Rumbleseat (John Mellencamp song)

Last updated
"Rumbleseat"
Rumbleseat single.jpg
Single by John Cougar Mellencamp
from the album Scarecrow
B-side "Cold Sweat"
ReleasedJune 1986
Recorded1985
Studio Belmont Mall Studio (Belmont, Indiana)
Genre Heartland rock, rockabilly
Length2:59
Label Riva
Songwriter John Mellencamp
Producers John Mellencamp, Don Gehman
John Cougar Mellencamp singles chronology
"Rain on the Scarecrow"
(1986)
"Rumbleseat"
(1986)
"Paper in Fire"
(1987)

"Rumbleseat" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp. It was released in June 1986 as the fifth single from his eighth studio album, Scarecrow (1985). The song peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

Background and release

Following the success of Scarecrow, which included the hit singles "Small Town" and "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", "Rumbleseat" was issued as a 7-inch single. Its B-side was a cover of "Cold Sweat" by James Brown, recorded during the same album sessions. [1] The title refers to the fold-out rumble seat found in vintage American cars.

Composition and style

The track features a stripped-down rockabilly rhythm, acoustic guitar riffs, and Mellencamp's raspy vocal delivery. Lyrically, it explores small-town frustration, youthful longing, and a desire to escape—a hallmark of Mellencamp's heartland rock era.

Critical reception

Cash Box said of the single that "the distinctive, rocking style of Mellencamp is put to great effect." [2] Billboard described it as "stripped down rockabilly with a moral to it." [3]

Music video

The music video for "Rumbleseat", directed by Mellencamp himself, was shot in black and white and aired frequently on MTV. [4] It featured scenes of rural Americana, classic cars, and performance footage.

Charts

Chart (1986)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] 28=US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [6] 4

Track listing

7-inch single

Personnel

See also

References

  1. "John Cougar Mellencamp – Rumbleseat (1986, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  2. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. June 28, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  3. "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 28, 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  4. "Rumbleseat by John Mellencamp". IMVDb. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
  5. "John Mellencamp Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  6. "John Mellencamp Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2023.