Uploaded March 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." (A Salute to 1960s Rock), written and recorded by Indiana roots-rocker John Mellencamp, was a last minute add to his Scarecrow album, and a complete opposite to its satirical theme. The song was released in 1986 as the third single from the album. Although his feeling that people weren't getting the song's message about how Rock & Roll evolved in the U.S., and the influence the 60's musicians had on the next generation, the song was well received and became a big hit for him. The lyrics make several references to the artists and bands that shaped Mellencamp's sound and influenced his early music. "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at #2.
"R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." (A Salute to 1960s Rock), written and recorded by Indiana roots-rocker John Mellencamp, was a last minute add to his Scarecrow album, and a complete opposite to its satirical theme. The song was released in 1986 as the third single from the album. Although his feeling that people weren't getting the song's message about how Rock & Roll evolved in the U.S., and the influence the 60's musicians had on the next generation, the song was well received and became a big hit for him. The lyrics make several references to the artists and bands that shaped Mellencamp's sound and influenced his early music. "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at #2.
