The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988

~ Release by John Mellencamp (see all versions of this release, 8 available)

Annotation

This release lists the release label as “John Mellencamp 2023 (Island)”

Annotation last modified on 2025-10-14 23:21 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
1I Need a Lover
engineer and producer:
John Punter
recorded at:
Air Studios (Oxford Street, London. 1970–1991 recordings only) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
I Need a Lover
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
45:36
2Ain’t Even Done With the Night
producer:
Steve Cropper
mixer:
Steve Cropper and Bruce Robb
recording of:
Ain't Even Done With the Night
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
54:36
3Hurts So Good
assistant engineer:
Brad Gilderman, Dennis Hetzendorfer and Al Stegmeyer
engineer:
Don Gehman, Mark Stebbeds and George Tutko (engineer, producer)
producer:
Don Gehman and John Cougar Mellencamp
bass guitar:
George “Chocolate” Perry (bassist aka "Chocolate")
drums (drum set):
Kenny Aronoff
guitar:
Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic
lead vocals:
John Cougar
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
John Mellencamp (in 1982, in 2005)
recording of:
Hurts So Good
writer:
George M. Green (American lyricist) and John Mellencamp
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Germany GmbH (2008–today)
53:39
4Jack & Diane
assistant engineer:
Brad Gilderman, Dennis Hetzendorfer and Al Stegmeyer
engineer:
Don Gehman, Mark Stebbeds and George Tutko (engineer, producer)
producer:
Don Gehman and John Cougar Mellencamp
bass guitar:
George “Chocolate” Perry (bassist aka "Chocolate")
drums (drum set):
Kenny Aronoff
guitar:
Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic
lead vocals:
John Cougar
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
John Mellencamp (in 1982, in 2005)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 59) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 285)
recording of:
Jack & Diane
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music and EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!)
44:14
5Crumblin’ Down
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Don Gehman and David Thoener
recording of:
Crumblin’ Down
writer:
George Green (American lyricist) and John Mellencamp
43:34
6Pink Houses
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Don Gehman and David Thoener
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 439)
recording of:
Pink Houses
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
4.754:44
7Authority Song
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Don Gehman and David Thoener
recording of:
Authority Song
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
4.753:48
8Lonely Ol’ Night
engineer:
Greg Edward and Don Gehman
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Greg Edward, Don Gehman and George Tutko (engineer, producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
John Mellencamp (in 2005)
recorded at:
Belmont Mall Studios, Belmont, Indiana (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
mixed at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
recording of:
Lonely Ol' Night
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music
43:45
9Small Town
engineer:
Greg Edward and Don Gehman
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Greg Edward, Don Gehman and George Tutko (engineer, producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
John Mellencamp (in 2005)
recorded at:
Belmont Mall Studios, Belmont, Indiana (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
mixed at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
recording of:
Small Town
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music
4.353:41
10R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)
engineer:
Greg Edward and Don Gehman
producer:
Don Gehman and Little Bastard
mixer:
Greg Edward, Don Gehman and George Tutko (engineer, producer)
guest background vocals:
Sarah Flint
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
John Mellencamp (in 2005)
recorded at:
Belmont Mall Studios, Belmont, Indiana (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
mixed at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1985-03 until 1985-06)
recording of:
R.O.C.K. in the USA
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
publisher:
EMI Full Keel Music
52:54
11Paper in Fire
assistant engineer:
Rick Fettig
engineer and mixer:
Don Gehman and David Leonard (US producer and engineer)
producer:
Don Gehman and John Mellencamp
engineered at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1986-09 until 1987-06)
recording of:
Paper in Fire
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
4.653:51
12Cherry Bomb
assistant engineer:
Rick Fettig
engineer and mixer:
Don Gehman and David Leonard (US producer and engineer)
producer:
Don Gehman and John Mellencamp
engineered at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1986-09 until 1987-06)
recording of:
Cherry Bomb
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
34:47
13Check It Out
assistant engineer:
Rick Fettig
engineer and mixer:
Don Gehman and David Leonard (US producer and engineer)
producer:
Don Gehman and John Mellencamp
engineered at:
Belmont Mall (John Mellencamp's private studio) in Belmont, Indiana, United States (from 1986-09 until 1987-06)
recording of:
Check It Out
lyricist and composer:
John Mellencamp
34:19
14Without Expression
cover recording of:
Without Expression
lyricist and composer:
Terry Reid
5:06