Recorded at the Shack, Jackson County, Indiana in July 1983.

Personnel: Jay Ferguson, Carroll Sue Hill (vocals); Larry Crane , Mike Wanchic (guitar); Kenny Aronoff (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixer: David Thoener.

Recording information: Cherokee, Los Angeles, CA (07/1983); Shack, Jackson County, IN (07/1983); T.R.C., Indianapolis, IN (07/1983).

Unknown Contributor Roles: Jay Ferguson; John Mellencamp; Kenny Aronoff; Larry Crane ; Louis Johnson; Mike Wanchic; Willie Weeks; Toby Myers; Carroll Sue Hill.

Since American Fool illustrated that John Cougar was becoming an actual songwriter, it's only proper that he reclaimed his actual last name, Mellencamp, for the follow-up, Uh-Huh. After all, now that he had success, he wanted to be taken seriously, and Uh-Huh reflects that in its portraits of brokenhearted life in the Midwest and its rumbling undercurrent of despair. Although his lyrics still have the tendency to be a little too vague, they are more effective here than ever before, as is his music; he might not have changed his style at all -- it's still a fusion of the Stones and Springsteen -- except that he now knows how to make it his own. Uh-Huh runs out of steam toward the end, but the first half -- with the dynamic rocker "Crumblin' Down," his best protest song, "Pink Houses," the punky "Authority Song," the melancholy "Warmer Place to Sleep," and the garage rocker "Play Guitar" -- makes the record his first terrific album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

For 1983's UH HUH, the follow-up to his breakthrough album, AMERICAN FOOL, John Cougar reclaimed his real last name--Mellencamp--while keeping "Cougar" as a middle name. The change is significant, since UH HUH still features the swaggering rock & roll of John Cougar, in the form of the raucous "Crumblin' Down" and the defiant "Authority Song," while pointing towards his more mature John Mellencamp days with "Pink Houses," a celebration of small-town America. The aforementioned tunes were all major hits for Mellencamp, and they make up the first three songs on this front-loaded record. The rest of UH HUH, however, is not to be overlooked. "Warmer Place to Sleep" works an energetic Stones-y riff, "Serious Business" is a kissing cousin to "Crumblin' Down" and the earlier "Hurts So Good," and "Golden Gates" proves to be a gentle closing number. For a potent dose of Mellencamp's "heartland rock," look no further than this album.