The addition of several synthesizer tracks and mixing work by Reinhold Mack to the album caused[citation needed] its release to be pushed back to March 1986.

[7] Bandleader Jeff Lynne took a one-man-band approach to the recording, doing the production, guitar work, synthesizers, and percussion on the album mostly by himself, though keyboardist Richard Tandy made some key musical contributions as well.

Describing their recording process, Richard Tandy said that "the usual way was to have a stack of keyboards in the control room, and me and Jeff [Lynne] playing along to a drum track, and Bev [Bevan] adding his things later.

This reissue featured seven bonus tracks, including an alternate version of "Heaven Only Knows", B-sides "Caught in a Trap" and "Destination Unknown", and previously unreleased songs like "In for the Kill".

[17] The touring lineup consisted primarily of Lynne on lead vocals and electric guitar, Bevan on drums, and Richard Tandy on keyboards.

[7] They played as the opening act for Rod Stewart a handful of times, including on their final show on 13 July 1986 in Stuttgart, Germany.