On the Rural Route 7609
Encyclopedia
On the Rural Route 7609 is a box set by rock singer/songwriter John Mellencamp
that was released on June 15, 2010. The first part of the title refers to the song "Rural Route" (which is included in two versions) from his 2007 album Freedom's Road
and the fact that Mellencamp's music and lifestyle have always been very rural in nature, and 7609 references that the set spans Mellencamp's entire recording career from 1976 to 2009. Said Mellencamp in the set's liner notes: “I started making records in ’76, and the most recent track on the collection was done in ‘09. So Rural Route 7609; it’s like an address. I thought it sounded cool.”
The liner notes for "On the Rural Route 7609" were penned by veteran rock journalist Anthony DeCurtis
, who also wrote the liner notes for Eric Clapton
's Crossroads
and Billy Joel
's My Lives
. DeCurtis wrote a 4,500-word essay on Mellencamp, and Mellencamp provides track-by-track commentary.
While there are many standard album tracks included on the set, there is also quite a bit of previously unreleased material, although no new unreleased songs. Highlights include Mellencamp's newly-recorded version of "Colored Lights" -- a song he wrote for The Blasters
in 1985 -- "Jenny at 16," a demo which ultimately became "Jack and Diane," and recently-recorded solo acoustic versions of "Sugar Marie" and "To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)."
magazine senior editor David Fricke
gave "On the Rural Route 7609" four stars in the July 8, 2010 issue. Fricke wrote:
2. Grandma's Theme
3. Rural Route
4. Jackie Brown
5. Rain On The Scarecrow (Rough Harvest
version)
6. Jim Crow with Cornel West
**
7. Jim Crow
8. Big Daddy Of Them All
9. Deep Blue Heart
10. Forgiveness
11. Don't Need This Body
12. Jenny At 16 *
13. Jack And Diane (writing demo)*
14. Jack And Diane
**
2. Ghost Towns Along The Highway
3. The Full Catastrophe
4. Authority Song (writing demo)*
5. Troubled Land
6. To Washington
7. Our Country (alternate version)*
8. Country Gentlemen
9. Freedom's Road
10. Mr. Bellows*
11. Rodeo Clown
12. Love And Happiness (Rough Harvest
version)
13. Pink Houses
2. Someday
3. Between A Laugh And A Tear (Rough Harvest
version)
4. Void In My Heart * (Recorded live at Chess Studios in May 1989)
5. Death Letter
6. Sugar Marie *
7. Theo And Weird Henry
8. When Jesus Left Birmingham
9. L.U.V.
10. Thank You
11. Women Seem
12. The World Don't Bother Me None*
13. Cherry Bomb (writing demo)*
14. Someday The Rains Will Fall
15. A Ride Back Home
2. Colored Lights *
3. Just Like You
4. Young Without Lovers
5. To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)*
6. Sweet Evening Breeze
7. What If I Came Knocking
8. County Fair
9. Peaceful World (writing demo)*
10. Your Life Is Now
11. For The Children
12. Rural Route *
* = Previously unreleased
** = Spoken word reading of lyrics
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...
that was released on June 15, 2010. The first part of the title refers to the song "Rural Route" (which is included in two versions) from his 2007 album Freedom's Road
Freedom's Road
Freedom's Road is an album by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp, released in 2007. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number five in late January 2007, becoming the highest debuting album of Mellencamp's career...
and the fact that Mellencamp's music and lifestyle have always been very rural in nature, and 7609 references that the set spans Mellencamp's entire recording career from 1976 to 2009. Said Mellencamp in the set's liner notes: “I started making records in ’76, and the most recent track on the collection was done in ‘09. So Rural Route 7609; it’s like an address. I thought it sounded cool.”
The liner notes for "On the Rural Route 7609" were penned by veteran rock journalist Anthony DeCurtis
Anthony DeCurtis
Anthony DeCurtis is an American author and music critic, who has written for Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Relix and other publications.-Career:...
, who also wrote the liner notes for Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's Crossroads
Crossroads (box set)
Crossroads is a music collection box set by Eric Clapton. The set includes his work with The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career...
and Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's My Lives
My Lives
My Lives is a box set compilation of demos, outtakes, B-sides, soundtrack cuts, live recordings and album cuts by American singer/songwriter Billy Joel. It was released on November 22, 2005...
. DeCurtis wrote a 4,500-word essay on Mellencamp, and Mellencamp provides track-by-track commentary.
Summary
This box set contains four discs and 54 tracks and each disc is set up as an individual album with common themes rather than being presented in chronological order. The purpose behind this set is to highlight Mellencamp's songwriting.While there are many standard album tracks included on the set, there is also quite a bit of previously unreleased material, although no new unreleased songs. Highlights include Mellencamp's newly-recorded version of "Colored Lights" -- a song he wrote for The Blasters
The Blasters
The Blasters are a rock and roll music group formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin and Dave Alvin , with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had...
in 1985 -- "Jenny at 16," a demo which ultimately became "Jack and Diane," and recently-recorded solo acoustic versions of "Sugar Marie" and "To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)."
Reviews
Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine senior editor David Fricke
David Fricke
David Fricke is a senior editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he writes predominantly on rock music. In the 1990s, he was managing editor before stepping down.-Background:David Fricke is a graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
gave "On the Rural Route 7609" four stars in the July 8, 2010 issue. Fricke wrote:
Disc One
1. Longest Days2. Grandma's Theme
3. Rural Route
4. Jackie Brown
5. Rain On The Scarecrow (Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest is a collection of alternate, acoustic arrangements of John Mellencamp's favorite tracks, as well as several covers. Recorded mostly in 1997 , the album fulfilled Mellencamp's contractual obligation with Mercury Records.-Track listing:# "Love And Happiness" -...
version)
6. Jim Crow with Cornel West
Cornel West
Cornel Ronald West is an American philosopher, author, critic, actor, civil rights activist and prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America....
**
7. Jim Crow
8. Big Daddy Of Them All
9. Deep Blue Heart
10. Forgiveness
11. Don't Need This Body
12. Jenny At 16 *
13. Jack And Diane (writing demo)*
14. Jack And Diane
Disc Two
1. The Real Life with Joanne WoodwardJoanne Woodward
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward is an American actress, television and theatrical producer, and widow of Paul Newman...
**
2. Ghost Towns Along The Highway
3. The Full Catastrophe
4. Authority Song (writing demo)*
5. Troubled Land
6. To Washington
7. Our Country (alternate version)*
8. Country Gentlemen
9. Freedom's Road
10. Mr. Bellows*
11. Rodeo Clown
12. Love And Happiness (Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest is a collection of alternate, acoustic arrangements of John Mellencamp's favorite tracks, as well as several covers. Recorded mostly in 1997 , the album fulfilled Mellencamp's contractual obligation with Mercury Records.-Track listing:# "Love And Happiness" -...
version)
13. Pink Houses
Disc Three
1. If I Die Sudden (live)2. Someday
3. Between A Laugh And A Tear (Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest
Rough Harvest is a collection of alternate, acoustic arrangements of John Mellencamp's favorite tracks, as well as several covers. Recorded mostly in 1997 , the album fulfilled Mellencamp's contractual obligation with Mercury Records.-Track listing:# "Love And Happiness" -...
version)
4. Void In My Heart * (Recorded live at Chess Studios in May 1989)
5. Death Letter
6. Sugar Marie *
7. Theo And Weird Henry
8. When Jesus Left Birmingham
9. L.U.V.
10. Thank You
11. Women Seem
12. The World Don't Bother Me None*
13. Cherry Bomb (writing demo)*
14. Someday The Rains Will Fall
15. A Ride Back Home
Disc Four
1. My Aeroplane2. Colored Lights *
3. Just Like You
4. Young Without Lovers
5. To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)*
6. Sweet Evening Breeze
7. What If I Came Knocking
8. County Fair
9. Peaceful World (writing demo)*
10. Your Life Is Now
11. For The Children
12. Rural Route *