Singer Mariah Carey has again hinted at the potential release of her previously unreleased alternative rock album from 1995. This album, titled "Someone's Ugly Daughter," was recorded with the band Chick and faced initial prevention from release by Sony Records almost three decades ago.
Key Takeaways
- Mariah Carey is exploring the release of her 1995 rock album, "Someone's Ugly Daughter."
- Sony Records reportedly prevented its original release.
- Carey's vocals were a "hidden layer" on the album, with a friend, Clarissa, providing lead vocals.
- The project offered Carey a creative escape from her pop image during the mid-1990s.
Carey Discusses Album Ownership and Release
During a recent appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Mariah Carey confirmed her interest in releasing the album. She mentioned that discussions are ongoing regarding the album's ownership rights.
Carey stated, "I don't know which record label this is owned by. I don't think it's any of them because it's just the way that it went down. But let's discuss..." This indicates a complex situation surrounding the album's legal status.
Album Details
- Album Title: Someone's Ugly Daughter
- Band Name: Chick
- Original Recording Year: 1995
- Lead Vocals: "My friend Clarissa"
- Carey's Role: "A hidden layer" of vocals
The Album's Hidden History Revealed
The existence of this alternative rock project first became public in 2020. Carey detailed the album in her memoir, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey." In the book, she described the recording process and her motivations.
She explained that Sony's influence over her career at the time was a major factor in the album not being released. "I always regretted not putting it out, but they kind of stopped me at that point," Carey told Fallon. She described Sony's control as "a little controlling" during that period.
"I always regretted not putting it out, but they kind of stopped me at that point. It was Sony at the time. We love Sony now, but back then...a little controlling, a little controlling."
— Mariah Carey on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"
Creative Outlet During the Mid-1990s
The album represented a significant creative departure for Carey. It allowed her to explore a different musical style during the mid-1990s, a time when she was primarily known for her pop music.
According to her memoir, the recording sessions were "irreverent, raw, and urgent, and the band got into it." This project provided an escape from the highly polished image she maintained as a pop superstar.
Mariah Carey's Career Context
In the mid-1990s, Mariah Carey was one of the biggest pop artists globally. Her albums like "Music Box" (1993) and "Daydream" (1995) achieved massive commercial success, establishing her as a dominant force in pop and R&B. The rock album project offered a stark contrast to her mainstream work.
Experimenting with a Different Sound
Carey wrote in her memoir about playing with the style of popular female rock singers of that era. She observed the freedom these artists had with their image and emotions.
"I was playing with the style of the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time," she wrote. "You know the ones who seemed to be so carefree with their feelings and their image. They could be angry, angsty, and messy, with old shoes, wrinkled slips, and unruly eyebrows, while every move I made was so calculated and manicured."
This desire to embrace a less constrained artistic persona drove her to create the rock album.
Snippets and Fan Interest
While most of "Someone's Ugly Daughter" remains unheard by the public, some snippets have appeared on YouTube over the years. These brief glimpses have fueled fan speculation and interest in the complete work.
During the Fallon interview, the host played a different Chick song called "Prom Queen." He then jokingly suggested that Carey release the album in time for Christmas, highlighting the ongoing public curiosity.
The album offered Carey a chance to express herself differently. She wrote in her memoir, "I wanted to break free, let loose, and express my misery – but I also wanted to laugh." She looked forward to these sessions, calling them her "alter-ego band sessions after Daydream each night."
This project was not just a musical experiment but also a personal release. It allowed her to balance the demands of her mainstream career with a raw, unfiltered creative outlet. The potential release of this album nearly 30 years later marks a significant moment for fans and music historians alike.