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''Dude Ranch'' is the second studio album by American pop punk band Blink-182. Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California with producer Mark Trombino, the album was released in the United States on June 17, 1997, jointly through independent label Cargo Music and major label MCA Records. MCA signed the band in 1996 following moderate sales of their debut ''Cheshire Cat'' (1995) and growing popularity of the trio in Australia. ''Dude Ranch'' was the band's final recording released on Cargo and their last with original drummer Scott Raynor before he was dismissed from the band in 1998. The band recorded the album during the winter of 1996–1997. With lyrical material written on the band's nonstop tours over the previous years, as well as completed songs, the band recorded with Trombino in sessions that lasted for five weeks. During the production for ''Dude Ranch'', the members of Blink-182 were plagued with difficulties only made worse by the rushed schedule: bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge, co-vocalists for the band, were having vocal problems and Raynor had to record his drum tracks with both heels broken, on crutches. Promoted by lead single "Dammit (Growing Up)", the record was released in the summer of 1997 and was a success. "Dammit" became a rock radio hit single and helped the band gain mainstream credibility as they toured worldwide on the Vans Warped Tour. Three more singles were released, with "Josie (Everything's Gonna Be Fine)" gathering MTV play and charting highly in Australia. ''Dude Ranch'' eventually grew in sales and was certified platinum in the US by the end of the decade. ==Background== After moderate sales of their debut album ''Cheshire Cat'' (1995), released on independent record label Cargo Music, Blink-182 enjoyed a small amount of success. Throughout 1994 and 1995, the trio vigorously toured nonstop and grew in popularity, mostly in Australia, where audiences embraced the band's irreverent sense of humor and stage shows. When the trio grew frustrated when fans lamented the inability to purchase ''Cheshire Cat'' at their respective local record stores, they began to turn toward other record labels to achieve wider distribution than Cargo. By the end of 1995, problems had become apparent between the trio and the label, who regarded the band as a joke not to be taken seriously.〔 The San Diego trio did however accumulate a genuine buzz among major labels, and a bidding war for the band began in March 1996.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 37〕 Several labels courted the band, sending A&R reps to shows and inviting the band to stop by the office for lunch meetings.〔Hoppus, 2001. p. 61〕 Through the several labels interested, Blink-182 seriously considered Interscope, Epitaph, and MCA Records (the latter of which had just purchased Interscope and was in the process of buying Cargo). The band spent much time during the spring and summer of 1996 contemplating options.〔Hoppus, 2001. p. 64〕 The three had no qualms signing to a major label, and were wary of purists attempting to define "punk". The band felt a great affinity for Epitaph, as many of their favorite acts (Pennywise, The Vandals, NOFX) were signed there.〔 The band 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."〔Shooman, 2010. p. 42〕 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, MCA's persistence and sincerity won the band over, as well as their promise of complete artistic freedom.〔Hoppus, 2001. p. 64〕 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.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 55〕 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."〔 Thanks to the band's 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" on ''Dude Ranch'', humorously titled "Hey Wipe Your Anus".〔Hoppus, 2001. p. 65〕 The trio released two 7-inch EP recordings with Cargo during the interim.〔Hoppus, 2001. p. 62〕 By the summer of 1996, "Wasting Time" had been released as a single to keep matters moving along nattily. The track was the final single from the ''Cheshire Cat'' sessions, and the band would soon return to their native home state to record a follow-up.〔Shooman, 2010. p. 38-39〕 Before recording of the album began, the band booked time at DML Studios in Escondido, California, where they perfected the songs for ''Dude Ranch''.〔 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."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dude Ranch (album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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