Social Distortion – ‘Mommy’s Little Monster’ album paintings courtesy of Craft Recordings
Craft Recordings celebrates the fortieth anniversary of Social Distortion’s influential debut, Mommy’s Little Monster, with particular vinyl and digital reissues. Set for launch on November 10, the traditional SoCal punk album has been newly remastered from its unique analog tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Housed in a gatefold jacket, Mommy’s Little Monster consists of such favorites as “The Creeps (I Simply Wanna Give You),” One other State of Thoughts,” and the enduring title monitor.
Along with traditional black vinyl, the album will probably be accessible in a wide range of unique limited-edition colorways, together with ruby crimson by way of the band’s official web site and black & white marble on the official Craft Recordings web site.
A pioneering power in Orange County, CA’s legendary hardcore punk scene, Social Distortion was based within the late ’70s by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mike Ness alongside his highschool buddy, guitarist Dennis Danell. Whereas Ness was raised on a mix of blues, nation, and traditional rock – influences that may later pervade Social Distortion’s songs – he discovered himself significantly impressed on the time by Britain’s anti-establishment punk scene.
After releasing the only “Mainliner” in 1981, Social Distortion caught the ear of KROQ DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, who promoted the band on his influential radio present and included their track “1945” on a number of of his compilation albums. That focus helped the band (which now included bassist Brent Liles and drummer Derek O’Brien) safe a North American tour with Youth Brigade – documented within the 1984 movie, One other State of Thoughts. Once they returned, they have been primed to report their debut album.
Mommy’s Little Monster was recorded in a single marathon session at Fullerton, CA’s iconic Casbah Studio. The band labored intently with proprietor/producer/engineer Chaz Ramirez, whom Ness later informed the Los Angeles Occasions was influential in “serving to us form ourselves, serving to us obtain our sound, obtain our character.” Quick, uncooked, and brimming with nihilistic perspective, the nine-track album clocked in at slightly below 28 minutes and epitomized the early SoCal punk scene by means of songs like “Telling Them,” “Anti-Trend,” and “Ethical Menace.”
Different highlights embrace the fiery opener “The Creeps (I Simply Wish to Give You),” during which the band taunts their critics, whereas the anarchistic anthem “Mommy’s Little Monster” tells the story of two wayward teenagers who reject societal norms. Single “One other State of Thoughts,” which was impressed by the band’s 1982 tour, finds Ness chronicling the ups and downs of life on the street and lacking his girlfriend again at dwelling. The track would quickly change into a reside staple and fan favourite.
Launched in 1983 on the band’s personal thirteenth Flooring Data, Mommy’s Little Monster helped propel Social Distortion into the broader punk scene whereas additionally catching the eye of the press. Reviewing the album in 1984, Trouser Press known as it an “Immediate traditional,” including “This catchy-as-dermatophytosis punk pop is a surprisingly subtle product of the LA underground. Ness proves to be considered one of present punk’s higher songwriters.” Most Rocknroll additionally praised, “These distinctive vocals, the harmonies, the rockin’ guitars, and melodic hooks galore. . . . There’s valuable little thrilling punky-pop round lately, however this is among the uncommon examples of it.”
Within the following years, Social Distortion developed their signature model of exhausting punk, nation and blues rock n roll, rising to change into one of many style’s best-selling bands, and counting acts like Bruce Springsteen, The Offspring, Rancid, Thrice, Inexperienced Day, and Blink-182 amongst their followers. In the present day, the band’s influential catalog consists of seven studio albums, together with Jail Sure (1988), the Gold-certified Social Distortion (1990) and Someplace Between Heaven and Hell (1992), and the newer Arduous Occasions and Nursery Rhymes (2011). At present that includes Mike Ness, longtime guitarist Jonny “2 Luggage” Wickersham, bassist Brent Harding, and drummer Dave Hidalgo Jr., the members of Social Distortion proceed to get pleasure from their standing as Godfathers of Punk.
Pre-order Mommy’s Little Monster.