re: Rank these 4 performers/bastards: Mellencamp, Springsteen, Seger, Petty

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1. Petty


2. Seger






3. Springsteen













4. Johnny Cougar

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Same

I'm that rare TDer that's a Springsteen fan, and I've never judged anyone by their politics (at least not an artist...as compared to a politician). I either like their stuff or don't.

So for me:

Springsteen
Seger
Petty
Cougar

I still listen to them all.

Petty. Not even close.

1. Seger
2. Mellencamp
3. Springsteen
4. Petty


2 and 3 are pretty equal for me

This one is tough:
Petty / dead
Seger/ retired
Springsteen / communist
Mellencamp / cigarette burned voice of a commie

Seger - I’ll go Seger with Night Moves, Main Street, Hollywood Nights and Against the Wind. “She has points of her own, sitting way up high, way up firm and high.” - Night Moves
Petty - always liked Petty and his quirky cool. One of his favorites for me is Southern Accents but the best version of that song was done by the Steel Woods.
Mellencamp - once liked his music but he is insufferable politically and literally hates half his fans.
Springsteen - a few good songs but a lot of mediocre as well. Another insufferable lefty saving his “democracy.”

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Seger

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The first, and some of his '60s stuff is pretty good. He also wrote the classic "Get Out of Denver", tho I prefer the covers by Dave Edmunds and Eddie & The Hot Rods

But after finally hitting chart pay dirt w/"Night Moves" he became even more bombastic and arena rock, with the added pomposity that came when he began imitating the working class hero shtick of

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Springsteen

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He was actually signed to Columbia as a Dylanesque singer-songwriter, and his first 2 albums are a mishmash of styles, from wannabe Dylan to Rascals bar band and even art rock.

With his 3rd album Born To Run and a new manager/(over)producer, ex-critic Jon Landau, he committed himself to the "Boss" image -- essentially John Fogerty's working class hero crossed w/ -- BS's one note of originality-- the Jersey Mook Mean Streets. W/"Born In The USA" he eventually came to personify bombast and pomposity, seemingly the two requirements for success in the arena rock age

BS never made a record as great as his incredible live shows, tho "Rosalita" (on the 2nd album) came close

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Mellencamp

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Had a catchy hit w/"I Need A Lover" then latched on to the WCH shtick of BS (and Seger). His stuff in that vein was clearly derivitive and often awful

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Petty

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The only one to never pursue the WCH angle. I always found him an unremarkable Roger McGuinn imitator. Ironically RM had perhaps 4 yrs of pop success, while Petty had maybe 40 imitating him. In a further irony RM would eventually open for TP on tour in hopes of reviving his career.

Springsteen
Seger
Petty
Cougar

Seger,(others are distant) Tom Petty, Mellencamp, Springsteen. I like music by all of them, but unfortunately, the politics of two have turned me off. John Mellencamp was a good songwriter in his own right. Minutes to memories.