Dude Ranch
Encyclopedia
Dude Ranch is the second studio album
by American punk
band Blink-182
. Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California
with producer
Mark Trombino
, the album was first released on June 17, 1997 in the United States on independent label Cargo Music
. The follow-up to their successful debut Cheshire Cat (1994), the record was a success and "Dammit", "Apple Shampoo", "Dick Lips", and "Josie
" were released as singles, with the former and latter receiving the greatest success. This is the band's final album to feature drummer Scott Raynor
.
The band recorded the album in late 1996. With lyrical material written periodically over the band's nonstop tours from 1995 to 1996, as well as completed songs, the band recorded with Trombino in sessions that lasted for one month. During the production for Dude Ranch, the members of Blink-182 were plagued with difficulties only made worse by the quick schedule: bassist Mark Hoppus
and guitarist Tom DeLonge
, co-vocalists for the band, were having vocal problems and drummer Scott Raynor
had to record his drum tracks with both heels broken, on crutches.
Promoted by lead single "Dammit", which brought the band to a new audience and helped gain mainstream popularity, the album received positive reviews and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Thanks to increased popularity, the band signed with MCA Records in 1998 to handle increased distribution. Raynor would be fired the same year and replaced with Travis Barker
. The record has been cited as a classic in the development of the pop punk genre.
, Blink-182 enjoyed a small amount of success. However, the band was unhappy with the limited distribution of Cheshire Cat. 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. As the band began to travel more places around the nation on tour, they found that distribution for Cheshire Cat was unsatisfactory, as many fans complained that they could not find the album in their local record shops. Although the band had released two 7-inch
EP
recordings with Cargo during the interim, they realized that it was time to record a new album for the demanding audiences.
Beginning in March 1996, several labels courted the band, sending A&R reps to shows and inviting the band to stop by the office for lunch meetings. Through the several labels interested, Blink-182 took serious looks at 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. Despite coming out of a recent dead spell, MCA's persistence and sincerity won the band over, as well as their promise of complete artistic freedom. Blink-182 would sign with the label two years later.
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 complete 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".
, where they perfected the songs for Dude Ranch. Much of the lyrics for the album had been written periodically over 1995 and 1996, while touring. The two young musicians were at a creative peak, which was later attributed to the excitement of recording a new album. "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."
The band entered Big Fish Studios in Rancho Santa Fe, California
in late 1996 to record Dude Ranch. Big Fish was actually a converted guesthouse on a large piece of property in the countryside area, which had just survived a wildfire months before. However, the gloomy atmosphere did not faze Blink-182 at all, and what was a tragedy to local individuals became fodder for jokes for the band; bassist Mark Hoppus had just bought a new video camera and he filmed stunts with guitarist Tom DeLonge on the burnt landscape in spare time. Thanks to improved economics, the band had more time in the studio to record the album they wanted to make. Blink-182 picked Mark Trombino
as producer for the new record, as they loved the work he had done with Jimmy Eat World
. The band spent much time trying to get Trombino to laugh at their antics, to no avail. Hoppus' sister, Anne Hoppus, describes Trombino in the biography Blink-182: Tales from Beneath Your Mom as very quiet and "very much his own person." Trombino provided additional piano and keyboards on Dude Ranch.
Despite the creative boom while writing lyrics for the album, all three members of Blink-182 faced setbacks while recording Dude Ranch. DeLonge was having vocal problems and spent much time recording and re-recording vocal tracks, and Hoppus realized he too was having vocal problems after losing his voice during a one-off Christmas
concert. Forced to cancel the final week of recording in December 1996, Hoppus realized the magnitude of the situation and quit smoking in order to take care of his voice, which was stressed due to lack of vocal warm-ups, full days of vocal tracks, and the strain of singing for "Dammit", which was accidentally written just outside of Hoppus' vocal range. Meanwhile, Raynor had recently broken both heels and was in a wheelchair. Raynor was well enough to record the drum tracks for the album while on crutches.
It would be early 1997 until the band would be able to wrap up sessions for Dude Ranch, eventually amounting to one month of recording. For the final touches, Unwritten Law
frontman Scott Russo donated a few vocal tracks to the album, and Trombino let Blink-182 record a couple of jokes between songs using his sound-effects machine. The band had confidence and was very happy with the album, Hoppus recalling "I remember when we finished Dude Ranch I was so proud. That was the first time we could take the time and whatever to make a good record." After production completed, the album was mastered by Brian Gardner
at Bernie Grundman Mastering
in Hollywood.
". The gatefold packaging features a painting stating "Greetings from the Blink-182 Dude Ranch," which was intended to be a pastiche of both "cheesy postcards" and a parody of Bruce Springsteen's Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
. Art direction for the album was headed by Tim Stedman, with Stedman and graphic designer Ashley Pigford designing the package. The disc art, a revolver chamber, was designed by artist Victor Gastelum, while the band photography was done by Steven Shea.
. Upon the release of Dude Ranch in June 1997, the album peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200
album chart, and initially, the album passed without much notice. The record hit stores in June 1997, just as Blink-182 was heading out on the nationwide Warped Tour. With fans spreading the news and the trio touring nonstop, the album's sales began to improve. However, when "Dammit" began gaining popularity at rock radio stations around the nations, the album's sales improved considerably. Thanks to increased recognition, the band signed with MCA in 1998 to handle increased distribution. Hardcore punk purists asserted the band were betraying their indie roots by even considering major label proposals and began to address the band as "sell-outs". The popularity of the trio in Australia has been cited as the sign that alerted major record companies of Dude Ranch commercial potential; at the time, Dude Ranch had spent five months on the charts and the band became famous for their staged show while on the 1997 Warped Tour
.
The record's lead single, "Dammit
", was released in the summer of 1997, and instantly began growing in popularity. The song was added to the playlist of influential alternative Los Angeles-based radio station KROQ, and soon, the song began to played across the country. With "Dammit" still attracting an audience, "Josie" was released as the second single. Two more tracks from Dude Ranch, "Apple Shampoo" and "Dick Lips" were released in support of the album as promo singles. Although music videos for both "Dammit" and "Josie" were shot, none received extensive MTV play, but were viewed as incredible successes for the upstart band. "I Won't Be Home for Christmas
" was released as a promotional single in 1998. It was re-released as an international single in 2001, only charting in Canada
, but becoming a major success there.
In January 1998, Dude Ranch was certified gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. "When I heard that we had gone gold, I was like, cool. It was a big thing, but it didn't really hit me," said DeLonge in 2001. "We we went to MCA, and they actually handed us a gold record, then I understood what was going on and it blew me away. It was a totally acknowledgement for all of our hard work. It was awesome." Dude Ranch was certified platinum for the first time in 1999.
In 2010, two different rereleases of the album occurred on vinyl. Independent record label Mightier Than Sword Records released various copies of the album in different colors, while a translucent orange-colored LP was available from Geffen
/ Universal Music Special Markets.
reviewed the album positively, however, complained that "My biggest gripe with Dude Ranch, is that even though, embedded into each song, has something that makes it different from the rest, in the end, the music seems to sound the same." In 2007, Channing Freeman of Sputnikmusic
attributed the album's unique sound to the band's young age at the time, commenting "Ten years ago, blink-182 were just breaking through as a young band whose sound was a bit rough around the edges, not too polished or refined yet. […] On Dude Ranch, blink-182 were kids being kids, and that’s precisely what they should have been doing." Rolling Stone
reviewed the album positively, saying that it was the first time the band refined their sound. AbsolutePunk placed the album on their "Absolute Classics" list in February 2009, calling it a "classic mix" that was successful due to timing. It is mentioned in the song "1000 Times A Day" by The Early November
on their triple release, The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path
.
"Voyeur" can be found on the soundtrack to the 1998 film Godmoney. "Enthused" can be found on the compilation albums Digital Snow (1997), SB1: Skiboarding Journey (1999), and the soundtrack to the film Idle Hands
, although the song is not used in the film. A rare live version of "Apple Shampoo" from the 1997 Warped Tour
can be found on the compilation album A Compilation of Warped Music II
.
and Social Distortion
. "The Warped Tour is really more of a traveling-band barbecue," commented DeLonge. "You hang out with the other bands all day, you play your set, and then hang out again." In late 1997 and early 1998, the band would be on the road for nine months straight, only coming home to San Diego for days at a time before striking out on the next tour. "When we did our longest tour stretch, it was right when I started dating my fiancee," recalled DeLonge. "We were all new and in love, and I had to leave. It was just, 'Hey, I'll see you in nine months.' It was really hard."
Desperate for a break, the overworked band began to argue and tensions formed. The tension came to a head in February 1998 as the band embarked on SnoCore
, described as "a winter version of the Warped Tour." Sharing the stage with Primus
and The Aquabats
, the band was enjoying more success than ever before, but the drama between the musicians had grown substantially. However, there were many moments on the tours in support of the album that the band felt proud. Shortly after the conclusion of SnoCore was a short minitour along the western coast, most notably Southern California, the band's favorite place to play. The tour, described as "an undeniable success," ended with the band headlining a sold-out show at the Palladium
in Hollywood, California, where the band had dreamed of performing at for years.
Raynor left the short minitour that would follow SnoCore, only to return for the band's Hollywood Palladium performance. Travis Barker
, drummer of opening band The Aquabats, would fill in for Raynor in the remainder of the tour, learning the drum tracks before his first show in less than 45 minutes. Upon Raynor's return, the band became increasingly uneasy and arguments grew worse. Following a largely successful Australian tour in the spring, Hoppus and DeLonge fired Raynor through a phone call under mysterious circumstances that have never been fully explained. Barker joined Blink-182 full-time in summer 1998 and toured with the band for the remainder of 1998, playing sold-out shows across America on the humorously named Poo-Poo Pee-Pee tour.
Production
Singles
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
. Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California
Encinitas, California
Encinitas is a coastal beach city in San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego in North County and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census. Encinitas is...
with producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...
, the album was first released on June 17, 1997 in the United States on independent label Cargo Music
Cargo Music
Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to...
. The follow-up to their successful debut Cheshire Cat (1994), the record was a success and "Dammit", "Apple Shampoo", "Dick Lips", and "Josie
Josie (Everything's Gonna Be Fine)
"Josie" is a song by the punk band, Blink-182 from their second studio album Dude Ranch. Singer and bassist Mark Hoppus wrote this song about how a perfect girlfriend would be for him. This girlfriend is make-believe rather than an actual person...
" were released as singles, with the former and latter receiving the greatest success. This is the band's final album to feature drummer Scott Raynor
Scott Raynor
Scott William Raynor, Jr. is an American drummer best known for being a founding member of the band Blink-182.-Personal life:...
.
The band recorded the album in late 1996. With lyrical material written periodically over the band's nonstop tours from 1995 to 1996, as well as completed songs, the band recorded with Trombino in sessions that lasted for one month. During the production for Dude Ranch, the members of Blink-182 were plagued with difficulties only made worse by the quick schedule: bassist Mark Hoppus
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
and guitarist Tom DeLonge
Tom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
, co-vocalists for the band, were having vocal problems and drummer Scott Raynor
Scott Raynor
Scott William Raynor, Jr. is an American drummer best known for being a founding member of the band Blink-182.-Personal life:...
had to record his drum tracks with both heels broken, on crutches.
Promoted by lead single "Dammit", which brought the band to a new audience and helped gain mainstream popularity, the album received positive reviews and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Thanks to increased popularity, the band signed with MCA Records in 1998 to handle increased distribution. Raynor would be fired the same year and replaced with Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
. The record has been cited as a classic in the development of the pop punk genre.
Background
After decent sales of their debut album Cheshire Cat (1994), released on independent record label Cargo MusicCargo Music
Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to...
, Blink-182 enjoyed a small amount of success. However, the band was unhappy with the limited distribution of Cheshire Cat. 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. As the band began to travel more places around the nation on tour, they found that distribution for Cheshire Cat was unsatisfactory, as many fans complained that they could not find the album in their local record shops. Although the band had released two 7-inch
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
recordings with Cargo during the interim, they realized that it was time to record a new album for the demanding audiences.
Beginning in March 1996, several labels courted the band, sending A&R reps to shows and inviting the band to stop by the office for lunch meetings. Through the several labels interested, Blink-182 took serious looks at Interscope
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, Epitaph
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, and MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
(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. Despite coming out of a recent dead spell, MCA's persistence and sincerity won the band over, as well as their promise of complete artistic freedom. Blink-182 would sign with the label two years later.
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 complete artistic freedom in their contract, MCA did step in and warn the band when they planned to feature a spoof of the "Macarena
Macarena (song)
"Macarena" is a Spanish dance song by Los del Río about a woman of the same name. Appearing on the 1994 album A mí me gusta, it was an international hit between 1995 and 1996, and continues to have a cult following. It was ranked the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of all Time" by VH1 in 2002.The song...
" on Dude Ranch, humorously titled "Hey Wipe Your Anus".
Recording and production
Before recording of the album officially began, the band booked time at DML Studios in Escondido, CaliforniaEscondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, where they perfected the songs for Dude Ranch. Much of the lyrics for the album had been written periodically over 1995 and 1996, while touring. The two young musicians were at a creative peak, which was later attributed to the excitement of recording a new album. "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."
The band entered Big Fish Studios in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe, California
Rancho Santa Fe known locally as ″The Ranch″, is one of the most exclusive and affluent communities in Southern California. It is also a census-designated place in San Diego County, California and an unincorporated bedroom community of San Diego County...
in late 1996 to record Dude Ranch. Big Fish was actually a converted guesthouse on a large piece of property in the countryside area, which had just survived a wildfire months before. However, the gloomy atmosphere did not faze Blink-182 at all, and what was a tragedy to local individuals became fodder for jokes for the band; bassist Mark Hoppus had just bought a new video camera and he filmed stunts with guitarist Tom DeLonge on the burnt landscape in spare time. Thanks to improved economics, the band had more time in the studio to record the album they wanted to make. Blink-182 picked Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...
as producer for the new record, as they loved the work he had done with Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
. The band spent much time trying to get Trombino to laugh at their antics, to no avail. Hoppus' sister, Anne Hoppus, describes Trombino in the biography Blink-182: Tales from Beneath Your Mom as very quiet and "very much his own person." Trombino provided additional piano and keyboards on Dude Ranch.
Despite the creative boom while writing lyrics for the album, all three members of Blink-182 faced setbacks while recording Dude Ranch. DeLonge was having vocal problems and spent much time recording and re-recording vocal tracks, and Hoppus realized he too was having vocal problems after losing his voice during a one-off Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
concert. Forced to cancel the final week of recording in December 1996, Hoppus realized the magnitude of the situation and quit smoking in order to take care of his voice, which was stressed due to lack of vocal warm-ups, full days of vocal tracks, and the strain of singing for "Dammit", which was accidentally written just outside of Hoppus' vocal range. Meanwhile, Raynor had recently broken both heels and was in a wheelchair. Raynor was well enough to record the drum tracks for the album while on crutches.
It would be early 1997 until the band would be able to wrap up sessions for Dude Ranch, eventually amounting to one month of recording. For the final touches, Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...
frontman Scott Russo donated a few vocal tracks to the album, and Trombino let Blink-182 record a couple of jokes between songs using his sound-effects machine. The band had confidence and was very happy with the album, Hoppus recalling "I remember when we finished Dude Ranch I was so proud. That was the first time we could take the time and whatever to make a good record." After production completed, the album was mastered by Brian Gardner
Brian Gardner
Brian Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner is a mastering engineer. He has worked on countless recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk, and dance pop. He is perhaps best known for his work on hip hop albums and in...
at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Bernie Grundman
-Biography:He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1983 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chris Bellman, Patricia Sullivan and Brian Gardner, mastered 37 projects which received Grammy Award nominations in 2005.Grundman...
in Hollywood.
Packaging
The cover art, painted by Lou Beach, features a bull with the band's name branded on its rear end, while the packaging is decorated by images of the band as cowboys on a "dude ranchDude ranch
The guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agritourism.-History:...
". The gatefold packaging features a painting stating "Greetings from the Blink-182 Dude Ranch," which was intended to be a pastiche of both "cheesy postcards" and a parody of Bruce Springsteen's Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. is the first studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1973. It only sold about 25,000 copies in the first year of its release, but had significant critical impact...
. Art direction for the album was headed by Tim Stedman, with Stedman and graphic designer Ashley Pigford designing the package. The disc art, a revolver chamber, was designed by artist Victor Gastelum, while the band photography was done by Steven Shea.
Release and promotion
Dude Ranch was officially released on June 17, 1997 through Cargo MusicCargo Music
Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to...
. Upon the release of Dude Ranch in June 1997, the album peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart, and initially, the album passed without much notice. The record hit stores in June 1997, just as Blink-182 was heading out on the nationwide Warped Tour. With fans spreading the news and the trio touring nonstop, the album's sales began to improve. However, when "Dammit" began gaining popularity at rock radio stations around the nations, the album's sales improved considerably. Thanks to increased recognition, the band signed with MCA in 1998 to handle increased distribution. Hardcore punk purists asserted the band were betraying their indie roots by even considering major label proposals and began to address the band as "sell-outs". The popularity of the trio in Australia has been cited as the sign that alerted major record companies of Dude Ranch commercial potential; at the time, Dude Ranch had spent five months on the charts and the band became famous for their staged show while on the 1997 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
.
The record's lead single, "Dammit
Dammit (Growing Up)
"Dammit" is a song by American punk band Blink-182. It was the first single released from the band's second album Dude Ranch. The song was written by bassist Mark Hoppus concerning a fictional breakup with his girlfriend...
", was released in the summer of 1997, and instantly began growing in popularity. The song was added to the playlist of influential alternative Los Angeles-based radio station KROQ, and soon, the song began to played across the country. With "Dammit" still attracting an audience, "Josie" was released as the second single. Two more tracks from Dude Ranch, "Apple Shampoo" and "Dick Lips" were released in support of the album as promo singles. Although music videos for both "Dammit" and "Josie" were shot, none received extensive MTV play, but were viewed as incredible successes for the upstart band. "I Won't Be Home for Christmas
I Won't Be Home for Christmas
-Producers:* Mark Trombino – "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" & "Josie"* Jerry Finn – "All the Small Things" & "Please Take Me Home"...
" was released as a promotional single in 1998. It was re-released as an international single in 2001, only charting in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but becoming a major success there.
In January 1998, Dude Ranch was certified gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. "When I heard that we had gone gold, I was like, cool. It was a big thing, but it didn't really hit me," said DeLonge in 2001. "We we went to MCA, and they actually handed us a gold record, then I understood what was going on and it blew me away. It was a totally acknowledgement for all of our hard work. It was awesome." Dude Ranch was certified platinum for the first time in 1999.
In 2010, two different rereleases of the album occurred on vinyl. Independent record label Mightier Than Sword Records released various copies of the album in different colors, while a translucent orange-colored LP was available from Geffen
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
/ Universal Music Special Markets.
Reception
The album received positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic believed Dude Ranch to be an improvement over Cheshire Cat, commenting that their "songwriting is still a little uneven," but praising the "catchy hooks." IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
reviewed the album positively, however, complained that "My biggest gripe with Dude Ranch, is that even though, embedded into each song, has something that makes it different from the rest, in the end, the music seems to sound the same." In 2007, Channing Freeman of Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
attributed the album's unique sound to the band's young age at the time, commenting "Ten years ago, blink-182 were just breaking through as a young band whose sound was a bit rough around the edges, not too polished or refined yet. […] On Dude Ranch, blink-182 were kids being kids, and that’s precisely what they should have been doing." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
reviewed the album positively, saying that it was the first time the band refined their sound. AbsolutePunk placed the album on their "Absolute Classics" list in February 2009, calling it a "classic mix" that was successful due to timing. It is mentioned in the song "1000 Times A Day" by The Early November
The Early November
The Early November is an American rock band from Hammonton, New Jersey. The group formed in 1999 and signed with Drive-Thru Records in 2002. , they have released two EPs , as well as two full-length albums...
on their triple release, The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path
The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path
The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path is The Early November's second full-length album. The triple disc concept album was released on July 11, 2006 via Drive-Thru Records...
.
"Voyeur" can be found on the soundtrack to the 1998 film Godmoney. "Enthused" can be found on the compilation albums Digital Snow (1997), SB1: Skiboarding Journey (1999), and the soundtrack to the film Idle Hands
Idle Hands
Idle Hands is a 1999 horror comedy film directed by Rodman Flender, written by Terri Hughes and Ron Milbauer, and starring Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Elden Henson, Jessica Alba, and Vivica A. Fox...
, although the song is not used in the film. A rare live version of "Apple Shampoo" from the 1997 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
can be found on the compilation album A Compilation of Warped Music II
A Compilation of Warped Music II
A Compilation of Warped Music II is the fourth installment in the compilation series accompanying the Warped Tour. It includes 23 tracks from artists in the 1999 tour lineup and features previously unreleased music from MxPx, Less Than Jake, Riverfenix, The Aquabats, and Blink-182- Track listing :...
.
Dude Ranch touring
Beginning in the summer of 1997, Blink-182 would enter an extended period of touring that the hard realities of living on the road for so long would eventually change the face of the band. The group had played a handful of dates on the Vans Warped Tour 1996, a lifestyle tour promoting skateboarding and punk rock music. However, upon Dude Ranch release and popularity, Blink-182 would play every date of the 1997 tour worldwide with influences NOFXNOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
. "The Warped Tour is really more of a traveling-band barbecue," commented DeLonge. "You hang out with the other bands all day, you play your set, and then hang out again." In late 1997 and early 1998, the band would be on the road for nine months straight, only coming home to San Diego for days at a time before striking out on the next tour. "When we did our longest tour stretch, it was right when I started dating my fiancee," recalled DeLonge. "We were all new and in love, and I had to leave. It was just, 'Hey, I'll see you in nine months.' It was really hard."
Desperate for a break, the overworked band began to argue and tensions formed. The tension came to a head in February 1998 as the band embarked on SnoCore
SnoCore Tour
The SnoCore Tour, occasionally typeset as Sno-Core, is an annual festival tour of the United States. It features performances by some of the most popular groups largely of the alternative rock and metal spectrum...
, described as "a winter version of the Warped Tour." Sharing the stage with Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
and The Aquabats
The Aquabats
The Aquabats are an American rock band formed in 1994 in Orange County, California. They have released five full-length studio albums and have toured internationally. They are best known for their mythology, in which they claim to be superheroes on a quest to save the world from evil through music...
, the band was enjoying more success than ever before, but the drama between the musicians had grown substantially. However, there were many moments on the tours in support of the album that the band felt proud. Shortly after the conclusion of SnoCore was a short minitour along the western coast, most notably Southern California, the band's favorite place to play. The tour, described as "an undeniable success," ended with the band headlining a sold-out show at the Palladium
Hollywood Palladium
The Hollywood Palladium is a theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and includes an 11,200 square foot dance floor with room for up to 4,000 people.-History:...
in Hollywood, California, where the band had dreamed of performing at for years.
Raynor left the short minitour that would follow SnoCore, only to return for the band's Hollywood Palladium performance. Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
, drummer of opening band The Aquabats, would fill in for Raynor in the remainder of the tour, learning the drum tracks before his first show in less than 45 minutes. Upon Raynor's return, the band became increasingly uneasy and arguments grew worse. Following a largely successful Australian tour in the spring, Hoppus and DeLonge fired Raynor through a phone call under mysterious circumstances that have never been fully explained. Barker joined Blink-182 full-time in summer 1998 and toured with the band for the remainder of 1998, playing sold-out shows across America on the humorously named Poo-Poo Pee-Pee tour.
Track listing
Bonus tracks
Personnel
Blink-182- Mark HoppusMark HoppusMark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Tom DeLongeTom DeLongeThomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
- vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Scott RaynorScott RaynorScott William Raynor, Jr. is an American drummer best known for being a founding member of the band Blink-182.-Personal life:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Production
- Mark TrombinoMark TrombinoMark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...
- productionSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, recording, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Donnell Cameron - mixing ("Pathetic", "Boring", "Enthused", "JosieJosie (Everything's Gonna Be Fine)"Josie" is a song by the punk band, Blink-182 from their second studio album Dude Ranch. Singer and bassist Mark Hoppus wrote this song about how a perfect girlfriend would be for him. This girlfriend is make-believe rather than an actual person...
", "A New Hope" and "I'm Sorry") - Scott RussoUnwritten LawUnwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...
- backing vocals - Tim Stedman - art direction, design
- Lou Beach - cover illustration
- Andrew Rauscher - watermelon
- Ashley Pigford - design
- Steve Shea - band photos
- Victor Gastelum - disc art
- Brian GardnerBrian GardnerBrian Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner is a mastering engineer. He has worked on countless recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk, and dance pop. He is perhaps best known for his work on hip hop albums and in...
- masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
Chart history
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Top Heatseekers | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
67 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Dammit Dammit (Growing Up) "Dammit" is a song by American punk band Blink-182. It was the first single released from the band's second album Dude Ranch. The song was written by bassist Mark Hoppus concerning a fictional breakup with his girlfriend... " |
Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
11 |
| Mainstream Rock Tracks | 26 | ||
| 1998 | Josie Josie (Everything's Gonna Be Fine) "Josie" is a song by the punk band, Blink-182 from their second studio album Dude Ranch. Singer and bassist Mark Hoppus wrote this song about how a perfect girlfriend would be for him. This girlfriend is make-believe rather than an actual person... |
Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
31 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum | 70,000 Units+ |
| Canada Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
Platinum | 100,000 Units+ |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum | 1,000,000 Units+ |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
June 17, 1997 | Cargo Music Cargo Music Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to... |
CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... |
CRGSD-11624 | |
| Cargo Music / MCA MCA Records MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003... |
CRGD-11624 | ||||
| CD (Promo Promotional recording A promotional recording, or promo, is an audio or video recording distributed for free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available... ) |
CRG3P-90054 | ||||
| Grilled Cheese Cargo Music Cargo Music Inc. is a record label based in San Diego, California. It distributes records for other labels such as Cherry Red Records, Earth Music, FistPuppet Records, Grilled Cheese, Headhunter Records, Re-Constriction Records, RPM Records and Tackle Box. Notable artists that have been signed to... |
LP LP record The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry... |
GRL-004 | |||
| MCA | CD | 111 624-2 | |||
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
|||||
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
|||||
| Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires... |
Universal Music Argentina | ||||
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Rapido | RAP025 | |||
| United States | January 12, 2010 | Mightier Than Sword Mightier Than Sword Records Mightier Than Sword Records is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. Its releases are not confined to any particular genre, though most fall within the punk/hardcore genre and also socially/politically conscious bands. A majority of releases are on vinyl... |
LP | MTS.016 | |
| Geffen Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:... / Universal Music Special Markets |
B0013811-01 | ? |
Song information
- "A New Hope" is a reference to A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, the subtitle of the original Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
film, as it contains numerous references to the Star Wars universe such as Han Solo, Lando, and Princess Leia. - "Boring", "Untitled", and "I'm Sorry" are all followed by brief spoken word skits.
- "Lemmings" features a reference to the film Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (film)Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
with the line "..feeling that sting of pride, it's fucking with me, it's fucking with you." It is a reference to the Ving RhamesVing RhamesIrving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
quote in the film, "You feel that sting big boy, huh? That's pride fucking with you. You gotta fight through that shit..." - "Dick Lips" is about an incident that occurred when Tom DeLonge was expelled from high school for showing up drunk to a basketball game.