John Mellencamp Mr. Happy Go Lucky CD

The Definitive Remaster of Mr. Happy Go Lucky includes newly remastered sound and upgraded packaging. Remastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering utilizing the original master tapes. Packaging will feature lyrics and complete artwork. Scheduled to include a bonus track. Def Jam. 2005.

Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals, guitar); Mike Wanchic (guitar, dobro, mandolin, organ, mellotron, background vocals); Andy York (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, organ, mellotron, chamberlain, percussion, background vocals); Lonnie Pitchford (slide guitar); Jimmy Ryser (violin, background vocals); Miriam Sturm (violin); Dennis Riggins (saxophone); Tim Riggins (trombone); Harvey Phillips (tuba); Moe Z. M.D. (organ, programming, background vocals); Jeff Pedersen (organ); Kenny Aronoff (vibraphone, drums, percussion, programming); Raphael Saadiq, Toby Jeffrey Myers (bass, background vocals); Milton Davis (bass); Junior Vasquez (percussion, programming); Gomi, Joe Moskowitz (programming); Pat Peterson, Susie Ronson (background vocals).
Recorded at Belmont Mall, Belmont Indiana, in January 1995 & June 1996.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
"Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Just Another Day" was nominated for a 1998 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
Personnel: John Mellencamp (vocals, guitar); John Mellencamp; Lonnie Pitchford (slide guitar); Jimmy Ryser (violin, background vocals); Raphael Saadiq (bass violin, bass guitar, background vocals); Dennis Riggins (saxophone); Tim Riggins (trombone); Moe Z M.D. (organ, loops, background vocals); Jeff Pedersen (organ); Toby Myers (keyboards, bass guitar, percussion, background vocals); Milton Davis (bass guitar); Junior Vasquez (percussion); Gomi, Joey Moskowitz (programming); Mike Wanchic (guitar, dobro, mandolin, organ, Mellotron, background vocals); Andy York (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, organ, chamberlin, Mellotron, percussion, background vocals); Miriam Sturm (violin); Harvey Phillips (tuba); Kenny Aronoff (vibraphone, drums, percussion); Pat Peterson (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: John Mellencamp; Junior Vasquez; Mike Wanchic; Andy York; David Leonard.
Liner Note Author: John Mellencamp.
Recording information: Belmont Mall Studio, Belmont, IN (01/1995-06/1996).
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
Photographers: Samuel Bayer; Mary Ellen Mark; James McLoughlin.
Arranger: Miriam Sturm.
John Mellencamp responded to his massive heart attack and close-call with death with Mr. Happy Go Lucky, the most overtly ambitious album in his career. Mellencamp has always been a bit of a fatalist, so it isn't any great surprise that there is an undercurrent of dark mortality running through most of his songs. What is a surprise is his musical approach. Although he hasn't abandoned the essential elements of his music -- the rootsy instrumentation, the violins, the simple song structures, the gritty folk-rock -- he has augmented it with the help of Junior Vasquez, a noted dance producer. Vasquez doesn't push Mellencamp into dance, but he adds certain dynamics and techniques from club music to Mr. Happy Go Lucky which ocasionally gives the album a greater depth. It's a gentle change, not a forceful one -- nothing sounds like dance music, but there are deeper rhythms and bass throughout the album, which breathes life into well-crafted songs like "Key West Intermezzo." Since he doesn't pursue dance completely on Mr. Happy Go Lucky, Mellencamp doesn't end up alienating his fans, but the reluctance to give himself over to dance makes the album uneven. Ironically, the tracks that exhibit Vasquez's influence the least are the least successful -- they simply sound like Mellencamp is going through the motions. Nevertheless, Mr. Happy Go Lucky proves that Mellencamp has more surprises in him than many listeners would have expected and suggests tRolling Stone (9/19/96, p.82) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...The record is long on atmospherics, a dark-carnival collage of mad laughter and distant whispers....those effects are well matched to the songs, which are among the darkest and wittiest that Mellencamp has ever delivered..."
Q (11/96, p.129) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...nothing so radical as a genuine change in direction, but rather a more contemporary take on those typical vignettes of down-home American life. Rhythm is no longer the sturdy, Stonesy push that's driven so many Mellencamp hits, but something altogether more modern and daring..."