The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988

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The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 cover
Greatest hits by John Mellencamp
Released November 18, 1997
Recorded 1977-1987, 1997
Genre Rock
Length 58:42
Label Mercury Records
Producer(s) John Mellencamp

John Punter
Steve Cropper
Don Gehman
Mike Wanchic

Professional reviews
John Mellencamp chronology
Mr. Happy Go Lucky
(1996)
The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
(1997)
John Mellencamp
(1998)


Released after John Mellencamp signed with Columbia Records, The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 is Mellencamp's first hits album. It compiles Mellencamp's most popular material recorded during his first decade with Riva and Mercury Records, beginnig with 1978's A Biography, up through 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee, with a new recording of Terry Reid's "Without Expression."

[edit] Track listing

  1. I Need A Lover (Mellencamp) - 5:37 (from A Biography, 1978)
  2. Ain't Even Done With The Night (Mellencamp) - 4:38 (from Nothin' Matters And What If It Did, 1980)
  3. Hurts So Good (Mellencamp/Green) - 3:39 (from American Fool, 1982)
  4. Jack And Diane (Mellencamp) - 4:15 (from American Fool, 1982)
  5. Crumblin' Down (Mellencamp/Green) - 3:35 (from Uh-Huh, 1983)
  6. Pink Houses (Mellencamp) - 4:44 (from Uh-Huh, 1983)
  7. Authority Song (Mellencamp) - 3:49 (from Uh-Huh, 1983)
  8. Lonely Ol' Night (Mellencamp) - 3:45 (from Scarecrow, 1985)
  9. Small Town (Mellencamp) - 3:40 (from Scarecrow, 1985)
  10. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (Mellencamp) - 2:55 (from Scarecrow, 1985)
  11. Paper In Fire (Mellencamp) - 3:51 (from The Lonesome Jubilee, 1987)
  12. Cherry Bomb (Mellencamp) - 4:49 (from The Lonesome Jubilee, 1987)
  13. Check It Out (Mellencamp) - 4:20 (from The Lonesome Jubilee, 1987)
  14. Without Expression (Reid) - 5:05 (from The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988, 1997)

[edit] Personnel on "Without Expression"

  • John Mellencamp - vocals, guitar
  • Dane Clark - drums
  • Toby Myers - bass, background vocals
  • Miriam Sturm - violin
  • Mike Wanchic - background vocals
  • Andy York - guitars, background vocals
  • Moe Z M.D. - keyboards, background vocals