Mr. Happy Go Lucky [Bonus Track] (1996)

John Mellencamp responded to his massive heart attack and close call with death with Mr. Happy Go Lucky, the most overtly ambitious album in his career. Mellencamp has always been a bit of a fatalist, so it isn't any great surprise that there is an undercurrent of dark mortality running through most of his songs. What is a surprise is his musical approach. Although he hasn't abandoned the essential elements of his music -- the rootsy instrumentation, the violins, the simple song structures, the gritty folk-rock -- he has ... Read More

John Mellencamp responded to his massive heart attack and close call with death with Mr. Happy Go Lucky, the most overtly ambitious album in his career. Mellencamp has always been a bit of a fatalist, so it isn't any great surprise that there is an undercurrent of dark mortality running through most of his songs. What is a surprise is his musical approach. Although he hasn't abandoned the essential elements of his music -- the rootsy instrumentation, the violins, the simple song structures, the gritty folk-rock -- he has augmented them with the help of Junior Vasquez, a noted dance producer. Vasquez doesn't push Mellencamp into dance, but he adds certain dynamics and techniques from club music to Mr. Happy Go Lucky, which occasionally gives the album a greater depth. It's a gentle change, not a forceful one -- nothing sounds like dance music, but there are deeper rhythms and bass throughout the album, which breathes life into well-crafted songs like "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)." Since he doesn't pursue dance completely on Mr. Happy Go Lucky, Mellencamp doesn't end up alienating his fans, but the reluctance to give himself over to dance makes the album uneven. Ironically, the tracks that exhibit Vasquez's influence the least are the least successful -- they simply sound like Mellencamp is going through the motions. Nevertheless, Mr. Happy Go Lucky proves that Mellencamp has more surprises in him than many listeners would have expected and suggests that he is in the process of revitalizing his career. [The 2005 reissue of the album added one bonus track: a live version of "What If I Came Knocking" that first appeared on the Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First) CD single.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Read Less

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• CD, Very Good 2005, Mercury/Island Def Jam UPC: 602498823514 See Item Details ▾

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  	Edition: 2005, Mercury/Island Def Jam CD, Very Good	Details: UPC: 602498823514 Discs: 1 Release: Original recording remastered, Ex Label: Mercury/Island Def Jam Released: 07/19/2005 Alibris ID: 17845190899	Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: $3.49 Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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• CD, Very Good 2005, Mercury/Island Def Jam UPC: 602498823514 See Item Details ▾

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  	Edition: 2005, Mercury/Island Def Jam CD, Very Good	Details: UPC: 602498823514 Discs: 1 Label: Mercury/Island Def Jam Released: 2005 Alibris ID: 17959737368	Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: $3.49 Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
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