Back in the 1990s, Mariah Carey secretly recorded a grunge album called Somebody’s Ugly Daughter under the band name Chick. Her label at the time wouldn’t let her unveil the version on which she sings lead, so instead it was quietly released with Carey on backing vocals and her friend and co-writer Clarissa Dane on lead vocals.
Now, Carey is revisiting the original recordings with her lead vocals, playing samples of the unreleased tracks during a recent interview with fellow singer SZA for Apple Music and again on Monday night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
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During her conversation with SZA, she unveiled the tracks “Hermit” and “Love Is a Scam,” with the songs giving off Hole and Veruca Salt vibes.
On Fallon, she allowed the host to play a portion of the tune “Prom Queen,” which has Buzzcocks-like catchy punk verses and a melodic alt-rock chorus. Both Fallon and Tonight Show bandleader Questlove gushed over the song and other tracks they heard, with Questlove even calling it her “best record.”
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Carey explained to Fallon that she recorded Somebody’s Ugly Daughter during the sessions for her hit album Daydream, saying, “I was just rebelling, because I was working on Daydream, and I was doing ‘Always Be My Baby’ and ‘Fantasy,’ and those kinds of songs. I loved doing that, but at the end of the night, when the band was still there, I’d say, can you play, like [sings grungy guitar riff].”
The version featuring Dane on lead vocals and Carey secretly on backing vocals (under the pseudonym D. Sue) bombed when it was released, as it got very little promotion from Epic Records. Carey is hoping to release the version with her lead vocals, saying she doesn’t believe the tracks are tied to any label right now.
Carey is currently promoting her new album, Here for It All, which was released this past Friday. She’s set to perform a holiday residency in Las Vegas from late November through mid December, with tickets available here.
Watch Mariah Carey preview unreleased versions of tracks from her grunge album on Fallon and with SZA in the videos below.
Mariah Carey Previews “Hermit” from her secret 1995 grunge album ‘Someone’s Ugly Daughter.’ #mariahcarey #hereforitall #hermit #someonesuglydaughter #creatorsearchinsights
♬ original sound – Chet Kincaid