Johnny released Mr. Happy Go Lucky right after his heart attack, and near death experience. And almost all of the songs clearly reflect it.

But anyway, I bought this for 2 bucks thinking it would have a few fun tunes, but nothing special. Not being that much of an avid Mellencamp fan, I probably wouldn't have even gotten it, had it been for 4 dollars. But it's really good. I have to say.

Songs like "Key West Intermizo" and "Circling Around The Moon" are really different from his other stuff, and he sounds good.

I've been a Melloncamp fan for decades now and return to his albums again and again when I need an authentic music encounter. Mr. Happy Go Lucky is by far his best complete work. The album is a seemless dark journey that is strangely humerous and sad. Not a moment on this disk is dull or boring;hen you put it on you are compelled to listen to it top to bottom. Of all his disks, and I have them all, this is the one I grab on the way out of a burning house.

I've been a rock affectionado for 30 plus years. This is my first Mellancamp record. Not interested in Pink Houses and his other commercial successes. Bought this on a whim and am having difficulty extracting it from the CD player. This is rock the way it was meant to be...Large World Turning, Circling Round the Moon, Full Catastrophe, Emotional Love, all terrific. The violin play is icing on the cake. I can only hope Mr. Mellancamp continues on this less commercial road!

To call a CD "timeless" is usually a tacky way to describe it. Certainly, the word "timeless" usually doesn't apply to Mellencamp's work (not to demean his music in any way). But MR. HAPPY GO LUCKY is a masterpiece, fusing pop, rock, country, and r&b into something that is unique and unforgettable.

From the opening violin notes of "Overture," to the ending drum beats of "Life Is Hard," you will fall in love with this album. The guitar licks on "Key West Intermezzo" will stick in your head for days; "Emotional Love" will revolve around your head like the memory of an old friend. "This May Not Be the End of the World" and "Mr. Bellows" are both sitiric and delightful. "Jackamo Road" reminds you of the good ol' days, when music was pure and simply music.

John Mellencamp has progressed through the years. I don't know if MR. HAPPY GO LUCKY is the best, or pinnacle, album of his career--I just know that it's a damn good one. Mellencamp has made some great music; this is no exception. It will be remembered years from now, when the list of the 100 Greatest CD's Ever Made is presented. It's a classic.

Timeless.

This Mellencamp album stunk even more badly than Whenever We Wanted. Like another reviewer here said, the only worthwhile songs on this album are "Key West Intermezzo" and "Just Another Day," and even they are nothing compared to JM's other work.
If you are not that familiar with Mellencamp, do yourself a favor and get an album like Big Daddy or The Lonesome Jubilee to see what greatness he's capable of. I wasted my money on this sorry collection of third-rate material.