+mattanddi62 It is unfortunate that for many it never even appeared... For me... I hear it LEAST 3 times per month! My favorite album... followed VERY closely by "Nothing Matters and What if it Did"
His best song in my opinion. Far and above. Never gets any airplay so thank goodness for youtube versions. Ah, the college days in the midwest. Not bad...
This is an absolute treasure and a very personal song. I listened to this song a million times when our unit was at war in the middle east. Shortly before our unit was pulled to go home, a number of our Marines huddled around a large bonfire in a cold desert, and I played this song. I decided that would be the moment I recalled for the rest of my life every time I played this tune.
Don't care about Need a Lover. This song was the first time I'd heard the name John Cougar. Awesome song from a long time ago when life was so much fun. Lots of good memories in this one, Thanx for the post.
One of my all time Cougar favorites, really had a super beat & rhythm, and the percussion drums were awesome as well. Great tune from a Indiana legend!!
This song just popped in my head after all these years. Does that happen to anyone else? I haven’t heard it played on the air since 1979. Too bad. It’s such a great song.
Having lived in Indiana for 30 formative years, I think the only way this song and video could be any more Hoosier would be for a basketball game to break out in the middle. Great tune.
This SONG was so underrated and barely received my air play in my city! I heard this for the first time visiting a friend of ours in Garwood, NJ and HAVEN'T stopped playing it SINCE! For a man with so many HITS this COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM, HAD IT RECEIVED PROPER AIR PLAY! JCM should have stayed J"COUGAR" MELLENCAMP! NO NEED TO REMOVE THE "COUGAR", IT DISTINGUISHED HIM FROM THE PACK! LOVE THIS MAN AND ALL HE DOES FOR CHARITY!
such a great song. it's a shame he's got such a low opinion of his early work, he really did have some hidden gems in those first few albums before American Fool
I've never understood why he hates all the songs up until American Fool. To me the best songs he did were up to and including American Fool. The real music world seems to think so too. I think he feels commercially they weren't good until cherry bomb which was hor--s---t
This song should have been a greatest hit on the Words and Music album, what am I saying, there should have been other older songs like Miami, A Little Night Dancin', and Born Reckless.
Listened to this so much I was able to sing along with it and it's been years since I heard it, the songs come right back, they don't make it like this anymore.
I rode around Pittsfield, MA - on my Huffy bike, listening to Johnny Cougar cassettes on my Sony Walkman, while wearing my jean jacket - He helped me grow from a kid into a man. He will always be Johnny Cougar to me. Love this guy and his band
I missed this song first time around, but it soon popped into my library and hasn't gotten dusty in almost 30 years. It's still as good as the first time I heard it, and now that I play music as well..............it's always on my playlist, with any and every band..
Yes, Wow!! How did I miss this? This is a Great Song and I JUST found it on Deep Tracks, Sirius Radio!! I love some of John's earlier stuff, AND this is a Great Tune!! Thanks, John!! Steve, Ohio!
Stephen Zinser ME TOO!!! I just heard it for the first time today in the car. YTubed it as soon as I came home. Cannot BELIEVE this isn’t considered one of his greatest!!!
"I Need a Lover" was his first hit by reaching #28. "Small Paradise", the album's 2nd single, only charted at #87. There was a 3rd single from the JOHN COUGAR album ..... "A Little Night Dancin'" only made it to #105.
Ted McCarthy ..... You couldn't be more wrong ..... "Small Paradise" wasn't first and it wasn't a hit. "I Need a Lover" was the first single from the JOHN COUGAR album, and it his was his first hit at #28. "Small Paradise" was the 2nd single, but it only reached #87. "A Little Night Dancin'" was the album's 3rd single and it only limped to #105.
A classic early Mellencamp song. He is a "roadgeek tunes" favorite here at "The Georgia Road Geek" and someday, I'd love to crank up this one, "Pink Houses", "Rumble Seat", "I Need A Lover", and other Mellencamp songs while haulin a** up I-65 in Indiana.
Hi there! Actually, this was released as John's 2nd single, as the first single, "I need a lover" made it's debut on the Billboard Hot 100 back in October 1979..this fine tune made the chart in February 1980..hope that helps a little! Take Care, and Happy New Year! Ms. Elizabeth🎤🎤🎤
Then you know very little ..... "I Need a Lover" was his first hit at #28. "Small Paradise" was it's follow-up single, but it wasn't a hit ..... It only peaked at #87.
This was the 2nd of three singles released from the JOHN COUGAR album here in The U.S. 1) "I Need a Lover" (#28) ..... 2) "Small Paradise" (#87) ..... 3) "A Little Night Dancin'" (#105). Also, "Miami" was released as a single overseas.
Hi there! This song was actually the "A-Side", and was released as a single in February 1980...the actual "flip" side was a tune called "Sugar Marie"..hope that helps a little! Happy New Year, and Take Care! Ms. Elizabeth🎸🎸🎸
![เขามัทรี - เอ็กซ์ ศุภกฤต - จอนนี่มิวสิค [ Official MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AS9ufKuQIVs/mqdefault.jpg)
This is by far Mellencamp's most underrated and unheard song in 35 years....
Buck Wheat I need a lover is great too
+mattanddi62 It is unfortunate that for many it never even appeared... For me... I hear it LEAST 3 times per month! My favorite album... followed VERY closely by "Nothing Matters and What if it Did"
it's to bad jc was not a 10 min singer
Buck Wheat yes
I never heard this song on classic rock radio growing up. Heard it for the first time on XM radio in 2016.
One of the best songs most people don't know about.
He was sick during singing also in a nasty mood strep throat
His best song in my opinion. Far and above. Never gets any airplay so thank goodness for youtube versions. Ah, the college days in the midwest. Not bad...
Surprisingly, you will hear this on Classic Rewind on SiriusXM
Definitely his best, and a classic.
taxi dancer and small paradise....
They're too busy playing Jack and Diane.
I was introduced to John's work when I was 20. I'm 50 now and I haven't heard much better from anyone else in these 30 years.
70 years here
His best song IMO..
Agreed Mr. Max
This song was ahead of its time.If it was released in mid 80's it would have been huge.
This is an absolute treasure and a very personal song. I listened to this song a million times when our unit was at war in the middle east. Shortly before our unit was pulled to go home, a number of our Marines huddled around a large bonfire in a cold desert, and I played this song. I decided that would be the moment I recalled for the rest of my life every time I played this tune.
Thank you.
Thank you for your service Mr. Steinburg.
@@glitter-lk5dz you are very welcome.
@@markfromct2 it was my honor.
Semper Fi Devil Dog
Don't care about Need a Lover. This song was the first time I'd heard the name John Cougar. Awesome song from a long time ago when life was so much fun. Lots of good memories in this one, Thanx for the post.
This is my all time FAVORITE by him
MegaSickcat Same here, so much better than stuff like Paper in Fire
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH JOHNS MUSIC START HERE 1980
I also have always thought this is his best song. 'it ain't love, but it ain't bad...'
Definitely agree, one of John's best and most unknown songs of his career.
Great song ❤.
Mr.John u definitely made this world a better place
Holy 💩. I haven’t thought of this song in ages! Can’t believe it’s 40 years this week
One of my all time Cougar favorites, really had a super beat & rhythm, and the percussion drums were awesome as well. Great tune from a Indiana legend!!
I love this one of best. Your pandemic obsession.
Thank u John for your wisdom
This song just popped in my head after all these years. Does that happen to anyone else? I haven’t heard it played on the air since 1979. Too bad. It’s such a great song.
Having lived in Indiana for 30 formative years, I think the only way this song and video could be any more Hoosier would be for a basketball game to break out in the middle. Great tune.
+Matt Schroeder I once went to a prize fight and a hockey game broke out! LOL!
settle down and enjoy the music
From the John Cougar Days probably one of the best love ballads, ever written in rock ‘n’ roll.
One of the best forgotten song's, a lot of people have never heard
It's crazy this came out in '79 and I am just now hearing it. What a great song!
I still have the vinyl, and the cassette tape:)
Timtmmusic the entire album is amazing. You need to listen to all of it! Trust me.
Es mi Cancion favorita desde hace mucho muchisimo Tiempo 🎉😂😂
This is so seriously underrated and also the most care free and more melodic John we will ever see
This is a bad ass song!!!!!
Everybody needs a Small Paradise in their lives 🙂😎🌞
This SONG was so underrated and barely received my air play in my city! I heard this for the first time visiting a friend of ours in Garwood, NJ and HAVEN'T stopped playing it SINCE! For a man with so many HITS this COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM, HAD IT RECEIVED PROPER AIR PLAY!
JCM should have stayed J"COUGAR" MELLENCAMP! NO NEED TO REMOVE THE "COUGAR", IT DISTINGUISHED HIM FROM THE PACK! LOVE THIS MAN AND ALL HE DOES FOR CHARITY!
Hello Dorothy how are you doing!!
One of his best, in my opinion! 👍 I listen all the time!
in my opinion his best album
Wow it been forever since I heard this gem of a song and why is this not on his greatest hits hell its one of his best songs ever!
Probably because the single only reached #87.
such a great song. it's a shame he's got such a low opinion of his early work, he really did have some hidden gems in those first few albums before American Fool
that is so true a lot of artists had there best music and songs before they got famus
I've never understood why he hates all the songs up until American Fool. To me the best songs he did were up to and including American Fool. The real music world seems to think so too. I think he feels commercially they weren't good until cherry bomb which was hor--s---t
This whole record is KILLER imho.
This song should have been a greatest hit on the Words and Music album, what am I saying, there should have been other older songs like Miami, A Little Night Dancin', and Born Reckless.
Hello Regina how are you doing!!
One of his greatest songs ❤
Listened to this so much I was able to sing along with it and it's been years since I heard it, the songs come right back, they don't make it like this anymore.
yes they do
I rode around Pittsfield, MA - on my Huffy bike, listening to Johnny Cougar cassettes on my Sony Walkman, while wearing my jean jacket - He helped me grow from a kid into a man. He will always be Johnny Cougar to me. Love this guy and his band
I remember playing bass at small clubs in the '70's...
This is how it was! Good times...
I still have this Vinyl Album. Really great stuff.
I JUST discovered this song after so many years listening to Mellencamp. I can't believe that I've missed this tune. OMG!
I just saw him in his tour Hartford 2024. Great Show! just wish he played this.... my favorite track by him
FANTASTIC Album....classic.....always a favorite!
great song and different arrangement - love it
I missed this song first time around, but it soon popped into my library and hasn't gotten dusty in almost 30 years. It's still as good as the first time I heard it, and now that I play music as well..............it's always on my playlist, with any and every band..
First song, first dance of first Jr. High dance. Wow, does this take me back...
Definitely very underrated & my favorite JC song by far!
Fantastic lp
What a great song that was I loved that from day one
Yes, Wow!! How did I miss this?
This is a Great Song and I JUST found it on Deep Tracks, Sirius Radio!!
I love some of John's earlier stuff, AND this is a Great Tune!!
Thanks, John!!
Steve, Ohio!
Stephen Zinser ME TOO!!! I just heard it for the first time today in the car. YTubed it as soon as I came home. Cannot BELIEVE this isn’t considered one of his greatest!!!
From the 1979 album JOHN COUGAR. By far my favorite album from JCM!
Definitely one of my favorite songs, I love this album
The opening is fantastic!!!!
Wow, I thought this was new, only heard it recently. What a jewel of a find.
Thanks for posting this. I liked this song for 30 years and this is first I saw the video!! Cool. Brings back memories for sure.
One of my favourite Mellencamp songs ♥
Damn ! I love this song ! Thank You very much !
Lion Parker best song ever. Hate he got too big.....
Is my favorite Son desde hace 20 years thanks John Cougar God Bless you
I believe "I Need a Lover" (December 1979) is credited as his first big hit. But this is still a great song.
"I Need a Lover" was his first hit by reaching #28.
"Small Paradise", the album's 2nd single, only charted at #87.
There was a 3rd single from the JOHN COUGAR album ..... "A Little Night Dancin'" only made it to #105.
just his best song IMO
This was my first john cougar album I played this song over and over and over 😍🥰
fantastic song, well written, like most of his stuff
Fabulous but obscure song; hauntingly perceptive.
I'm so glad that I still have the 45 of this song!
Hello Nancy how are you doing!!
Mellancamp's first and best hit! Small Paradise,a palce he said you don't want to be in.
Ted McCarthy ..... You couldn't be more wrong ..... "Small Paradise" wasn't first and it wasn't a hit.
"I Need a Lover" was the first single from the JOHN COUGAR album, and it his was his first hit at #28.
"Small Paradise" was the 2nd single, but it only reached #87.
"A Little Night Dancin'" was the album's 3rd single and it only limped to #105.
"it ain't love, but it ain't bad" cracks me up.
This was on a Laserdisc I bought in the 80's great song and video from one of the greatest singer songwriters of my gen...gen..gen..eration baby !!
Mi Cancion Favorita de Los 80 en Barras y Cantinas Feliz Semana Santa 🎉😂❤
!st song i ever heard from him god i am old!!!
Cool guy John has my eyes😎
Mi song Forever in ever my life
👏👏👏👏👏👏👍
Very good song!!!!
LOVE it
Hes is the all time best 😍😍
i always loved this song
it a great song
Amo esta música cuando la escucho siento que voy por una carretera en la noche mientras fumo es increíble
one of my favorites from the past. Thanks
my fav by far
One of his best songs!
It ain't love but it ain't bad
Is my song Forever in ever
great
Never heard this song before but love it!
A classic early Mellencamp song.
He is a "roadgeek tunes" favorite here at "The Georgia Road Geek" and someday, I'd love to crank up this one, "Pink Houses", "Rumble Seat", "I Need A Lover", and other Mellencamp songs while haulin a** up I-65 in Indiana.
Those bongos are magic in this song
another good one
Man!! Havent heard this in 20+ yrs...tryin to find Hot Night in a Cold Town...Cougars version
Throwin' it way back.
I can remember their first performance on American Bandstand back in 1979
smokin'. those were the days
EXCELENTE.GRACIAS!
I remember when John Mellonball used to go by "John Cougar". As far as I know, this was his first hit.
+FishHeadSalad Mellencamp*...
Hi there! Actually, this was released as John's 2nd single, as the first single, "I need a lover" made it's debut on the Billboard Hot 100 back in October 1979..this fine tune made the chart in February 1980..hope that helps a little! Take Care, and Happy New Year! Ms. Elizabeth🎤🎤🎤
Then you know very little ..... "I Need a Lover" was his first hit at #28.
"Small Paradise" was it's follow-up single, but it wasn't a hit ..... It only peaked at #87.
This def should have been included on Words and Music. And WOW!!! Was he HOT back then or what???!!! 😛😛😛
great obscure song
This was the 2nd of three singles released from the JOHN COUGAR album here in The U.S.
1) "I Need a Lover" (#28) ..... 2) "Small Paradise" (#87) ..... 3) "A Little Night Dancin'" (#105).
Also, "Miami" was released as a single overseas.
This was a favorite flip side on one of my 45's
Hi there! This song was actually the "A-Side", and was released as a single in February 1980...the actual "flip" side was a tune called "Sugar Marie"..hope that helps a little! Happy New Year, and Take Care! Ms. Elizabeth🎸🎸🎸
"Small Paradise" was the A-side ..... It charted at #87 in 1980.
The bluebird in Bloomington.....
This song is so underrated
his best song after ain't even done with the night.
When did this video come out
@Maikschoene67 you are right... this one was very underrated.
one of my favs....... would really like to hear what he was really sayin....love ya johnny.