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== Background == The [[San Diego]]–based trio Blink-182 released their debut album, ''[[Cheshire Cat (Blink-182 album)|Cheshire Cat]]'', in 1995. Released on local record label [[Cargo Music]], the album sold well for an independent release; it had moved over 70,000 units by late 1996.<ref name="20thmtv"/> Throughout 1995 and 1996, the trio vigorously toured nonstop and grew in popularity, most notably in [[Australia]], where audiences embraced the band's irreverent sense of humor and stage shows. The trio grew frustrated when fans lamented the inability to purchase ''Cheshire Cat'' at their respective local record stores and began searching for larger record labels with better distribution. Likewise, problems had become apparent between the trio and employees at Cargo, who largely considered the band a joke.<ref name="p61"/> In contrast, the group had accumulated a genuine buzz among major labels, and a bidding war for the band began in March 1996.<ref name=shooman37>Shooman, 2010. p. 37</ref> Several labels courted the group, sending A&R reps to shows and inviting the band to their offices for lunch meetings.<ref name=p61>Hoppus, 2001. p. 61</ref> With several labels interested, Blink-182 seriously considered [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]], and [[MCA Records|MCA]].<ref name="EW.com 2019">{{cite web | title=How Green Day's 'Dookie' shaped the '90s | website=EW.com | date=February 1, 2019 | url=https://ew.com/music/2019/02/01/green-day-dookie-25th-anniversary/ | access-date=May 19, 2023}}</ref> The band contemplated their options: the three had no qualms signing to a major label, and were wary of purists attempting to define "[[punk music|punk]]".<ref name=p64>Hoppus, 2001. p. 64</ref> They felt a great affinity for Epitaph, as many of their favorite acts ([[Pennywise (band)|Pennywise]], [[Bad Religion]], [[NOFX]]) were signed to the label.<ref name="shooman37"/> Overall, Blink felt they were nothing but honest regarding their ambitions: "I try and tell kids, '[[The Clash]], [[Sex Pistols]] and the [[Ramones]] did it, so how come we can't?" guitarist [[Tom DeLonge]] reasoned. "If people are bummed, we don't care. It's normally critics. Older critics."<ref name=shooman42>Shooman, 2010. p. 42</ref> [[File:Blink-182 at the Whiskey in Los Angeles, 10-7-1996.jpg|thumb|Blink-182 performing in [[Los Angeles]] in October 1996]] MCA at the time was riding out a dead spell, and was derisively referred to in the music industry as MCA—Musicians' Cemetery of America. Despite this, their executives' persistence and sincerity won the band over, as well as their promise of complete artistic freedom.<ref name=p64/> The trio signed a joint venture deal with MCA to distribute their sophomore album with Cargo. Drummer [[Scott Raynor]] was happy for the band's signing, but was uneasy with signing to a major label—he much preferred Epitaph, and when the band passed over the label, he began to feel only half-invested in the band.<ref name=shooman55>Shooman, 2010. p. 55</ref> Raynor was not, however, difficult about the band's mainstream growth: "I didn't measure success in terms of oppositional credibility. I loved being on the radio and [[MTV]]. We were certified products of pop culture, born and bred in suburbia."<ref name="shooman37"/> Thanks to their established fan base and merchandising, MCA did not intervene much in the band's activities. Although the label had granted the band artistic freedom in their contract, MCA did step in and warn the band when they planned to feature a spoof of the "[[Macarena (song)|Macarena]]" on ''Dude Ranch'', humorously titled "Hey Wipe Your Anus".<ref name=p65>Hoppus, 2001. p. 65</ref> To celebrate their signing, the group held a party at the [[Hotel del Coronado]] near San Diego. At the event, Raynor became inebriated and jumped off a balcony. He broke both his heels and was forced to record ''Dude Ranch'' while in a wheelchair.<ref name="20thmtv"/> Soon, the band booked time at DML Studios in [[Escondido, California]], where they worked out arrangements for the songs on ''Dude Ranch''.<ref name="p70"/> Most of the lyrics for the album had been written over 1995 and 1996, while touring. "I remember writing most of those songs in my living room, sitting on a curb, whatever," recalled DeLonge in 2001. "Back then, each song was pretty much written with a specific girl or event in mind."<ref name="p70"/> Demos for the album were recorded with [[Warren Fitzgerald]] of [[the Vandals]]; early versions of "Enthused" and "Lemmings" were released on the "Wasting Time" single and the ''Lemmings / Going Nowhere'' split EP, respectively.
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