I Don't Call Him Daddy
Encyclopedia
"I Don't Call Him Daddy" is the title of a country music
song written by Reed Nielsen. It was initially recorded by Kenny Rogers
on his 1987 album I Prefer the Moonlight, and was covered in 1993 by Doug Supernaw
for his 1993 debut album Red and Rio Grande
. Supernaw's version was his only Number One hit, reaching its peak in December 1993.
on his 1987 album I Prefer the Moonlight. Released in 1988 as that album's fourth and final single, it peaked at #86 on the Billboard
country singles charts that year. Doug Supernaw
covered it in 1993 on his debut album Red and Rio Grande
, and issued it late that year as his third single. It was his second Top 40 country hit, and his only Number One.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by Reed Nielsen. It was initially recorded by Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
on his 1987 album I Prefer the Moonlight, and was covered in 1993 by Doug Supernaw
Doug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson "Doug" Supernaw is an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993, releasing his debut album that year.Supernaw has released four studio albums: Red and Rio Grande , Deep...
for his 1993 debut album Red and Rio Grande
Red and Rio Grande
Red and Rio Grande is the first studio album from country music artist Doug Supernaw. It was released on Apr 27, 1993. and it produced four singles for Supernaw on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
. Supernaw's version was his only Number One hit, reaching its peak in December 1993.
Content
"I Don't Call Him Daddy" takes the point of view of a divorced father whose ex-wife has since married another man. In the first verse, the divorced father calls his son, who tells him that he cannot accept his stepfather, because the stepfather cannot "be like" the son's true father.Recording history
The first version of the song was recorded by Kenny RogersKenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
on his 1987 album I Prefer the Moonlight. Released in 1988 as that album's fourth and final single, it peaked at #86 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country singles charts that year. Doug Supernaw
Doug Supernaw
Douglas Anderson "Doug" Supernaw is an American country music artist. After several years performing as a local musician throughout the state of Texas, he signed with BNA Records in 1993, releasing his debut album that year.Supernaw has released four studio albums: Red and Rio Grande , Deep...
covered it in 1993 on his debut album Red and Rio Grande
Red and Rio Grande
Red and Rio Grande is the first studio album from country music artist Doug Supernaw. It was released on Apr 27, 1993. and it produced four singles for Supernaw on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
, and issued it late that year as his third single. It was his second Top 40 country hit, and his only Number One.
Reception
In his book Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary, author Richard Carlin describes Supernaw's version of the song as "raising the ire of stepfathers everywhere" because the son does not accept his stepfather. Michael McCall, reviewing Red and Rio Grande for Allmusic, called it an "anthem for divorced fathers."Kenny Rogers
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 86 |
Doug Supernaw
| Chart (1993-1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 27 |