My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: Ain’t Even Done With the Night

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@FourWalls (77029)
United States
September 4, 2024 1:36pm CST
The air conditioner and furnace have been checked, cleaned, the dehumidifier checked and cleaned, and a new filter installed. It’s all ready for winter! (And I’m ready to take off as soon as they say the dirty S word. ) Now that I’m back from lunch I’ll give you the other half of the countdown, the next song on my list of favorite rock/pop songs that charted. Unlike yesterday’s, you may be hard pressed to remember this one. Ain’t Even Done With the Night - John Cougar Most of what you get to hear from John Mellencamp/John Cougar/John Cougar Mellencamp anymore is “Pink Houses” and “Jack and Diane.” One of the major issues with “classic rock” radio is that you know who these singers are, but you probably have no clue that they did anything other than the 2-3 songs you hear all the time. When they get inducted into the Hall of Fame you’re scratching your head, wondering why. No, Mellencamp had a pretty extensive career beyond those two play-‘em-to-death tunes. I remember when the radio stations would alternate between playing his version of “I Need a Lover” (which he wrote) and Pat Benatar’s cover. (Yes, kids, she did other songs than “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” too.) Like this. While it didn’t make a big splash, it was a top 20 song in early 1981. Its retro lyrics (“Sam Cooke’s singing on the radio”) and feel struck me, and it remains one of my favorite Mellencamp songs. Good enough to make this list! Ain’t Even Done With the Night Written by John Mellencamp Recorded by John Cougar From Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did, 1980 Peak chart position: #17 Today’s country song: “Amarillo By Morning” You say that I’m the boy who could make it all come true:
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11 people like this
10 responses
@dgobucks226 (36760)
28 Sep
I often wonder why certain really great sounding songs by artists don't score higher on the charts. I would guess artist promotion by their record label and DJ preference factors into the tune's popularity. Sometimes that one breakthrough hit is all it takes to get the popularity rolling. As long as they can follow it up. I watched a "Doc" on the band Chicago, and it wasn't until they edited and released "Make Me Smile" a great move by the way, that the group really took off in the public eye. Oh yes, great tune pick btw! Mellencamp, Cougar or whatever his name was, had many.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36760)
29 Sep
@FourWalls Good point! And how many artists who thought their song was a "throw away" but actually became big hits. Taste in music is certainly subjective at times. Nice trivia there.
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1 person likes this
@porwest (103807)
• United States
5 Sep
A Mellencamp classic for sure. He's got quite the impressive catalog. Rain on the Scarecrow is a personal favorite of mine.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
If you live near farm country “Rain on the Scarecrow” will hit home.
1 person likes this
@porwest (103807)
• United States
6 Sep
@FourWalls I am surrounded by farms. lol
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17001)
• United States
5 Sep
Love this one by him
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
It’s a good song, made better by the fact that you don’t hear it 100 times a day.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123814)
• United States
4 Sep
slope
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
4 Sep
Slokay. Don’t you have cafeteria duty or something? (Seriously, I hope that you did that all you’re going to do last year!)
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123814)
• United States
4 Sep
@FourWalls Just meetings today. Students show up tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59074)
• Portugal
5 Sep
His name isn't strange but I have never heard this song.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
It wasn’t a big hit compared to the things he had later in his career.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (195572)
• United States
5 Sep
Meh. They're saying that the first s**wfall could be as early as mid-October! Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
Oh, well. They’ve gone from a “flannel watch” for low temperatures in the upper 40s this weekend to back in the 90s next weekend. It’s not even mid-September yet, so let’s see them get that forecast right first.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (195572)
• United States
6 Sep
@FourWalls It's going to be 60 here on Saturday with the 40s at night. Then it will go back up to 80.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (119784)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Sep
Nope
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
That’s the way the ball bounces.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (87263)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Sep
Nope I know nothing about this,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
Well try again tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359288)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep
Not one I know. Are you surprised?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
Not in the least!
1 person likes this
4 Sep
Ah hell. All these years I thought it was a song about multiple killings. "No I ain't even done with the knife"
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (77029)
• United States
5 Sep
Thought that was about a surgeon who gets paid by the hour and takes three days for an appendectomy.
1 person likes this