# Uh-huh

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This article is about the John Mellencamp album. For other uses, see [Uh Huh](/source/Uh_Huh_(disambiguation)).

"Authority Song" redirects here. For "The Authority Song" by Jimmy Eat World, see [Bleed American](/source/Bleed_American).

1983 studio album by John Cougar Mellencamp

Uh-Huh Studio album by John Cougar Mellencamp Released October 25, 1983 (1983-10-25) Recorded Jackson County, Indiana July 1983 Genre Rock[1] heartland rock Length 32:59 Label Riva Producer John Mellencamp Don Gehman John Cougar Mellencamp chronology The Kid Inside (1983) Uh-Huh (1983) Scarecrow (1985) Singles from Uh-Huh "Crumblin' Down" Released: 1983 "Pink Houses" Released: 1983 "Serious Business" Released: 1984 "Play Guitar" Released: 1984 "Authority Song" Released: 1984

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [2] Robert Christgau B[3] Rolling Stone [4]

***Uh-Huh*** is a 1983 album by [John Cougar Mellencamp](/source/John_Mellencamp) and a transition from his early work under the names Johnny Cougar and John Cougar. It was Mellencamp's seventh studio album and the first in which he used his real last name. It charted at No. 9 on the [*Billboard* 200](/source/Billboard_200).

*Uh-Huh* contains three top 20 [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) hits: "[Crumblin' Down](/source/Crumblin'_Down)" (No. 9), "[Pink Houses](/source/Pink_Houses)" (No. 8), and "Authority Song" (No. 15). In 1989, it was ranked No. 32 on *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)* magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s.

The remastered version was released on March 29, 2005 on [Mercury](/source/Mercury_Records)/[Island](/source/Island_Records)/[UMe](/source/Universal_Music_Enterprises) and includes one bonus track.[5]

## Songwriting collaborations

John Mellencamp almost always writes all of his own material. However, *Uh-Huh* saw him engage in one-time collaborations with two distinctly different songwriters: the well-known [John Prine](/source/John_Prine) on "Jackie O", and the unknown Will Cary on "Lovin' Mother fo Ya".

Of "Jackie O", Mellencamp said on *[The Bob & Tom Show](/source/The_Bob_%26_Tom_Show)* in November 2004: "I can't take credit – John Prine wrote most of that song."

Mellencamp had written "Lovin' Mother fo Ya" and was playing it live on his 1982 American Fool Tour before it was even recorded (and before Cary had anything to do with the song). According to a 2003 article on LouisvilleMusic.com, Cary sent Mellencamp's guitarist Mike Wanchic a copy of *Out of My Dreams*, an album he had recorded with his band the Nightcrawlers. *Out of My Dreams* contained a song called "Cruisin' in the Park", which Mellencamp liked. This led to a phone call regarding Mellencamp's wanting to record "Cruisin' in the Park" as the first single from *Uh-Huh*. Cary recalled, "He ended up using the fourth verse from my song to start his song, 'Lovin Mother fo Ya'." A writing-credit deal was signed and Cary got 15% royalties for that song.

In addition, Mellencamp turned a song his hairdresser Dan Ross (also lead singer in a local Indiana band) had started into "Play Guitar". Mellencamp's guitar player, [Larry Crane](/source/Larry_Crane_(guitarist)), added to the music of "Play Guitar", which has numerous musical similarities to [Van Morrison](/source/Van_Morrison)'s "[Gloria](/source/Gloria_(Them_song))".

## Songs

*[Cash Box](/source/Cash_Box)* reviewed the single release of "Authority Song", writing, "Opening with a twanging [country](/source/Country_music) riff, this rocker jumps off the vinyl with the authority that Cougar-Mellencamp is singing against: 'I fight authority, and authority always wins!'"[6] *Cash Box* especially praised the "pounding rhythm section and percussion work."[6]

*[Cash Box](/source/Cash_Box)* also said that "with a resounding bass line and lyrics that bite, 'Serious Business' is the kind of all-out rocking that Mellencamp makes his own as he renders some of the finest [rock](/source/Rock_music) artistry around."[7]

## Track listing

All songs written by John Mellencamp; except where noted.

1. "[Crumblin' Down](/source/Crumblin'_Down)" (Mellencamp, [George Green](/source/George_Green_(songwriter))) – 3:33

1. "[Pink Houses](/source/Pink_Houses)" – 4:43

1. "Authority Song" – 3:49

1. "Warmer Place to Sleep" (Mellencamp, Green) – 3:48

1. "Jackie O" (Mellencamp, [John Prine](/source/John_Prine)) – 3:04

1. "Play Guitar" ([Larry Crane](/source/Larry_Crane_(guitarist)), Mellencamp, Dan Ross) – 3:25

1. "Serious Business" – 3:25

1. "Lovin' Mother fo Ya" (Will Cary, Mellencamp) – 3:06

1. "Golden Gates" – 4:04

1. "Pink Houses" (acoustic version, 2005 re-issue bonus track) – 3:45

## Personnel

- [John Mellencamp](/source/John_Mellencamp) – vocals, guitar, tambourine

- [Larry Crane](/source/Larry_Crane_(guitarist)) – guitar

- [Kenny Aronoff](/source/Kenny_Aronoff) – drums, percussion

- [Toby Myers](/source/Toby_Myers) – bass

- Mike Wanchic – guitar, background vocals

- [Louis Johnson](/source/Louis_Johnson_(bassist)) – bass

- Caroll Sue Hill – vocals

- [Maggie Ryder](/source/Maggie_Ryder) – vocals

- [Jay Ferguson](/source/Jay_Ferguson_(American_musician)) – vocals

## Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1984) Peak position Australian (Kent Music Report)[8] 57 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9] 9 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 24 UK Albums (OCC)[11] 92 US Billboard 200[12] 9 Year-end charts Chart (1984) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[13] 47 US Billboard 200[14] 19

## Certifications

Certifications for Uh-huh Region Certification Certified units/sales Canada (Music Canada)[15] 5× Platinum 500,000^ United States (RIAA)[16] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RS_2004_1-0)** Considine, J.D. (2004). "John "Cougar" Mellencamp". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). *[The New Rolling Stone Album Guide](/source/The_Rolling_Stone_Album_Guide)* (4th ed.). [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). pp. 536–537. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7432-0169-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7432-0169-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [AllMusic review](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r12910)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 2278"](http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=2278). *Robertchristgau.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Uh-Huh"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/uh-huh-19831208). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. December 8, 1983.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-officialsite_5-0)** ["John Mellencamp – Official Website :: Discography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120907221938/http://www.mellencamp.com/discography.html?dd_id=38). Archived from [the original](http://www.mellencamp.com/discography.html?dd_id=38) on September 7, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cb_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cb_6-1) ["Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-03-17.pdf) (PDF). *Cash Box*. March 17, 1984. p. 8. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-06-09.pdf) (PDF). *Cash Box*. June 9, 1984. p. 7. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aus_8-0)** [Kent, David](/source/David_Kent_(historian)) (1993). *Australian Chart Book 1970–1992* (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 197. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-646-11917-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-646-11917-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Canada_9-0)** "[Top RPM Albums: Image 4444a](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4444a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4444a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4444a)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved 9 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Sweden_John_Cougar_Mellencamp_10-0)** "[Swedishcharts.com – John Cougar Mellencamp – Uh-huh](https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=John+Cougar+Mellencamp&titel=Uh-huh&cat=a)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UK2_11-0)** "[Official Albums Chart on 26/2/1984 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19840226/7502/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 26 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Billboard200_John_Mellencamp_12-0)** "[John Mellencamp Chart History (*Billboard* 200)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/John-Mellencamp/chart-history/TLP)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved 9 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CA_YE_13-0)** "[Top RPM Albums: Image 9642](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9642&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9642.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9642)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved 11 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1984"](https://bestsellingalbums.org/year-end/Billboard_Top_Albums_1984). *BestSellingAlbums.org*. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CanadaJohn_MellencampUh-huhalbumCertRef_15-0)** ["Canadian album certifications – John Mellencamp – Uh-huh"](https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Uh-huh%20John+Mellencamp). [Music Canada](/source/Music_Canada). Retrieved September 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_StatesJohn_MellencampUh-huhalbumCertRef_16-0)** ["American album certifications – John Mellencamp – Uh-huh"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=John+Mellencamp&ti=Uh-huh&format=Album&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America). Retrieved September 7, 2024.

v t e John Mellencamp Studio albums Chestnut Street Incident (1976) A Biography (1978) John Cougar (1979) Nothin' Matters and What If It Did (1980) American Fool (1982) The Kid Inside (1983) Uh-huh (1983) Scarecrow (1985) The Lonesome Jubilee (1987) Big Daddy (1989) Whenever We Wanted (1991) Human Wheels (1993) Dance Naked (1994) Mr. Happy Go Lucky (1996) John Mellencamp (1998) Rough Harvest (1999) Cuttin' Heads (2001) Trouble No More (2003) Freedom's Road (2007) Life, Death, Love and Freedom (2008) No Better Than This (2010) Plain Spoken (2014) Sad Clowns & Hillbillies (2017) Strictly a One-Eyed Jack (2022) Orpheus Descending (2023) Live albums Life, Death, Live and Freedom (2009) Performs Trouble No More Live at Town Hall (2014) Plain Spoken: From the Chicago Theatre (2018) Compilations The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988 (1997) Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits (2004) On the Rural Route 7609 (2010) Other People's Stuff (2018) Notable singles "I Need a Lover" "This Time" "Ain't Even Done with the Night" "Hurts So Good" "Jack & Diane" "Crumblin' Down" "Pink Houses" "Lonely Ol' Night" "Small Town" "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." "Rain on the Scarecrow" "Rumbleseat" "Paper in Fire" "Cherry Bomb" "Check It Out" "Pop Singer" "Wild Night" "Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)" "Just Another Day" "Peaceful World" "Walk Tall" "Our Country" "My Sweet Love" Other singles "What Say You" (with Travis Tritt) Related Discography George Green Farm Aid Falling from Grace (1992) Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (2012) Elaine Irwin Meg Ryan

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Uh-huh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uh-huh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uh-huh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.