"Also, maybe this one doesn't really apply and should be under "greatest growth" of an artist, but John Mellencamp's Lonesome Jubilee...the opening to Paper in Fire knocked me out...and I knew that Mellencamp had made a great record...  " -EEE

What?, I thought we were talking comeback album. So "L.J." was a significant growth from his prior two records? "Scarecrow" was one of John's masterpieces!

If anything showed maturity and growth in John's long history, it has to be "Big Daddy".

"Lonesome Jubilee" came right after "Scarecrow" and "Uh-Huh". Hard acts to follow. I'm not a fan of "Uh Huh" but it's considered a classic pop album.