Scarecrow
by John Cougar Mellencamp
- Type: Album
- Released: 4 November 1985
- Label: Riva
- Country: United States
- Length: 37:54
- Community rating: 3.68/5 from 4 ratings
Artists on this release: Mimi Mapes, Larry Crane, Jack Wilkins, Toby Myers, George Green, Mike Wanchic, Richard Fanning, Rickie Lee Jones, Laura Mellencamp, Kenny Aronoff, John Cascella, Sarah Flint
Album Notes & Community Reviews
'Scarecrow' is a defining, highly conscious masterpiece of heartland rock that examines the devastating collapse of the American farming industry. Mellencamp utilizes muscular, undeniably energetic rock instrumentation mixed with acoustic folk textures to deliver deeply passionate, bittersweet narratives of rural struggle. The album is a profoundly empathetic, melodic, and culturally vital portrait of the fading American Dream.
Genres
Descriptors: melodic, conscious, storytelling, earnest, arena rock
Tracklist
- Rain On The Scarecrow (3:46)
- Grandma's Theme (0:55)
- Small Town (3:42)
- Minutes To Memories (4:11)
- Lonely Ol' Night (3:44)
- The Face Of The Nation (3:13)
- Justice And Independence '85 (3:32)
- Between A Laugh And A Tear (4:32)
- Rumbleseat (2:57)
- You've Got To Stand For Somethin' (4:33)
- R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock) (2:49)
Credits
- John Cougar Mellencamp - primary artist, written-by, arranged by
- Larry Crane - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals, band
- Bob Cato - art direction, design
- Kenny Aronoff - band, drums, tambourine, vibraphone [vibes], backing vocals
- Mike Wanchic - band, electric guitar, vocals [cameo shadow vocals]
- Toby Myers - band, electric bass, backing vocals
- Don Gehman - engineer, mixed by, producer
- Greg Edward - engineer, mixed by
- Rick Fettig - engineer [assistant engineer]
- Ross Alexander - engineer [maintenance engineer]
- John Cascella - guest, keyboards
- Bob Ludwig - lacquer cut by, mastered by [mastering engineer]
- Champion Entertainment Organization, Inc. - management
- Tommy Mottola - management
- George Tutko - mixed by
- Marc Hauser - photography by
- Little Bastard - producer
- George Green - written-by
- Laura Mellencamp - guest, lead vocals
- Traditional - written-by
- Mimi Mapes - guest, backing vocals
- Jack Wilkins - guest, saxophone
- Richard Fanning - guest, trumpet
- Rickie Lee Jones - guest, vocals
- Sarah Flint - guest, backing vocals [background vocals]