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Monday’s Forgotten 45: John Mellencamp


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Today’s we wish John Mellencamp a very happy birthday as he celebrates #73. For today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45, we go back to 1985 for his hit “Rain on the Scarecrow”.

The Indiana native was one of the leading voices of the 80’s farm crisis and he helped organize the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois in 1985 along with Willie Nelson & Neil Young. The events have raised over $60 million dollars and if you recall, Farm Aid VI was in Ames in April of 1993.

In 1985 John released his “Scarecrow” album which delivered 5 top 40 hits and sold 5 million copies. He’s often said this album was the first where he felt he’d found his way as a songwriter. With “Rain on the Scarecrow”, he made a musical plea on behalf of the American farmers. The song reached #21 on the charts.

A voice that resonates in the Midwest, check out the video to “Rain on the Scarecrow” by John Mellencamp, today’s Forgotten 45.

Jeff Winfield
105.7 KOKZ afternoons: the Forgotten 45 at 3:45 and the 5 O'Clock Traffic Jams.
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