[5] The band decided to work with Kevin Shirley after appreciating his production on Joe Bonamassa's song "Ballad of John Henry".

[7] Tempest plays rhythm guitar on "Not Supposed to Sing the Blues" and in the intro and breakdown on "Doghouse".

He sent the riff to Joey Tempest and the latter finished the song in a music rehearsal space he rented in Shepherd's Bush, by adding a chorus of his own and writing lyrics are about forgetting the past, moving on and re-emerging.

It was written as a tribute to the Sixties and all the musician who came from small places and turned the whole world upside down.

Like "Riches to Rags," it was written by Tempest in the music rehearsal space in Shepherds Bush.

"Bag of Bones" is another song Tempest wrote in the music rehearsal space he rented in Shepherd's Bush.

The lyrics are about Tempest's exhaustion, which he felt after two and a half-year of touring, and also about the 2011 England riots which started in London.

Then he decided to combine the riff with an old piece of music from his archives which included a chorus and little bridge.

The song is about spiritual love and trials and tribulations of relationships and staying together with the same person for a long time.

On the album, Levén's riff is being played in the intro and the outro of the song by Michaeli on piano.

He wrote lyrics later in the rehearsal space in Shepherds Bush, which were inspired by walking on the London streets and thinking about the reasons why people are either fortunate or sad.

[10] "I've been a big fan of Europe's work for many years," said Shirley, "The band is influential and highly underrated.

[11] Drummer Ian Haugland said, "It's not [called 'Bag of Bones'] because we all have lost tons of weight or found a new interest in archeology or dogs...

"[11] Vocalist Joey Tempest stated, "With Bag of Bones we've made a hardcore classic rock record with the blues knocking on the door," and added, "This almost feels like a 'prequel' to our very first album, with a 2012 punch.

"[13] James Christopher Monger from AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5 stating that "Bag of Bones offers up some gems in the blistering Euro debt crisis opener "Riches to Rags," the neo-prog-pop of "Firebox," and the Bad Company-meets-Cinderella balladry of the moody title cut.