A Biography

A Biography Artist: Johnny Cougar
Label: Island / Mercury
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Format: Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 602498801369
EAN: 0602498801369
ASIN: B0007XBMXO


Release Date: 2005-03-29

A Biography


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Tracks:

  1. Born Reckless
  2. Factory
  3. Night Slumming
  4. Taxi Dancer
  5. I Need A Lover
  6. Alley Of The Angels
  7. High C Cherrie
  8. Where The Sidewalk Ends
  9. Let Them Run Your Lives
  10. Goodnight
  11. I Need A Lover

Similar Items:

  1. John Cougar
  2. Nothin' Matters and What If It Did
  3. The Kid Inside
  4. Skin It Back
  5. Chestnut Street Incident

Album Description

Originally released in the UK in 1978. Previously unreleased in the US. First time released on CD anywhere! <P>Features newly remastered sound and upgraded packaging which includes lyrics and complete artwork.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A sketchy, yet promising, album.......2005-07-17

John Mellencamp has disowned his younger days--the days when his record company was in control, and he had to use the pseudonym "Cougar". Yet, Mellencamp fans feel compelled to take a listen to his early stuff...and some of it is surprisingly enjoyable.

The opener, "Born Reckless", is a rock anthem. The Australian/UK hit "I Need A Lover" is infectious (if you think the album version--with its 2-minute instrumental intro--is too long, then the UK single edit is included as a bonus track). "Taxi Dancer" (which, along with "Lover", appeared on his mainstream debut, JOHN COUGAR), is surprisingly poetic...as is the album closer, "Goodnight". The last line of this song is a badboy (and early John Mellencamp) catch-phrase: "A crowd of people, aw sh*t".

There are, of course, flaws (which is one reason why Mellencamp today probably won't play any of these tunes in his shows, even if you beg him). "Let Them Run Your Lives" showcases the political side of Mellencamp that would appear in the eighties, and run rampant in the nineties, but is not nearly mature as his later statements. "High C Cherrie" could've been a beautiful, if stilted, ode to a "working girl"...if not for the vulgarity and cheap screams. And throughout, the production is garrish, overdone...even the "Johnny Cougar" that recorded this record seems disgusted at times.

Still, A BIOGRAPHY (don't let the title fool you; Mellencamp wrote all 10 songs) shows glimpses of the artist that was to come. Not Mellencamp's best, not by a long shot, it is still one for die-hard Mellencamp fans, and fans of 70's rock and roll.

2 out of 5 stars Not good, kinda funny though..........2005-06-07

As you probably know by now, "A Biography" was never released in the U.S., and on first listen, it's easy to see why.
This is not the Mellencamp you know. This isn't even the Johnny Cougar you know.
This sounds like a collection of all the bad late 70's cliches you can recall, and in that manner, it's funnier than hell.
The songs are weak, the production thin, and he sounds like a kid.
Which he probably was.
However, if you are as big a Mellencamp fan as I am, you'll need to get this record. It's like seeing his high school yearbook...a glimpse into the person you are more familiar with.

2 out of 5 stars You REALLY have to be a fan.......2005-04-18

I do love me some John Mellencamp. Really I do. And I was initially delighted to learn of this release. And the remastered sound is awesome.

But...this is some pretty weak material here. Except for I Need a Lover (which is virtually identical to the version we all know and love), there isn't one song I felt like I wanted to listen to again. You can tell John and his band are TRYING to make a hard rockin' record, but the execution is so sloppy, you wonder if it was worth the effort.

Recommended only for hardcore fans. I consider myself one, but I'd much rather have a remastered disc of Chestnut Street.

4 out of 5 stars Finally! US Gets A Mellencamp Classic.......2005-04-13

After many years of being a Mellencamp fan (since 1980), I had always heard of A Biography and expected it to be either as horrible as the first album (Chestnut Street) or hap-hazard as the follow-up (Kid Inside).

To my surprise I was pleasantly astonished at how great of an album A Biography really is. The music is slightly timeless and some of the hardest rocking numbers ever released in the ever growing John Mellencamp library.

"Born Reckless" is a great rocking tune that actually does live up to it's title.

"Factory" seems dated but has a wonderful quality about it's melody and nature.

"Night Slumming" is sloppy but possibly purposely so - hence it's title.

"Taxi Dancer" is meek and shallow compared to it's second version from the John Cougar album, 1979.

"I Need A Lover" is - well, "I Need A Lover". Only this version sounds fresh and more audible than any previous release of the song.

"Alley Of The Angels" is more of the "Weakest Moments" speed with more of rock flair to it. It's a simplistic tune but superior to any ballad John's done to date (1978).

"High C Cherrie" is "I Need A Lover" to a point but presents itself with more simplicity and is reminiscant of "Sugar Marie" at some point.

"Where The Sidewalk Ends" is definately the stand-out track here with a driving rock beat and Larry Crane's best Joe Perry riff.

"Let Them Run Your Life" is mild with no special quality and is more of a copy of 1977's "Sidewalks & Streetlights".

"Goodnight" is certainly the low point of the album with it's piano ridden mess. It's not a necessary track, but to any long-standing fan all remasters are a welcome edition to the collection.

And on a final note - this album was certainly a view of things to come. Uh-Huh's tracks seems to have been cultivated fom this album more than American Fool. It shows John Mellencamp was an up-and-coming rock artist who at the time didn't know much on how to dispell his talents. John was certainly going for the maximum rock sound on this album and at most points acheives this goal.

Music Album:

  1. X-Static ~ Hall & Oates
  2. Everyday ~ Dave Matthews Band
  3. Strings Attached ~ Ian Hunter
  4. Playin' up a Storm ~ Gregg Allman Band
  5. Wax Ecstatic ~ Sponge
  6. Polkasonic ~ Brave Combo
  7. The Swing Session ~ The Swing Session
  8. Moxie Bravo ~ The High Strung
  9. Austin Skyline ~ Jimmy Lafave
  10. Harem Holiday/Girl Happy ~ Elvis Presley

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Blue Big Bands: A Swingin' Affair ~ Various Artists

Young at Heart ~ Larry Vuckovich

Antarctica ~ Richie Beirach

Quartet With Rosewinkel & Rue ~ Kris Bauman

Woodstock Jazz Festival, Vol. 1 ~ Creative Music Studio

From One Charlie ~ Charlie Watts Quintet

Uga Uga ~ Various Artists

Crocevia ~ La Crus

15/50 1997-1999 ~ Supercar

Gathering of the Clans ~ Various Artists