Scarecrow is the eighth album by 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...

. Released in August 1985 by Mercury Records

Mercury Records

Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...

, it peaked at #2 on the U.S. charts. It was remastered and reissued on Mercury Records

Mercury Records

Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...

 on May 24, 2005, with one bonus track.

This album contained three Top 10 hits, a record for a Mellencamp album. They were "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," which peaked at #2 in the U.S., "Lonely Ol' Night

Lonely Ol' Night

"Lonely Ol' Night" is a rock song written and performed by singer-songwriter John Mellencamp as John Cougar Mellencamp. It appeared on his 1985 album Scarecrow, and was released as a single, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100...

," which peaked at #6, and "Small Town," which also peaked at #6. "Lonely Ol' Night" also peaked at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks

Mainstream Rock Tracks

Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...

 chart, his second chart-topping single on this chart.

In 1989, it was ranked #95 on Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.

Track listing

All songs written by 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...

, except where noted.

1. "Rain on the Scarecrow" (Mellencamp, George M. Green
   George 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...
   
   ) – 3:46
2. "Grandma's Theme" (traditional) – 0:56
3. "Small Town
   Small Town
   Small Town is a song written by John Cougar Mellencamp and released on his 1985 album Scarecrow. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-Content:...
   
   " – 3:41
4. "Minutes to Memories" (Mellencamp, Green) – 4:11
5. "Lonely Ol' Night
   Lonely Ol' Night
   "Lonely Ol' Night" is a rock song written and performed by singer-songwriter John Mellencamp as John Cougar Mellencamp. It appeared on his 1985 album Scarecrow, and was released as a single, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100...
   
   " – 3:45
6. "The Face of the Nation" – 3:13
7. "Justice and Independence '85" – 3:32
8. "Between a Laugh and a Tear" – 4:32
9. "Rumbleseat" – 2:58
10. "You've Got to Stand for Somethin'" – 4:32
11. "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to '60s Rock)
    R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
    "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", subtitled "A Salute to '60s Rock", is a rock song written and performed by John Mellencamp as John Cougar Mellencamp...
    
    " – 2:54
12. "The Kind of Fella I Am" (cassette and CD only)^ – 2:55
13. "Small Town" (acoustic version) (2005 re-issue bonus track) - 4:14

^also appears as the B-side to "Lonely Ol' Night"

Band

• John Cougar Mellencamp - vocals, guitar
• Larry Crane - electric guitars, acoustic guitars, backing vocals
• 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...
  
   - drums, tambourine, vibes, backing vocals
• Mike Wanchic - electric guitars, backing vocals
• Toby Myers - electric bass, backing vocals

Guests

• John Cascella - keyboards
• Rickie Lee Jones
  Rickie Lee Jones
  Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
  
   - vocals on "Between a Laugh and a Tear"
• Sarah Flint - background vocals on "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
• Laura Mellencamp (John Mellencamp's grandmother) - lead vocal on "Grandma's Theme"
• Mimi Mapes - backing vocals on "Minutes to Memories"
• A. Jack Wilkins - saxophone on "Justice and Independence '85"
• Richard Fanning - trumpet on "Justice and Independence '85"
• Ry Cooder
  Ry Cooder
  Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
  
   - slide guitar on "The Kind of Fella I Am"

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1985	Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...	2

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	"Lonely Ol' Night"	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...	6
1985	"Small Town"	Billboard Hot 100	6
1985	"Small Town"	Adult Contemporary Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...	2
1986	"R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."	Billboard Hot 100	2
1986	"Rain on the Scarecrow"	Billboard Hot 100	21
1986	"Rumbleseat"	Billboard Hot 100	28

Charted album tracks

Year	Title	Chart	Position
1985	"Lonely Ol' Night"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	1
1985	"Small Town"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	2
1985	"R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	6
1985	"Rain on the Scarecrow"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	16
1985	"Justice and Independence '85"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	28
1986	"Minutes to Memories"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	14
1986	"Rumbleseat"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	4
1986	"Under the Boardwalk"	Billboard Top Rock Tracks	19