John Mellencamp (album)
John Mellencamp is the 15th album by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp, released on October 6, 1998. It was the first of three albums Mellencamp would record for Columbia Records. "On this record, we ended up quite a bit away from where we started," Mellencamp told Guitar World Acoustic in 1998. "Initially, I wanted to make a record that barely had drums on it. Donovan made a record, Sunshine Superman, and I wanted to start with that same kind of vibe—Eastern, very grand stories, fairy tales. We ended up with a few Eastern instruments. But everybody prepared to make that record. After the last tour, I gave everybody Sunshine Superman, and I said: 'Listen to this record, because you're going to need to know it.'"
While it's unusual for an artist to release a self-titled album this late in their career, Mellencamp was asked by Columbia Records to self-title his debut album for them to mark a fresh start and a creative rebirth.
Track listing
Personnel
- John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar
- Dane Clark – drums, percussion
- Toby Myers – bass, vocals
- Miriam Sturm – violin, keys, vocals
- Mike Wanchic – guitars, vocals
- Andy York – guitars, Indian instruments, keys, vocals
- Moe Z M.D. – keys, loops, vocals
- Lisa Germano – violin, harmonica on "Miss Missy"
- Janas Hoyt – vocals
- Killa – vocals
- Stan Lynch – drums on "Miss Missy"
- Pat Peterson – vocals on "Miss Missy"
- Vess "Elvis" Ruhtenberg – bass on "It All Comes True"
- Jimmy Ryser – vocals
- Izzy Stradlin – guitar on "Miss Missy"
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
| October 24, 1998 | The Billboard 200 | 41 |
Singles – Billboard
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
| 1998 | "Your Life Is Now" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |
| 1998 | "Your Life Is Now" | Adult Contemporary | 19 |
| 1999 | "I'm Not Running Anymore" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 37 |
| 1999 | "I'm Not Running Anymore" | Adult Contemporary | 22 |