Hurts So Good
Encyclopedia
"Hurts So Good" is a song from 1982 by the American
singer-songwriter
John Mellencamp
, then performing as John Cougar. The song was a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100
for the singer. It was the first of three major hit singles from his 1982 album American Fool
. The others were "Jack & Diane" and "Hand to Hold on To", which were all released in 1982.
, a childhood friend. The song was first conceived, Mellencamp claims, in his shower and the first lines created were those of the chorus
written by Mellencamp, he then said the lines to Green and they finished the song very quickly.
The song was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles
, California
and was engineered
by Don Gehman
and George Tutko. Backing Mellencamp were Larry Crane & Mike Wanchic (guitar
s, backing vocals
), Kenny Aronoff
(drum
s), Chocolate Perry (bass
), and Dave Parman (backing vocals).
, a small town located approximately 20 miles southwest of Seymour, Indiana
, where Mellencamp was born and raised.
on 7 August 1982 and, although it failed to make number one, it spent 16 weeks in the top 10, the longest time for any song in the 1980s. The song was listed at #83 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time. The song also reached #39 on the New Zealand
Top 50. The song was also a hit in Canada
reaching #3 on RPM
magazine's Top 50 Singles chart.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Mellencamp
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...
, then performing as John Cougar. The song was a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for the singer. It was the first of three major hit singles from his 1982 album American Fool
American Fool
American Fool is the sixth album by John Mellencamp, released under the stage name John Cougar in 1982. This was Mellencamp's last album to be released under the name John Cougar. His next album, Uh-Huh, would be released under the name John Cougar Mellencamp. The album was Mellencamp's commercial...
. The others were "Jack & Diane" and "Hand to Hold on To", which were all released in 1982.
Background & recording
The song was written by Mellencamp and George GreenGeorge Green (songwriter)
George Michael Green was an American songwriter. His compositions included the Top 10 Billboard hits "Crumblin' Down" and "Hurts So Good" , as well as another Canadian Number 1 hit in "Key West Intermezzo ".- Biography :Green was John Mellencamp's long-time writing...
, a childhood friend. The song was first conceived, Mellencamp claims, in his shower and the first lines created were those of the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
written by Mellencamp, he then said the lines to Green and they finished the song very quickly.
The song was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was engineered
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
by Don Gehman
Don Gehman
Don Gehman is an American record producer, best known for his work in the 1980s with John Mellencamp.Gehman grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and played bass in a local rock band...
and George Tutko. Backing Mellencamp were Larry Crane & Mike Wanchic (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
), Kenny Aronoff
Kenny Aronoff
Kenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
(drum
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s), Chocolate Perry (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Dave Parman (backing vocals).
Music video
Much of the video was filmed in Medora, IndianaMedora, Indiana
Medora is a town in Carr Township, Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 693 at the 2010 census. Medora is noted for its long triple span covered bridge, the longest covered bridge in the United States.-Geography:...
, a small town located approximately 20 miles southwest of Seymour, Indiana
Seymour, Indiana
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town....
, where Mellencamp was born and raised.
Charts
The song hit number one on Billboards Hot Tracks mainstream rock chart. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on 7 August 1982 and, although it failed to make number one, it spent 16 weeks in the top 10, the longest time for any song in the 1980s. The song was listed at #83 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time. The song also reached #39 on the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Top 50. The song was also a hit in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
reaching #3 on RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
magazine's Top 50 Singles chart.
See also
- List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)