John Mellencamp. That’s the name we know him by today, the heartland rocker who has penned some of America’s most enduring anthems. But rewind to the late 70s and early 80s, and you’d find him navigating the music industry under a different moniker: Johnny Cougar. This early phase, marked by name changes and evolving sounds, laid the groundwork for his eventual superstardom. It was during this time, under the John Cougar banner, that he released “Ain’t Even Done with the Night,” a single that subtly hinted at the iconic artist he was destined to become.
His journey was anything but conventional. Before American audiences fully embraced him, Mellencamp actually found his first taste of chart success in Australia. His debut single, “I Need a Lover,” became a Top 5 hit there in 1978, but wouldn’t make waves stateside until its re-release on his third album in 1979. Even then, it only just cracked the Top 40. Interestingly, Pat Benatar covered “I Need a Lover” in the same year, further exposing the song to a wider audience, albeit in a slightly more streamlined version.
However, it was John Cougar’s fourth album, Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did, released in 1980, that truly began to set the stage for his breakthrough. While “This Time,” the album’s lead single, achieved moderate success, climbing into the US Top 30, it was “Ain’t Even Done with the Night” that resonated more deeply with listeners. This track, a softer, more introspective tune exploring the nuances of budding romance, reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking a significant step forward in his career.
Decoding a Relatable Anthem
“Ain’t Even Done with the Night” delves into the often-awkward territory of early romantic encounters. The lyrics paint a picture of a young man on a date, sensing the girl’s interest but grappling with his own uncertainties. Is he ready for commitment? Is he just looking for something casual? And how exactly does one navigate those initial, often clumsy, steps in a relationship?
Well, I don’t know no good come-ons
And I don’t know no cool lines
I feel the heat of your frustration
I know it’s burnin’ you up deep down inside
You say that I’m the boy who can make it all come true
Well, I’m tellin’ ya that I don’t know if I know what to do
These lyrics capture a universal experience – the confusion and vulnerability that often accompany the beginnings of romance. It’s this simple, relatable narrative of potential young love and the accompanying uncertainties that gave the song its appeal.
The music video for “Ain’t Even Done with the Night” further emphasized the song’s playful yet slightly off-kilter vibe. Cougar, in a memorable visual, seems to channel James Brown, complete with knee drops and microphone theatrics, even though the song’s gentle tempo hardly calls for such intensity. His band adds to the visual spectacle, styled as a doo-wop group reminiscent of the Famous Flames, Brown’s long-time backing vocalists. Adding to the video’s quirky charm, during the saxophone solo, the pianist comically mimes playing the notes, highlighting the somewhat low-budget, yet creative, production.
Even the Artist Had Doubts
Despite its chart success and lasting appeal, John Cougar himself wasn’t entirely convinced of the quality of Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did. In a 1983 interview with Record Magazine, he openly expressed his reservations about the album, which was produced by the legendary Steve Cropper.
“The singles were stupid little pop songs,” he stated bluntly. “I take no credit for that record.” He further elaborated on his disillusionment, revealing, “Toward the end, I didn’t even go to the studio. Me and the guys in the band thought we were finished, anyway.” His comments highlight a disconnect between the commercial success of “Ain’t Even Done with the Night” and his own artistic vision at the time. He even joked about the album’s surprising cost, “$280,000, Do you believe that?”, and the record label’s seemingly low expectations, suggesting they were content as long as he sold “a few records.”
The Foundation for Future Success
Thankfully for music fans worldwide, John Cougar’s artistic journey didn’t end with his perceived “stupid little pop songs.” He evolved, musically and personally, into the John Mellencamp we know and admire today.
“Ain’t Even Done with the Night,” despite Cougar’s initial dismissal, has proven its staying power. Its music video has garnered over 4.3 million views on YouTube, and it boasts an impressive 37 million listens on Spotify, consistently ranking among his top tracks on the platform. Not bad for a song the artist himself once doubted.
While Nothin’ Matters & What If It Did took a decade to achieve Platinum status, eventually reaching No. 37 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, it undeniably paved the way for his monumental fifth album, American Fool. Released under the moniker John Cougar Mellencamp, American Fool, propelled by the hits “Hurt So Good” and the chart-topping “Jack and Diane,” sold over 5 million copies in the US alone. This success solidified his place in music history, with subsequent 80s albums, with the exception of Big Daddy, also achieving multi-Platinum status.
“Ain’t Even Done with the Night” serves as a reminder that even modest beginnings can lead to significant achievements. And as John Mellencamp continues to create and perform well into his 70s, it’s clear that, much like the sentiment of his early hit, he ain’t even done with his career yet.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
