A Biography

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A Biography
Studio album by Johnny Cougar
Released	March 6, 1978
Recorded	Wessex Studios, Basing Street Studios, AIR Studios, London, 1977–78
Genre	Rock
Length	42:58
Label	Riva
Producer	John Punter
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Johnny Cougar chronology
The Kid Inside (1977) A Biography (1978) John Cougar (1979)

A Biography is John Mellencamp's third album, and the final album credited to his then stage name "Johnny Cougar". Recorded in London, it was released in the U.K. and Australia by Riva Records on March 6, 1978.

Due to poor sales of Mellencamp's previous two efforts, A Biography did not receive a U.S. release upon its 1978 debut. It was, however, released stateside in 2005.

In Australia, however, "I Need a Lover" became a huge hit, with the result that Mellencamp's career, apparently a failure, got its first start.

Track listing

All songs written by John Mellencamp.

Side one

1. "Born Reckless" – 4:35
2. "Factory" – 3:02
3. "Night Slumming" – 4:40
4. "Taxi Dancer" – 4:05
5. "I Need a Lover" – 5:37

Side two

1. "Alley of the Angels" – 3:58
2. "High C Cherrie" – 4:58
3. "Where the Sidewalk Ends" – 3:56
4. "Let Them Run Your Lives" – 5:55
5. "Goodnight" – 2:05

Personnel

• Johnny Cougar – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals
• Brian BecVar – keyboards, background vocals
• Larry Crane– guitars, background vocals
• Robert "Ferd" Frank – bass, background vocals
• Tom Knowles – drums, background vocals
• Andy Mackay – saxophones
• Ann O'Dell – string arrangement on "Taxi Dancer"