Social Distortion - Mommy's Little Monster

 

40th Anniversary 180-gram gatefold LP reissue!

SoCal punk album remastered from the original analog tapes

Includes "The Creeps (I Just Wanna Give You)," "Another State of Mind" and the iconic title track!

Craft Recordings celebrates the 40th anniversary of Social Distortion's influential debut, Mommy's Little Monster, with special vinyl reissues. The classic SoCal punk album has been newly remastered from its original analog tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl for the ultimate listening experience.

Housed in a gatefold jacket, Mommy's Little Monster includes such favorites as "The Creeps (I Just Wanna Give You)," Another State of Mind," and the iconic title track. Beginning today, fans can also stream and download the remastered version of "Another State of Mind."

A pioneering force in Orange County, CA's legendary hardcore punk scene, Social Distortion was founded in the late '70s by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mike Ness alongside his high school buddy, guitarist Dennis Danell. While Ness was raised on a blend of blues, country, and classic rock — influences that would later pervade Social Distortion's songs — he found himself particularly inspired at the time by Britain's anti-establishment punk scene.

After releasing the single "Mainliner" in 1981, Social Distortion caught the ear of KROQ DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, who promoted the band on his influential radio show and included their song "1945" on several of his compilation albums. That attention helped the band (which now included bassist Brent Liles and drummer Derek O'Brien) secure a North American tour with Youth Brigade — documented in the 1984 film, Another State of Mind. When they returned, they were primed to record their debut album.

Mommy's Little Monster was recorded in one marathon session at Fullerton, CA's iconic Casbah Studio. The band worked closely with owner/producer/engineer Chaz Ramirez, whom Ness later told the Los Angeles Times was influential in "helping us shape ourselves, helping us achieve our sound, achieve our character." Fast, raw, and brimming with nihilistic attitude, the nine-track album clocked in at just under 28 minutes and epitomized the early SoCal punk scene through songs such as "Telling Them," "Anti-Fashion," and "Moral Threat."

Other highlights include the fiery opener "The Creeps (I Just Want to Give You)," in which the band taunts their critics, while the anarchistic anthem "Mommy's Little Monster" tells the story of two wayward teens who reject societal norms. Single "Another State of Mind," which was inspired by the band's 1982 tour, finds Ness chronicling the ups and downs of life on the road and missing his girlfriend back at home. The song would soon become a live staple and fan favorite.

Released in 1983 on the band's own 13th Floor Records, Mommy's Little Monster helped propel Social Distortion into the broader punk scene while also catching the attention of the press. Speaking to the album in 1984, Trouser Press called it an "Instant classic," adding "This catchy-as-dermatophytosis punk pop is a surprisingly sophisticated product of the LA underground. Ness proves to be one of current punk's better songwriters."

 

 

Side A

The Creeps

Another State of Mind

It Wasn't a Pretty Picture

Telling Them

Side B

Hour of Darkness

Mommy's Little Monster

Anti-Fashion

All the Answers

Moral Threat

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