Whenever We Wanted


Whenever We Wanted is American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp's 11th album, and the first to be credited simply to Mellencamp's given name.
The album reached the top 20 and went platinum. It includes the hits "Get A Leg Up", "Now More Than Ever", "Last Chance", and "Again Tonight". "Get A Leg Up" and "Again Tonight" also cracked the Billboard Hot 100.
Entertainment Weekly gave the album a positive review, stating: "To Mellencamp's credit, even though 'Whenever We Wanted' delivers his signature rock & roll punch, he doesn't try to. That Mellencamp still has the courage to make depressing assessments in a pop context is a victory that outweighs the record's other shortcomings."
Despite calling Whenever We Wanted one of the best records he had ever made during his 1991 promotional radio tour to support the album, Mellencamp's opinion of Whenever We Wanted has since diminished. He told Alan Sculley of Call Newspapers in 2005: "There were some records that I really wasn't there for. I mean, I did a record called Whenever We Wanted, which really isn't a very good record. I mean, I was there, but I was painting. I'd be hours late for sessions just because I was in the middle of a painting. That's not good doing that kind of thing. Human Wheels turned out pretty good, but I kind of was doing the same thing during Human Wheels."

Album notes

The woman featured on the cover with Mellencamp is Elaine Irwin. The cover photo was taken during the shoot for the video for the hit single "Get a Leg Up." The video was shot in July 1991; Mellencamp and Irwin didn't see each other again until January 1992 when the Whenever We Wanted Tour pulled into New York City. They become a couple a short time later and were married in September 1992. They separated in September 2010 and were divorced in 2011.
After his previous two albums, The Lonesome Jubilee and Big Daddy, featured such non-traditional rock instruments as the accordion and violin, Mellencamp said that on Whenever We Wanted he wanted to put those instruments "back in their cases" and return to a harder-edged sound. Mellencamp further elaborated on the album, saying: "It's very rock 'n' roll. I just wanted to get back to the basics."

Track listing

All songs written by John Mellencamp, except where noted.
  1. "Love and Happiness" – 3:53
  2. "Now More Than Ever" – 3:43
  3. "I Ain't Ever Satisfied" – 3:36
  4. "Get a Leg Up" – 3:47
  5. "Crazy Ones" – 4:01
  6. "Last Chance" – 3:39
  7. "They're So Tough" – 4:17
  8. "Melting Pot" – 4:47
  9. "Whenever We Wanted" – 3:42
  10. "Again Tonight" – 3:17
  11. "Love and Happiness " – 6:33

    Personnel

Album – Billboard
YearChartPosition
October 26, 1991The Billboard 20017

Singles – Billboard
YearSingleChartPosition
1991"Get A Leg Up"The Billboard Hot 10014
1991"Get A Leg Up"Mainstream Rock Tracks1
1991"Love And Happiness"Mainstream Rock Tracks5
1992"Again Tonight"The Billboard Hot 10036
1992"Again Tonight"Mainstream Rock Tracks1
1992"Now More Than Ever"Mainstream Rock Tracks3
1992"Last Chance"Mainstream Rock Tracks12