American Fool
This is the record that transformed John Cougar (né John Mellencamp and soon to be John Cougar Mellencamp) into a superstar. "Hurts So Good" was destined to be a huge hit--ludicrous, powerful, and utterly unforgettable--and has long since gone on to be something of a rock & roll standard. But the real revelation on this record was "Jack and Diane," a poignant slice of life from a small town somewhere in middle America, a topical vein he would mine with even greater success on later recordings (especially onThe Lonesome Jubilee). Backed by a crisp, powerful, spot-on band that gave a needed sense of urgency to the material, Cougar deservedly wore the mantle of Mainstream Rock King while this record ruled the airwaves.--Percy Keegan