Ballad of Jack and Diane by John Cougar, later Mellencamp:

John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane :)

too slow!

but I still say the first side of his Scarecrow album is as good as anything recorded in the 80's. Spotify it if you wanna argue!

The Lonesome Jubileee, easily outstripping his later equivalently acclaimed outpourings. Features the first sightings of one Lisa Germano on fiddle and backing vocals. They always said that Mellencamp was moving from rock to country at about the same time as Steve Earle was taking the opposite journey, this stage being where they perhaps met in the middle, with old-timey instrumentation, backed by powerhouse "stadium" drums. Fantastic LP.

can't argue with that Retro. spot on mate.

Agree with Retro and Paul, I still love that album.
I was lucky enough to catch him live in Hammersmith touring with that album. One of my all time favourite concerts.

greatly appreciated