Editing Social Distortion (section)

===Major label years and mainstream success (1989–1996)===
After the release of ''Prison Bound'', Social Distortion left [[Restless Records]] and signed with [[Epic Records|Epic]]. The band then returned to the studio around the summer/fall of 1989, with producer [[Dave Jerden]], to begin recording their [[Social Distortion (album)|self-titled third album]], which was released in 1990. It was Social Distortion's first album that was not financed by the band.<ref name="history" /> The album includes the singles "Ball and Chain" and "Story of My Life" as well as a cover of [[Johnny Cash]]'s "[[Ring of Fire (song)|Ring of Fire]]". The self-titled album, which was the band's first to chart on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{cite magazine |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=social distortion|chart=all}} |title=Social Distortion - Social Distortion |access-date=2012-08-03 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> fared better than both ''Mommy's Little Monster'' and ''Prison Bound,'' and is often credited as Social Distortion's best known work, with sales continuing {{Age|1990|3|27}} years after its release. It is also sometimes cited as among the best rock albums of 1990—the album is said to "split the difference between [[rockabilly]] and Ramones-style punk."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,991908,00.html |title=Social Distortion Import Bonus Tracks by Social Distortion @ARTISTdirect |publisher=Artistdirect.com |access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref>

The band's fourth album, ''[[Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell]]'', was released in 1992. The album included two hit singles: "[[Bad Luck (Social Distortion song)|Bad Luck]]", and "When She Begins". ''Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell'' surpassed all their previous albums in popularity. The album has a similar sound to the previous, eponymous, album, said to be a blend of "punk, blues, country and rockabilly".<ref name="ADbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,495103,00.html#bio |title=Social Distortion Biography – ARTISTdirect Music |publisher=Artistdirect.com |date=February 29, 2000 |access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> After the release of this album, drummer [[Christopher Reece]] left Social Distortion in 1994 and was replaced by [[Randy Carr]]. Carr toured with the band and played drums on live performances until he left in 1995.

The band took another hiatus after the release of ''Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell'', and did not return to the studio until 1995.<ref name="history" /> During the break, Social Distortion released a compilation album, ''[[Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past]]'' (1995), featuring pre-''[[Mommy's Little Monster (album)|Mommy's Little Monster]]'' cuts. It contains two versions of "1945" and "Playpen" from their two indie labels, 13th Floor and [[Posh Boy Records|Posh Boy]], and also a cover of the Rolling Stones' "[[Under My Thumb]]".

In June 1994, the band began demoing songs for the fifth album,<ref name="demo">[http://rateyourmusic.com/release/unauth/social_distortion/lost_tracks_ii__the_june_1994_demos/ "Lost Tracks II: The June 1994 Demos"] RateYourMusic.com. Retrieved on February 24, 2007.</ref>{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}} then returned to the studio in 1995 to record ''[[White Light, White Heat, White Trash]]'', which was released in 1996.<ref name="history" /> The album is said to have taken on a harder sound than those preceding it,<ref name="PNWL">[http://www.punknews.org/review/1510 "Review: White Light, White Heat, White Trash"] PunkNews.org. Retrieved on February 24, 2007.</ref> and to not focus as much on their previous blues and rockabilly sound.<ref name="sputnik" /> The single "[[I Was Wrong (Social Distortion song)|I Was Wrong]]" received wide radio play and is said to resemble "the classic sound more than any other track on the album".<ref name="PNWL" /> The album also features the singles "When the Angels Sing," which is said to be a tribute to Ness's grandmother, who was an avid supporter of the band,<ref name="PNWL" /> and "Don't Drag Me Down". The album also included a re-recorded version of "Under My Thumb", a cover of the Rolling Stones song, as a [[hidden track]]. Former [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]] drummer [[Chuck Biscuits]] joined the band between the recording and release of the album, and is credited in the liner notes although this album actually features one time [[Journey (band)|Journey]] drummer [[Deen Castronovo]].<ref name="sputnik">[http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=5485 "Social Distortion: White Light White Heat White Trash"] SputnickMusic.com. Retrieved on February 24, 2007</ref> ''White Light, White Heat, White Trash'' was the final Social Distortion album recorded with [[Dennis Danell]] before his death in 2000.