John Mellencamp performs for fans during a concert with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore. (2009/File Photo)
The other day I posted about the wonders of Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” and the cassette version of “A Very Special Christmas.”
One of my other favorite tracks on that compilation album came from John Mellencamp (who was still going by John Cougar Mellencamp back then), performing “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” I loved the fiddle in the song. I think it still holds up.
The thing about John Mellencamp is that he is the everyman of middle America. When he sings about the “little pink houses,” I see them. “Jack and Diane” is the quintessential story of teenage love, told with appropriate handclaps. And when he talks about fighting authority and authority always winning, well, hey we’ve all been there. (I talked about “The Authority Song” in particular a few months back.)
One of the songs of his I’ve been listening to a lot lately is “Paper In Fire,” which wasn’t one I could appreciate when I was younger, but I think if you look at modern music today, Mellencamp bridged Americana and rock music in a way that bands like The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons are doing today.
We had “Scarecrow” on cassette and there were two songs I constantly played: “R.O.C.K. in the USA” and “Rumbleseat.”
“Rumbleseat” is one of the far underappreciated gems in Mellencamp’s catalog.
Actually, I have his new film “It’s About You,” in my queue on my DVR. Has anyone seen it?
Want more holiday music? The artists I’ve been featuring this month are listed under the disturbing Wham! photo.
Wham! The other outtakes from the “Last Christmas” single are even more disturbing. (Contributed Image)
Dec. 1: Wham!
Dec. 2: Richard Marx
Dec. 3: Gram Rabbit
Dec. 4: Nat King Cole
Dec. 5: Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
Dec. 6: Billy Squier
Dec. 7: Run-DMC
Dec. 8: The LeeVees