written by John Cougar Mellencamp

produced by John Cougar Mellencamp and Don Gehman

​

This one is for my fellow Americans. The inspiration to cover this

song struck just a bit earlier as I listened to the radio playing an all-

’80s weekend—an extended weekend, as today is Monday, July 5th,

the day after U.S. Independence Day. I did not get around to an

America tribute yesterday, therefore I am now. So Happy 24-hour-belated 4th, ’Murr’cans and Yanks.

​

This one comes to us courtesy of Mr. John J. Mellencamp, also known as Johnny Cougar, also known as John Cougar Mellencamp. John dropped the ‘Cougar’ around the turn of the ’90s, and has been using only his birth-first and last name since. He was born fall 1951 in Indiana, where he too was raised and became a young father just out of high school. He experimented with many bands and drugs through college, until finally working his way towards a relocation to New York for the big time.

​

As the ’70s elapsed half over and drew to a close, John took on the moniker Johnny Cougar, and secured a record deal with MCA. But a mere two years later, he switched from the Uni corporation to PolyGram, signing instead with Riva Records. His first hit was 1978’s “I Need A Lover,” from the album entitled A Biography. The same song was also recorded and made into a hit soon after by Pat Benatar. Cougar/

Mellencamp singles followed every consecutive year for over a decade.

​

1982 opened the most doors for John with the release of American Fool, with #1 hits “Hurts So Good” and “Jack And Diane.” Almost a year and a half later came the equally successful Uh-Huh, the leading single of which was “Crumbling Down.” Its follow-up was this very tune, “Pink Houses,” a semi-rare example of a song whose title does not reflect the main framework of its chorus lyrics. “The song was inspired when Mellencamp was driving along an overpass on the way home to Bloomington, Indiana  from the Indianapolis airport. There was an old black man sitting outside his little pink shotgun house with his cat in his arms, completely unperturbed by the traffic speeding along the highway in his front yard.” As John puts it, “He waved, and I waved back. That’s how ‘Pink Houses’ started.”

​

John has also since been disappointed with the song’s third verse and how it came out, feeling it lacked meaning, and says he’d have put more effort into giving it meaning if he wrote the song over today. But then of course, no artiste will be completely 100% satisfied with everything she or he has put forth in a career. Though I think I can safely speak for Mellencamp fans in saying he does have a great deal to be proud of. Just as the previous two albums did, John’s ’85 record Scarecrow raked in even more timeless hits: “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Small Town” and “R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.,” subtitled “A Salute To ’60s Rock.” And though cooling off a bit, success has stayed with him through the ensuing decades.

​

And he’s still hard at it, as of this writing careening steady towards his big seven-oh.

​

Have notes to add? Let me know!

​

YT:

full version

music video

​

John’s official website