Mr. Happy Go Lucky

Mr. Happy Go Lucky
Studio album by John Mellencamp
Released	September 10, 1996
Recorded	January 1995 – June 1996
Genre	Rock
Length	45:43
Label	Mercury
Producer	Little Bastard, Mike Wanchic and Junior Vasquez
John Mellencamp chronology
Dance Naked (1994) Mr. Happy Go Lucky (1996) The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988 (1997)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[2]
No Depression	(?)[3]

Mr. Happy Go Lucky is a rock album released by American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp on September 10, 1996. It was his first album released after his heart attack in 1994. Mellencamp's music on the album is said to reflect his brush with death. This album was recorded in Belmont, Indiana, in his studio the Belmont Mall. The first single from the album, "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)", peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is his last Top 40 single in the United States to date.

Track listing

All songs written by John Mellencamp, except where noted.

1. "Overture" (Mellencamp; arranged Miriam Sturm) – 1:56
2. "Jerry" – 4:24
3. "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 4:54
4. "Just Another Day" – 3:28
5. "This May Not Be The End Of The World" (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 5:29
6. "Emotional Love" (Toby Myers) – 3:20
7. "Mr. Bellows" – 4:26
8. "The Full Catastrophe" – 3:11
9. "Circling Around The Moon" (Mellencamp, George M. Green) – 5:48
10. "Large World Turning" – 3:55
11. "Jackamo Road" – 1:37
12. "Life Is Hard" – 3:15
13. "What If I Came Knocking?" (2005 re-issue bonus track) - 5:26

Covert Art Controversy

After being released into stores nationwide, retail giant Wal-Mart found the depiction of the Devil and Jesus on the cover to be offensive and additionally stating it looked like the baby in the photo was dead. Mellencamp stated the baby was his son, Hud and was only sleeping, but he wasn't upset at changing it since he didn't design or decide on the cover, and since the music wasn't required to be changed. The newer versions of the cover art have the Devil and Jesus removed.

Personnel

• John Mellencamp - vocals, guitar
• Mike Wanchic - guitars, dobro, background vocals, mellotron, organ, mandolin
• Andy York - guitars, background vocals, chamberlain, organ, harmonica, mandolin, mellotron, percussion
• Toby Myers - bass, background vocals, keyboards, percussion
• Kenny Aronoff - drums, percussion, loops, vibes
• Moe Z M.D. - loops, organ, backing vocals
• Raphael Saadiq - bass, backing vocals
• Miriam Sturm - violin
• Milton Davis - bass
• Jimmy Ryser - violin, backing vocals
• Lonnie Pitchford - slide guitar
• Pat Peterson - backing vocals
• Jeff Pedersen - organ
• Harvey Phillips - tuba
• Tim Riggins - trombone
• Dennis Riggins - saxophone

Charts

Album - Billboard (America)^[4]

Year	Chart	Position
September 28, 1996	The Billboard 200	9

Singles - Billboard (America)^[5]

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1996	"Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)"	The Billboard Hot 100	14
1996	"Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	10
1996	"Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)"	Adult Contemporary	15
1997	"Just Another Day"	The Billboard Hot 100	46
1997	"Just Another Day"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	13
1997	"Just Another Day"	Adult Contemporary	24

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Rolling Stone review
3. ^ No Depression review
4. ^ Billboard.com - Discography - John Mellencamp - Mr. Happy Go Lucky
5. ^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - John Mellencamp