On this day in music history: April 12, 1982 - âAmerican Foolâ, the fifth album by John Cougar (Mellencamp) is released. Produced by John Mellencamp and Don Gehman, it is recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, CA and Criteria Studios in Miami, FL from October 1981 - February 1982. Recording since 1976 with only minimal success, musician John Mellencamp, still known by his stage name âJohn Cougarâ at the time, is at a career crossroads. After finally scoring his highest charting single to date in 1981 with âAinât Even Done with the Nightâ (#17 Pop), Mellencamp feels significant pressure to deliver a bigger hit, or be dropped from his contract. Writing on his own, with guitarist Larry Crane and childhood friend George M. Green, Mellencamp comes up with more than twenty new songs for his next album. Constantly at odds with Polygram Records who are trying to push the musician in a more pop, middle of the road vein like âNeil Diamondâ, John stubbornly resists and stays true to his own musical vision. While hearing the work in progress, A&R executives bluntly tell him that they donât hear any hits, including âHurts So Goodâ (#2 Pop). Written with George Green, John writes the chorus for âGoodâ first, then finishes lyrics with Green exchanging lines âback and forthâ. Picking up his guitar, Mellencamp quickly comes up with the chords for the song. Recording it at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, Polygram is initially unimpressed with âHurts So Goodâ but go with it as the first single. Released on April Foolâs Day" in 1982, the song initially gets off to a slow start entering the Hot 100 at #82 on April 24, 1982. It climbs the chart slowly and steadily for the first eight weeks on, then suddenly leaps from #17 to #9 the week of June 19, 1982. From there, it climbs to the runner up spot, spending four weeks behind Survivorâs monster hit âEye Of The Tigerâ. In all, âHurts So Goodâ stays on the Hot 100 for twenty eight weeks, including sixteen in the top ten alone. The single also wins Mellencamp a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1983. The follow up âJack And Dianeâ (#1 Pop) is an even bigger hit, spending a month at the top of the charts. âJackâ features former David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson, who is also instrumental in creating the songâs final arrangement. Spinning off one more single with âHand To Hold On Toâ (#19 Pop), âAmerican Foolâ becomes John Cougarâs long awaited breakthrough album, and one of the biggest sellers of the year. Originally released on CD in the mid 80âs, it is remastered and reissued in 2005, with one additional bonus track. Out of print on vinyl since 1989, it is reissued as a 180 gram LP in 2016 by UMe. âAmerican Foolâ spends nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 5x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
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