El Rey was preceded by the first single "The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend" as a digital download only.

The Wedding Present arranged new material at Swing House and Cole Studios, both in Hollywood, California, and at Q10 in Glenrothes, Scotland.

El Rey was produced by Steve Albini, the band, and Pete Magdaleno.

Sessions were held in January 2008 at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Illinois, with Albini handling recording.

Additional overdubs were done at The Laundry Room in Los Angeles, California, with Magdaleno handling recording, assisted by Ulysses Noriega.