The Mellencamp Episode with Author David Masciotra

Songfacts Podcast

In this episode of the Songfacts Podcast, we discuss the music and life of John Mellencamp with David Masciotra, author of Mellencamp: American Troubadour. Mellencamp has a reputation for being a bit... prickly, but David saw a different side of him when he was invited to Mellencamp's Indiana studio to conduct an interview. He's one of the few journalists to get such and invitation.

There's a lot to be learned from Mellencamp's music, especially when it comes to navigating modern times and reflecting on what's really important in life. He started out using the name "Johnny Cougar" but gradually freed himself of that shackle by becoming wildly successful, giving him the power to call his own shots. His famous songs like "Jack And Diane" and "Small Town" have remarkable staying power, and we discuss those here. But as Masciotra explains, there are some hidden gems in his vast catalog that are well worth a listen. We also look into a great Mellencamp mystery: In "Cherry Bomb," is he singing "that's when a sport was a sport," or "that's when a smoke was a smoke"?

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Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan

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Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist

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This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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