The following is a comprehensive discography of John Mellencamp, an American singer-songwriter. During Mellencamp's career in the recording industry, he has released 25 studio albums, two live albums, four compilation albums, 71 singles and 55 music videos.
Mellencamp's first album to chart on the Billboard 200 was the self-titled John Cougar album in 1979; the album was certified gold by the RIAA. Mellencamp's major commercial breakthrough came in 1982 with American Fool, which reached number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded two singles, "Hurts So Good" and "Jack & Diane", which reached number two and number one respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. American Fool would eventually sell 10 million copies worldwide (five million in the US alone). From 1983 to 1987, Mellencamp released three consecutive albums—Uh-Huh (1983), Scarecrow (1985), and The Lonesome Jubilee (1987)—which were all certified triple platinum by the RIAA. Combined, the three albums spawned sixteen singles, seven of which—"Crumblin' Down", "Pink Houses", "Lonely Ol' Night", "Small Town", "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", "Paper in Fire" and "Cherry Bomb"—became top 10 hits in the US. In 1997, Mellencamp released his first-ever greatest hits collection entitled The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988.
Mellencamp has charted 28 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 22 hits in the Top 40, 17 in the Top 20 and 10 in the top 10. He has scored 22 albums on the Billboard 200, including 17 in the Top 20 and 11 in the Top 10. Mellencamp has sold about 30 million albums in the US and over 60 million worldwide.
Studio albums 1970s Year Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSAUSCAN 1976 Chestnut Street Incident Release date: October 1, 1976 Label: MCA — — — 1978 A Biography Release date: March 6, 1978 Label: Riva — 19 19 1979 John Cougar Release date: July 27, 1979 Label: Riva Released as Miami in Australia 64 77 77 RIAA: Gold "—" denotes releases that did not chart
1980s Year Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSAUSAustralian chart peaks: Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to June 19, 1988: N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 19, 1988. Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from June 26, 1988: "Rooty Toot Toot" (ARIA Chart) peak: Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: "Dance Naked" (ARIA Chart) peak: Rough Harvest, Cutting Heads & Trouble No More: Freedom Road: CANGERNLNORNZSWESWIUK 1980 Nothin' Matters and What If It Did Release date: September 15, 1980 Label: Riva 37 — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Platinum 1982 American Fool Release date: April 12, 1982 Label: Riva 1 18 1 — — — — 30 — 37 RIAA: 5× Platinum MC: 5× Platinum 1983 The Kid Inside Release date: January 27, 1983 Label: MainMan — — — — — — — — — — 1983 Uh-Huh Release date: October 23, 1983 Label: Riva 9 57 9 — — — — 24 — 92 RIAA: 3× Platinum MC: 5× Platinum 1985 Scarecrow Release date: July 31, 1985 Label: Riva 2 2 2 — — — 14 9 — — RIAA: 5× Platinum ARIA: 4× Platinum MC: 5× Platinum 1987 The Lonesome Jubilee[A] Release date: August 24, 1987 Label: Mercury 6 2 1 41 34 16 3 6 10 31 RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: 6× Platinum 1989 Big Daddy Release date: May 9, 1989 Label: Mercury 7 1 3 27 33 12 6 6 11 25 RIAA: Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: 2× Platinum "—" denotes releases that did not chart
1990s Year Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSAUSCANFINGERNLNZSWESWIUK 1991 Whenever We Wanted Release date: October 8, 1991 Label: Mercury 17 3 8 — 44 — 40 19 16 39 RIAA: Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: Platinum 1993 Human Wheels Release date: September 7, 1993 Label: Mercury 7 7 6 — 48 87 — 8 18 37 RIAA: Platinum MC: Platinum 1994 Dance Naked Release date: June 21, 1994 Label: Mercury 13 6 17 — — — — 24 32 — RIAA: Platinum MC: Platinum 1996 Mr. Happy Go Lucky Release date: September 10, 1996 Label: Mercury 9 11 11 26 53 — 36 26 37 82 RIAA: Platinum ARIA: Gold MC: Platinum 1998 John Mellencamp Release date: October 6, 1998 Label: Columbia 41 41 37 — — — — — 48 108 RIAA: Gold 1999 Rough Harvest Release date: August 17, 1999 Label: Mercury 99 131 — — — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2000s Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US US Rock AUS GER SWE UK 2001 Cuttin' Heads Release date: October 16, 2001 Label: Columbia 15 — 131 99 — — RIAA: Gold 2003 Trouble No More Release date: June 3, 2003 Label: Columbia 31 — 159 — — — 2007 Freedom's Road Release date: January 23, 2007 Label: Universal South Records 5 3 145 — — — 2008 Life, Death, Love and Freedom Release date: July 15, 2008 Label: Hear Music 7 3 21 — 53 162 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2010s Year Album details Peak chart positions US US Folk US Rock AUS GER NL NOR SWE SWI UK 2010 No Better Than This Release date: August 17, 2010 Label: Rounder 10 — 5 83 62 93 29 33 83 138 2014 Plain Spoken Release date: September 23, 2014 Label: Republic 18 2 5 — 84 — — — 58 169 2017 Sad Clowns & Hillbillies Release date: April 28, 2017 Label: Republic 11 1 3 — 52 — — — 28 78 2018 Other People's Stuff Release date: December 7, 2018 Label: Republic 7 1 1 — — — — — 70 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2020s Year Album details Peak chart positions US US Folk US Rock GER SWI 2022 Strictly a One-Eyed Jack Release date: January 21, 2022 Label: Republic 196 5 30 24 6 2023 Orpheus Descending Release date: June 16, 2023 Label: Republic — — — 79 93
Compilation albums Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications US US Rock AUS CAN NZ UK 1997 The Collection Release date: 1985 label: Castle — — — — — — BPI: Silver 1997 The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 Release date: November 18, 1997 label: Mercury 33 37 5 9 19 25RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver MC: Platinum 2004 Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits Release date: October 19, 2004 Label: Island/UTV 13 — 93 — — — RIAA: Platinum 2010 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of John Mellencamp Release date: January 4, 2010 Label: Universal — — — — — — On the Rural Route 7609 Release date: June 15, 2010 Label: Island Def Jam — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
Live albums Year Album details 2009 Life, Death, Live and Freedom Release date: June 23, 2009 Label: Hear Music 2014 Performs Trouble No More Live at Town Hall Release date: July 8, 2014 Label: Mercury 2018 Plain Spoken: From the Chicago Theatre Release date: May 11, 2018 Label: Eagle Rock 2021 The Good Samaritan Tour 2000 Release date: August 27, 2021 Label: Republic
Singles 1970s singles Year Single Peak chartpositions Album US AUS 1978 "I Need a Lover" — 5 A Biography "Factory" — — 1979 "Miami" — 31 John Cougar "I Need a Lover" 28 — "Taxi Dancer" — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
1980s singles Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album US US Main US AC US Country CAN UK IRE AUS NZ GER 1980 "Small Paradise" 87 — — — — — — — — — John Cougar "A Little Night Dancin'" 105 — — — — — — — — — "This Time" 27 — — — — — — 43 — — Nothin' Matters and What If It Did 1981 "Ain't Even Done with the Night" 17 44 — — 15 Canada’s Only National 50 singles, 2 May 1981 — — — — — "Hot Night in a Cold Town" — — — — — — — — — — 1982 "Hurts So Good" 2 1 — — 3 Canada’s Only National 50 singles, 24 July 1982 — — 5 39 — RIAA: Gold MC: Platinum RMNZ: 3× Platinum American Fool "Jack & Diane" 1 3 — — 1 Canada’s Only National 50 singles, 11 September 1982 25 7 7 — — RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver MC: Platinum RMNZ: 4× Platinum "Thundering Hearts" — 36 — — — — — — — — "Hand to Hold On to" 19 — — — 41 Canada’s Only National 50 singles survey, 27 November 1982 89 26 97 — — 1983 "Crumblin' Down" 9 2 — — 9 50 singles. Canada’s Only National Singles Survey, 3 December, 1983 — — 42 — — Uh-huh "Pink Houses" 8 3 — — 15 Canada’s Only National 50 singles survey, 18 February 1984 — — 69 — — 1984 "Serious Business" — 34 — — — — — — — — "Play Guitar" — 28 — — — — — — — — "Authority Song" 15 15 — — 41 50 singles. Canada’s Only National Singles Survey, 19 May 1984 — — 93 — — 1985 "Lonely Ol' Night" 6 1 37 — 7 RPM 100 Singles, 26 October 1985 138 — 32 50 — Scarecrow "Small Town" 6 2 13 — 13 RPM 100 Singles, 28 December 1985 53 — 80 40 — RMNZ: Platinum "Justice and Independence '85" — 28 — — — — — — — — 1986 "Minutes to Memories" — 14 — — — — — — — — "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to '60s Rock)" 2 6 36 — 7 RPM 100 Singles, 12 April 1986 67 — 18 17 — MC: Gold "Under the Boardwalk" — 19 — — — — — — — non-album "Rain on the Scarecrow" 21 16 — — — — — 34 — — Scarecrow "Rumbleseat" 28 4 — — — — — 84 — — 1987 "Paper in Fire" 9 1 — — 3 RPM 100 Singles, Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey, 31 October 1987 86 — 13 16 — The Lonesome Jubilee "Cherry Bomb" 8 1 12 — 5 RPM 100, Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey, 21 January 1988 — — 20 4 — MC: Gold RMNZ: Platinum "Hard Times for an Honest Man" — 10 — — — — — — — — "The Real Life" — 3 — — — — — — — — 1988 "Check It Out" 14 3 — — 10 RPM 100, Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey 2 April 1988 96 — 22 18 — MC: Gold "Rooty Toot Toot" 61 7 — — 19 50 singles. Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey 124 — 54 10 — "Rave On" — 17 — — 18 — — — 7 — Cocktail soundtrack 1989 "Pop Singer" 15 2 — — 1 93 — 8 1 87 Big Daddy "Jackie Brown" 48 20 31 82 23 PRM 100, Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey 28 August 1989 — — 47 30 — "Martha Say" — 8 — — — — — — — — "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)" — 42 — — 83 PRM 100, Canada’s Only National 100 Single Survey 9 October 1989 — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
1990s singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US US Main US AC US Adult CAN UK AUS NZ GER 1991 "Get a Leg Up" 14 1 — — 4 Canada’s Only National 100 Hit Track Survey 16 November 1991 — 21 — — Whenever We Wanted "Love and Happiness" — 5 — — 54 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 1 February 1992 — — — — 1992 "Again Tonight" 36 1 46 — 8 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 28 March 1992 — 39 — — "Last Chance" — 12 — — 73 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 5 September 1992 — — — — "Now More Than Ever" — 3 — — 29 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 30 May 1992 76 61 — — 1993 "Human Wheels" 48 2 40 — 3 — 40 — — Human Wheels "What If I Came Knocking" — 1 — — 23 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 11 September 1993 — — — — "When Jesus Left Birmingham" — 35 — — 21 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 10 January 1994 — — — — 1994 "Junior" — 35 — — 45 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 14 March 1994 — — — — "Baby, Please Don't Go" — — — — 72 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 9 May 1994 — — — — Blue Chips soundtrack "Wild Night" (featuring Me'Shell Ndegéocello) 3 17 1 30 1 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 18 July 1994 34 18 — 55 Dance Naked "Dance Naked" 41 21 37 — 7 PRM 100 Hit Tracks and where to find them 5 December 1994 — 79 — — 1996 "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" 14 10 15 4 1 92 21 35 — Mr. Happy Go Lucky 1997 "Just Another Day" 46 13 24 13 1 — 81 — — "Without Expression" — 25 — — 14 — — — — The Best That I Could Do 1998 "Your Life Is Now" — 15 19 23 3 — 136 — 92 John Mellencamp 1999 "I'm Not Running Anymore" — 37 22 22 — — 196 — 100 "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2000s singles Year Single Peak chart positions Album US US Main US AC US Adult US Country 2000 "Yours Forever" — — — — — The Perfect Storm soundtrack 2001 "Peaceful World" (featuring India.Arie)[B] — 38 27 11 — Cuttin' Heads 2003 "To Washington" — — — — — Trouble No More "Teardrops Will Fall" — — — — — 2004 "Walk Tall" — — 25 26 — Words & Music 2006 "Our Country" 88 — 16 — 39 Freedom's Road 2007 "The Americans" — — — — 55 "Someday" — — — — — 2008 "My Sweet Love" — — 25 — — Life, Death, Love and Freedom "Troubled Land" — — — — — 2009 "A Ride Back Home" (featuring Karen Fairchild) — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart
2010s and 2020s singles