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
Johnny Cougar chronology
Chestnut Street Incident
A Biography
John Cougar
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 1/5 stars[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 2.5/5 stars[2]

A Biography is John Mellencamp's second released album, and last 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 album, A Biography did not receive a US release upon its 1978 debut. Two of its tracks, "Taxi Dancer" and the single "I Need a Lover", were on his 1979 album John Cougar which was released in the US.

In Australia, however, "I Need a Lover" became a huge hit, with the result that Mellencamp's career got its first start. Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine has described "I Need a Lover" as Mellencamp's "first good song."[1]

Track listing[edit]

All songs written and composed by John Mellencamp

Side One
No. Title Length
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
No. Title Length
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