The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988
The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | November 18, 1997[1] | |||
Recorded | 1978–1997 | |||
Studio | Various
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Genre | Rock, heartland rock | |||
Length | 58:51[1] | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Producer |
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Compiler | John Mellencamp | |||
John Mellencamp chronology | ||||
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The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 is the first
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B[7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic.com said that the album's title was suitable and while it did not include all of Mellencamp's hits, it is a good summary of Mellencamp's "remarkably consistent" work.[1] Robert Christgau described it as the best of John Mellencamp, which to him is not saying much.[6] Entertainment Weekly gave the album a "B" rating, describing it as "uncomplicated but sophisticated."[7]
Track listing
Original release
All tracks are written by
Japanese edition
The version released in Japan features two additional songs ("Miami" and a cover of "Under the Boardwalk," tracks 2 and 15, respectively), and places "Lonely Ol' Night" before "Authority Song".
No. | Title | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Authority Song" | Uh-Huh | 3:50 |
10. | "Small Town" | Scarecrow | 3:41 |
11. | "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." | Scarecrow | 2:55 |
12. | "Paper in Fire" | The Lonesome Jubilee | 3:53 |
13. | "Cherry Bomb" | The Lonesome Jubilee | 4:49 |
14. | "Check It Out" | The Lonesome Jubilee | 4:20 |
15. | "Under the Boardwalk" (Resnick, Kenny Young) | "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." B-Side | 3:57 |
16. | "Without Expression" (Terry Reid) | Previously unreleased | 5:06 |
Personnel
Adapted from the album's liner notes.[2]
- John Mellencamp (a.k.a. "Little Bastard" on some tracks) – vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
- Larry Crane – guitars, harmonica, background vocals, flutophone
- Tom Knowles – drums on "I Need a Lover"
- Robert "Ferd" Frank – bass, background vocals on "I Need a Lover"
- Brian Bekvar – keyboards on "I Need a Lover"
- engineeron "I Need a Lover"
- Rick Shlosser – drums on "Ain't Even Done with the Night"
- Mike Wanchic – guitars, background vocals; producer on "Without Expression"
- Kenny Aronoff – vibes on "Ain't Even Done with the Night", drums, background vocals, hammer dulcimer
- Eric Rosser – keyboards
- Steve Cropper – producer on "Ain't Even Done with the Night"
- Bruce Robb– engineer on "Ain't Even Done with the Night"
- Dee Robb – engineer on "Ain't Even Done with the Night"
- George "Chocolate" Perry – bass on "Hurts So Good"
- Dave Parman – background vocals on "Hurts So Good"
- Don Gehman – producer/engineer on "Hurts So Good" thru "Check It Out"
- George Tutko – engineer on "Hurts So Good"
- Mick Ronson – guitar and background vocals on "Jack and Diane"
- Toby Myers – bass, background vocals
- Carroll Sue Hill – keyboards, background vocals
- Greg Edward – engineer
- David Thoener – engineer on "Pink Houses"
- Sarah Flint – background vocals on "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
- John Cascella – keyboards, accordion
- Lisa Germano – violin
- Pat Peterson – background vocals
- Crystal Taliefero – background vocals
- Dane Clark – drums on "Without Expression"
- Miriam Sturm – violin on "Without Expression"
- Andy York – guitars, background vocals on "Without Expression"
- Moe Z – keyboards, background vocals on "Without Expression"
- Corsillo/Manzobe-Design Monsters – art direction
- Paul Jasmin – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[16] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[17] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[19] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c d Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2010). "The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 – John Mellencamp". Allmusic Guide. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
- ^ a b c The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 (CD Liner). John Mellencamp. US: Mercury Records. 1997. pp. 9–11. 314 536 738-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - White, Timothy(1997). "Who's To Say the Way a Man Should Spend His Days: The First Two Hundred Years of the John Mellencamp Story". The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 (CD liner). John Mellencamp. U.S.A.: Mercury Records. p. 8. 314 536 738-2.
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-mellencamp-p105068/charts-awards/billboard-albums
- ^ a b "John Mellencamp: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b "CG: John Mellencamp". Robert Christgau. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ a b Wook Kim (December 12, 1997). "The Best That I Could Do (1978–1988) Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – John Mellencamp – The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988)". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada".
- ^ "Charts.nz – John Mellencamp – The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988)". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "John Mellencamp Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – John Mellencamp – The Best That I Could Do". Music Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "British album certifications – John Mellencamp – The Best That I Could Do". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – John Mellencamp – The Best That I Could Do 1978 - 1988". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 14, 2023.