Overview: “Try to keep it as plain spoken as possible…” are some of the first words the viewer hears in 'Plain Spoken: From The Chicago Theatre'. A self-narrated musical journey, the film encapsulates the sound and soul of John Mellencamp.

Blu ray Verdict: Well, let's be honest here, for as much as I loved hearing the voice over from Mellencamp himself, the fact that there's a bonus feature option here to view the entire concert without the voice over is Christmas come early, sorry.

That said, Mellencamp has always been a fine, high caliber troubadour when it comes to stories spun to his audience whilst playing live. I mean, the man's had a career spanning more than 42 years. One that has seen him transition from pop star to one of the most highly regarded songwriters of a generation.

Culling first from his 2014 album of this tours same name, both 'Lawless Times' and 'Troubled Man' may well be unknown to the vast majority of those either gathered there that night, or watching now from their comfy couches, but both songs are as attune to today's political status as they could ever have been.

With his entire band dressed as if they were headed for a posh dinner party, Mellencamp himself wearing what genuinely looks to be a slightly oversized dinner jacket over a standard plain white tshirt, the next song of note early on is a delicious 'Small Town.' The song, sung as only Mellencamp can with that gravel-toned vocal of his, flashes you immediately back to 1985, and has you singing along without you realizing.

Throughout the show, the audience is dark, lit only by carefully spaced way overhead venue lights, the stage also never more than lit by what was required to see/play instruments. Predominately aglow under a bathing blue set of spots, and with a backdrop sheet (also lit in blue) showcasing symbols and written thoughts, this captured live show of him performing with his full band (and with Carlene Carter guesting) at the historic Chicago Theatre (just 250 miles from his native Indiana) is as good as it gets watching Mellencamp in the current era.

Now, back to that voice over, for as Mellencamp and his band perform these well-received 16 songs to his adoring fans within a packed out Chicago Theatre, as aforementioned, the great man himself provides a narrative about his life and career.

Obviously, and keeping with the spirit of the tour, he tries to keep it as 'plain spoken' as possible, but what we learn (as the music plays) is that he is a rather keen observer of what other people do and say.

Stating that he never tried to live up to other people's expectations, including his parents, who weren't always there for him in his youth, it was actually his grandmother who inspired him with encouragement every day of his life until the age of forty.

Mellencamp goes on to describe how it was actually easy for him to land a recording contract, simply by leaving copies of a tape he recorded as a teenager with a garage band he joined up with. That said, and as he is just as quick to point out, very soon he came to understand that the music business was all about the money.

Listening to Mellencamp throughout, he's not cynical when he says this, and other things that he recounts that didn't go too well for him in life either, moreover he's simply being matter of fact about it all. For it's the path that led him here tonight, to play in front of all these fans, to bring them what was at that time, his new recording.

Ergo, as the music plays, and classic songs such as 'Minutes To Memories,' 'Pop Singer,' 'Check It Out,' 'Rain On The Scarecrow,' 'Paper In Fire,' 'Authority Song,' 'Pink Houses,' and the always-brilliant 'Cherry Bomb' come forth, Mellencamp's grainy, travel worn voice informs us further about the story of his Midwestern upbringing, the trials, turns and triumphs of his career, and his overall outlook on life.

The result, whether it be via this stunning Blu-ray or the accompanying CD (which is built, in my world, strictly for the car on a hot sunny day, top down) is the essence of John Mellencamp; delivered, for our pleasure and knowledge, by a man who can never do any wrong whilst plying his chosen trade.

Blu-ray & CD Track Listing:
1. 'Lawless Times
'
2. 'Troubled Man'
3. 'Minutes to Memories
'
4. 'Small Town'
5. 'Stones in My Passway'
6. 'Pop Singer'
7. 'Check It Out'
8. 'Longest Days
'
9. 'The Full Catastrophe'
10. 'My Soul's Got Wings
'
11. 'Overture'
12. 'Rain on the Scarecrow'
13. 'Paper in Fire'
14. 'Authority Song'
15. 'Pink Houses
'
16. 'Cherry Bomb'

This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Bonus Feature of the entire concert without the voice over.