Mr. Happy Go Lucky
Encyclopedia
Mr. Happy Go Lucky is a rock album released by American
singer-songwriter
and musician John Mellencamp
on September 10, 1996. It was his first album released after his heart attack
in 1994. Mellencamp's music on the album is said to reflect his brush with death. This album was recorded in Belmont, Indiana
, in his studio the Belmont Mall. The first single from the album, "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)", peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
and is his last Top 40 single in the United States
to date.
, except where noted.
found the depiction of the Devil and Jesus on the cover to be offensive and additionally stating it looked like the baby in the photo was dead. Mellencamp stated the baby was his son, Hud and was only sleeping, but he wasn't upset at changing it since he didn't design or decide on the cover, and since the music wasn't required to be changed. The newer versions of the cover art have the Devil and Jesus removed.
Singles - Billboard (America)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
on September 10, 1996. It was his first album released after his heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1994. Mellencamp's music on the album is said to reflect his brush with death. This album was recorded in Belmont, Indiana
Belmont, Indiana
Belmont is an unincorporated town in Washington Township, Brown County, Indiana.Belmont was originally the settlement of the Shakers, who quickly died out. However, they left the bell from their church. The bell went with the land in the government auction. The bell remained until 1920 by that...
, in his studio the Belmont Mall. The first single from the album, "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)", peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and is his last Top 40 single in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to date.
Track listing
All songs written by John MellencampJohn Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
, except where noted.
- "Overture" (Mellencamp; arranged Miriam Sturm) – 1:56
- "Jerry" – 4:24
- "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" (Mellencamp, George M. GreenGeorge Green (songwriter)George Michael Green was an American songwriter. His compositions included the Top 10 Billboard hits "Crumblin' Down" and "Hurts So Good" , as well as another Canadian Number 1 hit in "Key West Intermezzo ".- Biography :Green was John Mellencamp's long-time writing...
) – 4:54 - "Just Another Day" – 3:28
- "This May Not Be The End Of The World" (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 5:29
- "Emotional Love" (Toby Myers) – 3:20
- "Mr. Bellows" – 4:26
- "The Full Catastrophe" – 3:11
- "Circling Around The Moon" (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 5:48
- "Large World Turning" – 3:55
- "Jackamo Road" – 1:37
- "Life Is Hard" – 3:15
- "What If I Came Knocking?" (2005 re-issue bonus track) - 5:26
Covert Art Controversy
After being released into stores nationwide, retail giant Wal-MartWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
found the depiction of the Devil and Jesus on the cover to be offensive and additionally stating it looked like the baby in the photo was dead. Mellencamp stated the baby was his son, Hud and was only sleeping, but he wasn't upset at changing it since he didn't design or decide on the cover, and since the music wasn't required to be changed. The newer versions of the cover art have the Devil and Jesus removed.
Personnel
- John Mellencamp - vocals, guitar
- Mike Wanchic - guitars, dobro, background vocals, mellotron, organ, mandolin
- Andy York - guitars, background vocals, chamberlain, organ, harmonica, mandolin, mellotron, percussion
- Toby Myers - bass, background vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Kenny AronoffKenny AronoffKenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
- drums, percussion, loops, vibes - Moe Z M.D. - loops, organ, backing vocals
- Raphael SaadiqRaphael SaadiqRaphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J...
- bass, backing vocals - Miriam Sturm - violin
- Milton Davis - bass
- Jimmy Ryser - violin, backing vocals
- Lonnie PitchfordLonnie PitchfordLonnie Pitchford was an American blues musician and instrument maker from Lexington, Mississippi. He was notable in that he was one of only a handful of young African American musicians from Mississippi who had learned and was continuing the Delta blues and country blues traditions of the older...
- slide guitar - Pat Peterson - backing vocals
- Jeff Pedersen - organ
- Harvey PhillipsHarvey PhillipsHarvey Phillips was a professor emeritus of the , Indiana University, Bloomington and dedicated advocate for the tuba.-Biography:Phillips was a professional freelance musician from 1950 to 1971, winning his first professional...
- tuba - Tim Riggins - trombone
- Dennis Riggins - saxophone
Charts
Album - Billboard (America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| September 28, 1996 | The Billboard 200 | 9 |
Singles - Billboard (America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 14 |
| 1996 | "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 |
| 1996 | "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" | Adult Contemporary | 15 |
| 1997 | "Just Another Day" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 46 |
| 1997 | "Just Another Day" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 13 |
| 1997 | "Just Another Day" | Adult Contemporary | 24 |