John Mellencamp - "Hand To Hold On To"

John "Cougar" Mellencamp recently won the Woody Guthrie Prize for his work highlighting the common man, including in such songs as "Pink Houses" and through his work organizing Farm Aid. I was a big fan of Mellencamp growing up, and I've continued to have a high regard for his work over the years. His work spoke to me, such as in this song: "A Hand To Hold On To."

Happy 4th: James Brown "Living in America"

Here's a piece of Americana from the mid '80s, James Brown's "Living in America."

A Happy 4th of July to my readers in the U.S.A..