Cheshire Cat
Cheshire Cat is the debut album from blink-182, who were still simply Blink when it came out on 1995. The trio of Tom DeLonge on guitar, Mark Hoppus on bass and Scott Raynor on drums had formed in 1992, and three demos won over the San Diego label Cargo Music. Otis Barthoulameu of the local band Fluf produced it, and the name change came later, after an Irish band of the same name threatened legal action.
Sixteen tracks were recorded quickly, mostly at Westbeach Recorders in Los Angeles, with very few overdubs, so it sounds raw and immediate. Power chords, brisk tempos and big hooks sit alongside cheeky joke songs and more honest moments about relationships and self-doubt. NOFX, the Vandals and the Descendents are the clear influences. "M+M's" and "Wasting Time" were the singles, while opener "Carousel" became a fan favourite. It is the place to hear the band before the polish arrived.
Cheshire Cat: tracklist, credits and charts
16 tracks · 41:56Tracklist
- 1CarouselDeLonge, Hoppus, Raynor3:15
- 2M+M’sTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:40
- 3FentoozlerTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:05
- 4Touchdown BoyTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus3:11
- 5StringsTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:26
- 6Peggy SueTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:38
- 7SometimesTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus1:09
- 8Does My Breath Smell?DeLonge, Hoppus, Raynor2:38
- 9CacophonyDeLonge, Hoppus, Raynor3:06
- 10TVTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus1:42
- 11Toast and BananasTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:43
- 12Wasting TimeDeLonge, Hoppus, Forrest2:49
- 13Romeo and RebeccaTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:34
- 14Ben Wah BallsDeLonge, Hoppus, Raynor3:56
- 15Just About DoneTom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus2:16
- 16DependsDeLonge, Hoppus, Raynor2:49
- Produced by
- Otis Barthoulameu, Blink-182
- Recorded at
- Westbeach Recorders (Los Angeles, California)
- Recorded
- 1994
- Mixed by
- The King of Santee
- Mixed at
- Doubletime Recording Studio
- Engineered by
- Steve Kravac
- Labels
- Grilled Cheese, Cargo
- Length
- 41:56
Line-up
- Tom DeLonge · guitar family, lead vocals, guitar, vocals
- Mark Hoppus · bass, vocals
- Scott Raynor · membranophone, drums (drum set)
Singles
- “M+M's” · 6 September 1995
- “Wasting Time” · 28 June 1996
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) · 2000 | 27 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1996 | 73 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom · 2013 | Silver |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Also released on 17 February
Every year →
More from blink‐182
Full discography →
The best of 1995
All of 1995 →
More on Grilled Cheese
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date sources disagree on the year (1994, 1995)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 17 February 1995 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 17 February 1995 | |
| Wikidata | 1994 | |
| US release | 17 February 1995 | earliest US date |
13 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | US | Geffen | 602547999245 | other |
| — | XW | Cargo Music | 00723248613626 | other |
| 17 February 1995 | US | Grilled Cheese | 723248613626 | original |
| 1996 | US | Grilled Cheese | other | |
| 5 March 1996 | TW | — | other | |
| 26 September 1996 | JP | TOY’S FACTORY | other | |
| 26 September 1996 | JP | TOY’S FACTORY | 4988061887982 | other |
| 3 November 1998 | US | Cargo Music | 723248613626 | other |
| 3 November 1998 | US | — | other | |
| 3 November 1998 | AU | Universal Music Australia | 723248613626 | other |
| 28 February 2000 | GB | Cargo Music | 723248613626 | other |
| 6 November 2000 | GB | Cargo Music | 723248613626 | other |
| 2002 | CA | Cargo Music | 723248613626 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · native: native 1800x1800
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1800×1800 | native: native 1800x1800 |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |