The liner notes (apparently written by Dwyer) state that it was "the last record worked on at 608 c haight street in san francisco (very near and dear to my heart and heavy in my memories) before control was assumed by rich assholes.

Bandmember Brigid Dawson explained that "Castlemania was really John doing a bunch of home recordings, and then taking them into a studio and really layering it.

[8] Dwyer described the album's material as "songs about bad things, packaged in a summery record about getting numb to life and its little pleasures as you take it for granted with age.”[9] The album concludes with three covers: "I Won't Hurt You" by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, "If I Stay Too Long" by The Creation, and "What Are We Craving?"

The album cover prominently features Fisher-Price's Chatter Telephone, a pull toy that was introduced in 1962, and continues to be produced today.

The phrase "We're Dead As I've Already Said" (a lyric from the third song on the album, "Stinking Cloud") is also etched along the outer edge.

The names of three songs are slightly changed on the vinyl version when compared to the digital and CD track listings.