JOHNNY COUGAR - AMERICAN DREAM (THE MAINMAN RECORDINGS 1976-1977) 2CD

JOHNNY COUGAR - AMERICAN DREAM (THE MAINMAN RECORDINGS 1976-1977) 2CD

THIS IS A PRE ORDER: RELEASE DATE: 27th March 2026

• 2CD SET COMPILING THE FIRST PHASE OF JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP’S REMARKABLE CAREER. 
• TWO CLASSIC ALBUMS, RARE BONUS TRACKS AND TEN PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED RECORDINGS!
• ALSO INCLUDES THE NEVER-BEFORE-ON-CD ‘US Male’ EP.
• PRODUCED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MAINMAN.
• FEATURING NEW INTERVIEWS WITH TONY DEFRIES AND PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN IMAGERY.
Having been signed by impresario and former Bowie manager Tony Defries in the mid-late 1970s, Johnny Cougar set about recording the wealth of original compositions and cover versions that would comprise both his debut album, ‘Chestnut Street Incident’ and the later ‘Kid Inside’ (released after the commercial breakthrough ‘American Fool’ LP). Under Defries’ tutelage, Cougar’s trademark blue collar, heartland rock identity began to take shape, making this compilation a vital study in the formative years of a future star and icon. 
Including songs originally recorded by Bowie, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Elvis and The Doors, alongside fantastic original compositions, and featuring previously unreleased material long thought lost, ‘American Dream’ pulls together both albums recorded during the period alongside the non-album ‘US Male’ EP and ten previously unheard demos, early mixes, alternate versions and the near-mythical electro funk of ‘I Just Wanna Be Black’.  
Complete with insightful new sleeve notes and previously unseen imagery from the Main Man archive, ‘American Dream’ is a must for the Cougar’s established fanbase, and a long-overdue insight into the beginnings of a career which continues to endure. 

Label: Lemon/Cherry Red Records

Cat. No. CDLEMD265

TRACKLIST

CD1

CHESTNUT STREET INCIDENT 
1 American Dream 
2 Oh Pretty Woman 
3 Jailhouse Rock 
4 Dream Killing Town 
5 Supergirl 
6 Chestnut Street 
7 Good Girls 
8 Do You Believe In Magic? 
9 Twentieth Century Fox 
10 Chestnut Street Revisited 
11 Sad Lady 
U.S. MALE EP** 
12 2000 A.D.  
13 Lou-ser 
14 Hot Man 
15 Kicks (Gulcher Version) 
SKIN IT BACK PT 1 
16 Skin It Back (Acoustic Version) 
17 The Man Who Sold The World 
18 Little Heroes 
19 Hit The Road Jack 
20 Kicks 
ALBUM OUT-TAKES 
*previously unreleased
**first time on CD 
21 Jailhouse Rock (Demo Mix/Alternate Guitar Solo)* 
22 Chestnut Street (Alternate Version #1)* 
23 Chestnut Street (Alternate Version #2)* 
24 Sad Lady (Alternate Mix/Alternate Vocal)* 
25 The Man Who Sold The World (Early Version)* 
26 Little Heroes (Early Version)* 

CD2

THE KID INSIDE 
1 Kid Inside 
2 Take What You Want 
3 Cheap Shot 
4 Sidewalks And Streetlight 
5 R. Gang 
6 American Son 
7 Gearhead 
8 Young Genocides 
9 Too Young To Live 
10 Survive 
SKIN IT BACK PT 2. 
11 Last Of The Big Time Spenders 
12 I Need Somebody Baby 
13 The Whore 
14 When I Was Young 
15 Skin It Back (Instrumental) 
ALBUM OUT-TAKES 
16 I Just Wanna Be Black* 
17 Gearhead (Alternate Electric Version)* 
18 I Need Somebody (Demo Mix/Scratch Vocal)* 
19 I Just Wanna Be Black (Demo Mix/Alternate Vocal)* 
*previously unreleased