Big Daddy finds John Cougar Mellencamp in a quiet, self-reflective mood. The album has a folk sound to it and although a few songs have electric guitars, it is mostly acoustic based. Songs like "Big Daddy Of Them all", "Void In My My Heart", "Mansions In Heaven", "Sometimes A Great Notion" and "JM's Questions" all deal with his family and his crumbling marriage. "Martha Say" is one of his most powerful songs and Lisa Gerimano's violin cuts through the songs. "Theo & Weird Harold" & "Jackie Brown" are like old Woody Guthrie Dust Bowl songs with their narrative tales. "Pop Singer" finds him railing against his early John Cougar image. The album closes out on an upbeat note with his raucous cover a 60's chestnut by The Hombres, Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out). Big Daddy is often overlooked, but it ranks right up there with any of his albums.