Very good summary to 2004

Heartland Rocker John (Cougar) Mellencamp from Indiana had from the beginning of the 80s to mid-90s with his albums and also some singles an incredible run at least in the American charts. In Europe, he gave the 80 musically between the whole Popper and perm hardrockers not pure. Since it is quite amazing that he landed in 1989 its greatest album hit the UK with just Big Daddy (Top 30) incl. The sarcastic biting Single Pop Singer. On the radio you meet just to Jack & Diane and maybe Smalltown, Human Wheels or Wild Night. Musically, he was on a similar terrain as his colleague Springsteen go. Politically to settle rather left he sang about the problems of the working class, the life in the countryside and in small towns, against the governments of the two Bush etc .. Overall, the music is a bit harder, not polished so and has later from the mid-80s also increased folk influences , The Zeitgeist, he ran this rarely afterwards (eg in 1996 with Mr. Happy Go Lucky). Most of his music is therefore well aged and timeless craftsmanship.

Words & Music: Greatest Hits summed up 2004 for the first time Mellencamp extensive career with 37 songs together. Thus almost all the hits are represented, as Mellencamp adopted in the last 10 years after the album Freedom's Road from the mainstream. The previous compilation The Best I Can Do, however, was a joke, because it was only a single CD and in time went only to 1987. Words & Music By The Best I Can Do has also become almost superfluous, since except for the cover version of Terry Reid Without Expression of all the songs on Words & Music are included.

At present there are 35 double-CD and 2 old songs for it specially newly played song Walk Tall and Thank You. From unsuccessful early work is unfortunately only I Need A Lover present, the Pat Benatar should make known to him. After that, the songs begin until the early 80s. Chronologically it is not classified, but need not necessarily even in the largely homogeneous work. Something out of line (sometimes literally), the two new songs produced by Babyface and I'm Not Running Anymore and his last hit Key Way Intermezzo, which partly have something suited to that time beats.

I have not missed much. It would have fit in time with a playing time of approximately 148 minutes maybe 2-3 songs more on the two CDs. From Nothing Matters And What If It Did to me but that of early Springsteen reminiscent Hot Night In A Cold Town missing. The rest of the song selection is excellent and ends with zeiltlich Teardrops Will Fall, a song from his Roots cover album Trouble No More, and said two new songs. After Mellencamp has also published other audible albums, with whom he no longer aimed at high chart positions and mass compatibility. This can be called a late work and rather fall under the terms Americana and roots rock.

All songs were mastered by Bob Ludwig. The booklet contains a short text about Mellencamp and production notes for each song, but no lyrics.

Conclusion:
As an introduction and to learn about John Mellencamp this CD is perfect. Then perhaps the albums American Fool, Scarecrow and The Lonesome Jubilee or the purchase of mine estimated Big Daddy. The price is currently (Jan 2015) in the "3 CDs for 15 Euro" action is ridiculous for the quality and quantity of music. There is much to discover.