A really good record and his first really mature album after his recordings as John Cougar. This came out in 1985 and I bought it when I was living in Hull. This is more Roots Rock with the opening song “Rain On The Scarecrow” an angry response to farmers loosing their farms to corporate greed. Mellencamp was one of the founders of Farm Aid and played at their first show in 1986. I watched it on TV and recorded it on a VCR tape, which I still have along with my recording of Live Aid in 1985,when I was living in Salisbury Md. It was the first time Sammy Hagar apeared with Van Halen and I remember Sammy dropped a few F-bombs on live TV. Back to this record, side one is as good as any you would want to listen to. After “Rain On The Scarecrow” and John’s Grandmother singing an old song, there are two big hits “Small Town’ and “Lonely Old Night”. “Minutes To Memories” is one of my favorites on the record and the one I put on my songs from 1985 mix tapes I made at the time. “Face Of The Nation” is also a good song. Side two although not qiute as consistant has another big hit, “R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.” and “Between A Laugh And A Tear” is anothe one I liked.