"This Time" by John Cougar

Song#:  0348
Date:  09/27/1980
Debut:  84
Peak:  27
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Folks often forget that before "Hurts So Good" and the legend of "Jack and Diane" (and before being known as a heartland rocker), John Mellencamp was finding his way through the music business and had a couple of minor hits. He was given the name Johnny Cougar when he started and after one failed album and one shelved (later released) for MCA, he signed to Riva Records and his first US release for the label was the self-titled "John Cougar," which resulted in the #28 "I Need a Lover." His follow-up album, "Nothin' Matters and What If It Did," started off just as well with this Top 30 song. Critics were not kind to these early albums, but soon Mellencamp would find big success and it allowed him some artistic freedom that brought about critical praise and a string of hits.

ReduxReview:  I think during these early years, Mellencamp was being marketed as a tough, punk-like troubadour with attitude to spare. But the music seemed empty and false. Yes, he had a couple of good singles, but everything else was pretty much throwaways. Mellencamp has said that this album was a lazy effort because he thought his career was pretty much over. Luckily, the label really believed in him and it lead to a remarkable career. He slowly became one of my all-time favorite artists ("Scarecrow" is the album that put me over the top). But I do have to agree that these few early albums are bunk and don't even come close to sounding like the real Mellencamp. This particular tune sounds like a poor man's Rod Stewart song. It's not really bad, but when you know the rest of his catalog, this just doesn't even compare.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Both the album cover and the video for this song features Edith Massey. Massey became a well-known cult figure/actress when she co-starred in five John Waters films including "Pink Flamingos" where she famously played the egg lady.

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