Description
Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore is the fourth album by the American hard rock outfit Resurrection Band, released on Light Records in 1981. Also distributed by Elektra/Asylum Records, a division of Warner. The album was recorded by Phil Bonanno at Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois; with Roger Heiss and the band producing. Mixed by Phil Roger and the band.
The really refreshing thing about Rez Band is the group’s honest lyrics – forsaking judgments or condemnation in favor of expressions of pure emotion – be it fear, loneliness, love, hope, insecurity. When it comes to Christian music, all too often the integrity of the music itself as an art form is sacrificed in favor of integrity to pop theology – lyrics are often contrived and instrumentation is all too often watered down to remove any excess of excitement or sensuality. Not so here. Something magical occurred on this record. Smart, hard-rocking, hook-heavy pop in the spirit of Boston and AC/DC dominates this release. Songs like «The Chair», «Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore», and «The Crossing» hit an emotional nerve that most artists of this genre seem to miss. All-out rockers «Elevator Muzik» and «Alienated» are also very impressive. The final track, «Lovin’ You», is full of that poppy ’80s synth sound, appropriate enough for the song, but not very Rez and a hint of musical tangents to come. [Mark Allender, AMG]
With the release of ‘Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore’ (Light, LS 5803), Resurrection Band has given us what we have come to expect and a whole lot more. They provide an ample portion of their frenetic style of heavy metal rock’n’roll along with some new power pop.
The energy level is high and there are melodic hooks that make this album Rez Band’s most accessible. The songs themselves contain some of the most poignant an relevant lyrics to grace a Christian album this year. «Stark/Spare», «Apathy», «Little Children», «The Chair», and the title track all address significant issues in our troubled world. There is real tenderness and avoidance of cliche in these lyrics about poverty, human worth, divorce and the treatment of the handicapped. «Elevator Music» is a humorous commentary on music that sells but meets no real need. «Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind» and «Loving You» are clearly examples of power pop influence. Both songs praise the great goodness of God and both melodies stay with you.
This is Rez Band’s finest effort. They have developed a mature ’80s rock style, maintaining old alliances and inviting the attention of new listeners. With fine cover art and accessible music, ‘Mommy’ should attract a great deal of attention to Rez Band and, more importantly, their message. Rez Band still makes music to raise the dead, and ‘Mommy’ will see to it that they rock the living. [Quincy Smith-Newcomb, CCM, December 1981]
Rock’n’roll for the entire family? Not really. Rez Band’s fourth LP, Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore, is a rock hard look at the reality of the “un-whole” family. It’s an album about relationships, and how most of them are crumbling due to lack of concern and conviction. This band is doing their best here to admonish, encourage, and exhort us in our human as well as spiritual relationships.
To accomplish this they utilize much of the “angry young prophet” type rock that characterized their previous Colours album. There is, however, a new emphasis on stronger melody lines, and repeated choruses. Take the title track.. it’s more of a mid-tempo ballad soaked in painful honesty, the desperation of a child within a wounded family. There’s no easy answer, no pretty picture. «The Crossing» is barren blues in a similar vein portraying the mental journey toward reconciliation and healing. A call toward responsibility in our relationships in society around us is a pressing issue in «Little Children», on child neglect and abuse
«The Chair» may be the heaviest of the heavies. Written in first person, it tells of the utter frustration of disabilitating diseases and disfigurement. A piercing commentary on our sham compassion with the handicapped, and I can’t recall ever hearing lyrics like these from a socially relevant folkie, let alone a group of lava riding rockers.
In a more light-hearted mood «Elevator Musik» (all 1:55 of it) is punkish in its assessment of canned muzak. Guaranteed to loosen bricks.
Two songs which carry on the change in music direction mentioned earlier, «Can’t Get You Out of My Mind» and «Lovin’ You», are out and out fun power pop dancing tunes. And well they should be since they are rave-up celebrations of our first love («Can’t Get You…») and of our daily growth in appreciation for His kingdom («Lovin’ You»). Both are chock full of memorable hooks thus making airplay a strong possibility.
Glenn and Wendi Kaiser turn in their most robust vocal performances yet, with the former and Stu Heiss punctuating tracks thru soulful guitar work. John Herrin’s drums are thick and steady, whereas Jim Denton’s fretless bass phrasings uniquely round off some gritty edges in the rhythm. A “wall of sound” best describes the mammoth mix.
Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore once again testifies that Resurrection Band is not afraid to sandblast the often dirty facade that surrounds the Christian music scene as well as our own lives. [Mark Hollingsworth, Cornerstone Magazine, Nov./Dec. 1981 (Vol. 10, Iss. 57)]
Girder Music Promo, 2021
Mommy Don’t Love Daddy was Resurrection Band’s second release for Christian label Light Records. The album offers social commentary (on the American culture of divorce), but it does so on an immediate level, by describing one child’s description of his family’s dysfunction. Yet as powerful as it is, the songs becomes even more chilling to anyone who learns Glenn Kaiser’s life story and realizes how autobiographical this detailed scenario is for him. «Elevator Music» humorously trashes american materialism. In other words don’t think for a minute you are getting a rock album without substance. Truth, pain, grace and pure rock n roll all here. A gut-full of guitar and gut wrenching pain all wrapped together. Yes, thats what makes this album so special. The music itself is a masterpiece but when you add the read world complications in story form, especially the way that Glenn and Wendy weave in and out, it becomes one of those albums for a life-time. Which of course is why labeling it an an icon Christian Rock album might be the biggest understatement one could ever make.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/mommy-dont-love-daddy-anymore/661922068)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Stark/Spare” – 3:42
A2. “Elevator Muzik” – 1:55
A3. “Alienated” – 2:02
A4. “Can’t Get You Outta My Mind” – 2:52
A5. “The Chair” – 5:06
A6. “Can’t Do It On My Own” – 2:50
Side Two
B1. “First Degree Apathy” – 3:03
B2. “Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore” – 4:23
B3. “The Crossing” – 3:48
B4. “Little Children” – 2:36
B5. “Lovin’ You” – 3:29
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Light Records with the vinyl edition housed in a gatefold sleeve. Re-issued on CD by Light Records in 1991. Remastered and re-issued limited to 1000 CDs by Retroactive Records i 2005, distributed by Brutal Planet Distribution. Re-issued again in 2017 in a 4 panel digipak limited to 500 copies featuring the same re-master that was used on the 2005 Retroactive Records jewel case re-issue. This re-issue uses the original 1981 vinyl record gatefold release to reproduce the artwork. Remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and re-issued by Girder Music (through Limited Run Music/Limited Run Vinyl) in May 2021 on both CD and 12-inch vinyl LP featuring Gatefold Jacket (125 units pressed on See-Thru Glacier Blue Vinyl with White Splatter; 75 units pressed on Transparent Purple Vinyl; and 50 units pressed on Black Vinyl).
Gatefold Cover Artwork
Gatefold Cover, Inside
Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore, Remastered and pressed on See-Thru Glacier Blue Vinyl, Girder Music 2021
An advertisement for various Old School Metal albums re-issued by Retroactive Records/Girder Music was featured in the Oct-Nov 2006 issue of Heaven’s Metal.
