| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
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 (in 1966), 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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fruit Trader" | John Mellencamp | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Your Life Is Now" | Mellencamp, George Green | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Positively Crazy" | Mellencamp, Green, Andrew York | 4:09 |
| 4. | "I'm Not Running Anymore" | Mellencamp | 3:26 |
| 5. | "It All Comes True" | Mellencamp, Green | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Eden Is Burning" | Mellencamp | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Where The World Began" | Mellencamp; Green | 3:29 |
| 8. | "Miss Missy" | Mellencamp | 3:40 |
| 9. | "Chance Meeting at the Tarantula" | Mellencamp | 4:05 |
| 10. | "Break Me Off Some" | Mellencamp; Moe Z M.D.; Green | 4:10 |
| 11. | "Summer Of Love" | Mellencamp; York | 4:01 |
| 12. | "Days Of Farewell" | Mellencamp; Toby Myers | 3:12 |
| Total length: | 45:56 | ||
Personnel
- John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar
Band
- 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
Guests
- 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
Album – Billboard (United States)[4]
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 1998 | The Billboard 200 | 41 |
Singles – Billboard (United States)[5]
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "Your Life Is Now" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |
| Adult Contemporary | 19 | ||
| 1999 | "I'm Not Running Anymore" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 37 |
| Adult Contemporary | 22 |