albums, December 24, 1999

By A Customer

What makes a great album a best album are the songs that penetrate your soul but not the radio charts. The B-siders. Scarecrow songs with the simple grace of "Minutes to Memories" and "Between and Laugh and a Tear" complement the hit melodies that made my high school soundtrack. I bought the vinyl in '85 and the CD in '95 and the songs are never worn, but always fresh and revealing. Like albums such as Van's Moondance, Bruce's Born to Run, or U2's Joshua Tree, Scarecrow is a rock and roll masterpiece. And while JM is still producing great music, Scarecrow is his best to date. It's more than an Amazon essential recording. It's one of rock's truly finest.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, July 20, 2000

By	Joe (Gloversville, MS) - See all my reviews

Every reviewer here is right. This is a classic album. The songs on it all keep a flow to the CD that never wears out. When it comes down to key moments on the disc, Mellencamp laid out with such exquisite beauty tracks like Between a Laugh and a Tear, Minutes to Memories,Rain on the Scarecrow, Rumbleseat, and Small Town, that half the album is unforgettable. The rest of the album is good filler, more rock out tunes, some social commentary- Face of the Nation, Justice and Independence, ROCK, Lonely Ol' Night. This album yielded five top 40 hits, there's no question why when you listen to it. John Mellencamp simply sang from his soul honest songs about the people he knew. Instead of the people being junkies from LA, they were regular men and women of the midwest. It still stands a perfect roots-rock album for any time and place.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb rocking socio-political commentary from the Cougar, October 4, 2003

By	Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The songs and sounds of Scarecrow is a far cry from the braggadocio John Cougar Mellencamp showed in his earlier "Hurt So Good" and rebelliousness in "Authority Song". The harder-edged electric rock sound with pounding riffs yielded five singles and pushed him at his apex in the 80's rock arena, alongside big names like Bruce Springsteen and Prince.

"Rain On The Scarecrow" definitely does indicate that. The Reagan era saw many farms closed down but what makes this song poignant and angry is the destruction of the farmers' morale. It's not just the land that's being taken away, but a man's dignity in feeding a country's people. "There's 97 crosses planted in the courthouse yard/and 97 families who lost 97 farms."

I never got tired of hearing "Small Town", despite the fact I hated the one I lived in. Must've been that catchy guitar and Kenny Aronoff's drums that did it. But in JCM's ode to the small town he grew up in, we learn more about his roots, his parents, his upbringing, and himself, of course. A small town reflects who he is: "Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town/And people let me be just what I want to be." However, I take issue when he self-deprecatingly calls himself a boring romantic. Boring? Hardly!

"Minutes To Memories" is the interraction between an old man and a younger one riding a bus. The old man tells about his life, and his value in certainties. His advice to the young man may be one to us all: "Days turn to minutes/and minutes to memories/Life sweeps away the dreams/That we have planned/You are young and you are the future/So suck it up and tough it out/And be the best you can."

The intense stomp of "Lonely Ol' Night" more or less emphasizes the need for human company, because "ain't they all [lonely ol' nights]?"

From the way he beholds "Face Of The Nation", it's one of JCM's state of the union addresses. Poverty is the one thing identified here, as well as the absence of the golden rule, which is yet another chop at Reaganomics. "I don't recognize it [the face of the nation] no more," he sings.

"Justice and Independence '85" is an allegory of America and how it has gone awry. Independence Day marries a girl named Justice, and together they have a child named the Nation, but the girl and child leave on their own. "Well, Nation grew up and got himself a big reputation/Couldn't keep the boy at home oh no/He just kept runnin' round and round and round and round/Independence and Justice, well, they felt so ashamed/When the Nation fell down they argued who was to blame." Very accurate portait of America!

The mid-paced "Between A Laugh And A Tear", which features Rickie Lee Jones as accompanying vocalist, details how one can be mentally jaded when one's dreams fall through, and is a personal song about my state of mind: "Through the days you feel a little used up/And you don't know where your energy's gone/It's just your soul feelin' a little downhearted." That's me, all right.

"Rumbleseat" is an amusing rocker about a guy who's so self-pitying, he says, "I feel for the sorry for the world/I feel sorry for you/Yes I am a pitiful sight/I can't even get one thing right." As the song goes on, though, he decides to "stop putting myself down/I'm gonna turn my life around." Lesson for me, you think?

"You've Got To Stand For Somethin'" is a slap against the gossip-mongering, warmongering mentality, with references to Vanessa Williams's scandal. As he says, "The American people/paid a high price for justice/And I don't know why." "We've got to start respectin' this world/or it's gonna turn around and bite off our face" he says. You tell'em, Cougar!

"R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." is an engaging rocker, that's a nod to the 60's music JCM grew up with--with even a small flute and organ section--, and the musicians who took a risk to follow their dreams. The mention of Frankie Lyman, Bobby Fuller, the Shangri-Las, made me want to find out who these artists were. And yes, "let's don't forget James Brown."

"The Kind Of Fella I Am" shows JCM to be ordinary, not impressed with flashy extravagant nothings, but also jealous when it comes to a woman.

A very mature, socio-political commentary with rocking sensibilities from Seymour, Indiana's small town guy.