Released on LP and CD by K Records in 1996 (see 1996 in music), it contains all of their single and radio session tracks, plus live versions of two songs of which no studio recordings exist ("Pastels Badge" and "Rubber Ball") and a flexi-disc track ("I Told You So").

With their earlier collections Rock Legends: Volume 69 and They've Scoffed the Lot now out of print, Backwash remains the only commercially available record by the band.

As well as the three exclusive songs, both of these previous compilations are included here, save for a short count-in (by either Eithne Farry or Amelia Fletcher) on "The Girl with the Strawberry Hair", which is omitted.

The artwork resembles the cover of They've Scoffed the Lot: as well as the pattern design, two members are shown on the front with three on the back.

On Scoffed the lineup with Elizabeth Price was represented, while on Backwash her successor Eithne Farry is shown.