The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988

by John Mellencamp

Overview

The Best That I Could Do is an appropriately self-deprecating title for John Mellencamp's greatest-hits collection, considering that the heartland rocker never seemed too convinced of his own worth. Of course, he had to struggle to get any respect after he was saddled with the stage name Johnny Cougar early in his career, but this 14-track collection proves that he was one of the best, unabashed straight-ahead rockers of the '80s. The 14 tracks here actually turn out to be a little too short to contain all of his great singles -- songs like "Rain on the Scarecrow," "Rumbleseat," "Pop Singer," "Again Tonight," and "What If I Came Knocking" are left off the collection (there's nothing from 1988's Big Daddy at all) -- but it's hard to argue with what's here. Over the course of the collection, such classic rock hits as "I Need a Lover," "Hurts So Good," "Jack and Diane," "Crumblin' Down," "Pink Houses," "Lonely Ol' Night," "Small Town," "Paper in Fire," "Cherry Bomb," and "Check It Out" are chronicled, with a new cover of Terry Reid's "Without Expression" added for good measure. It may fall short of being definitive, but only by a small margin, and it remains an excellent overview and introduction to Mellencamp's remarkably consistent body of work. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/18/1997
Label:	Mercury / Def Jam / Island / Polygram
UPC:	0731453673823

Tracks

1. I Need a Lover
2. Ain't Even Done with the Night
3. Hurts So Good
4. Jack and Diane
5. Crumblin' Down
6. Pink Houses
7. Authority Song
8. Lonely Ol' Night
9. Small Town
10. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
11. Paper in Fire
12. Cherry Bomb
13. Check It Out
14. Without Expression

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Mellencamp   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Larry Crane   Guest Artist,Guitar,Harmonica,Vocals (Background)
Mick Ronson   Guest Artist,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Brian Bekvar   Guest Artist
Lisa Germano   Guest Artist,Fiddle,Violin
David Parman   Vocals (Background)
Crystal Califero   Accordion,Vocals (Background)
Rick Shlosser   Drums
George "Chocolate" Perry   Bass
Jay Ferguson   Keyboards
Dane Clark   Drums
Mike Wanchic   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Brian BecVar   Keyboards
Andy York   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Tom Knowles   Drums
Toby Myers   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Pat Peterson   Vocals (Background)
Sarah Flint   Vocals (Background)
Moe Z MD   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Robert Frank   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Eric Rosse   Keyboards
Kenny Aronoff   Drums,Vibraphone,Hammer Dulcimer,Vocals (Background)
Miriam Sturm   Violin
John Cascella   Accordion,Keyboards
Carroll Sue Hill   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Crystal Taliefero   Vocals (Background)
Willie Weeks   Bass

Technical Credits

John Mellencamp   Composer,Producer
Gary Green   Composer
George Corsillo   Art Direction
Manzone   Art Direction
Terry Reid   Composer
Paul Mahern   Engineer
Kenny Young   Composer
John Punter   Engineer,Producer
Ron Albert   Producer
Arthur Resnick   Composer
George Tutko   Engineer
George Green   Composer,Composer
Steve Cropper   Producer
Timothy White   Liner Notes
David Thoener   Engineer
Dee Robb   Engineer
Howard Albert   Producer
Little Bastard   Producer
Paul Jasmin   Photography
John Cougar   Composer
Don Gehman   Engineer,Producer
Greg Edward   Engineer
David Leonard   Engineer
Bruce Robb   Engineer