[1] Two months earlier he had released his previous studio album, Wanted Man, which includes a track co-produced and co-written with Randy Jacobs (member of Was (Not Was)).

[2][3] Kelly used Kerryn Tolhurst (ex-The Dingoes) as producer for "Difficult Woman" and co-produced with him on "Give in to My Love".

[5] Another track, "Difficult Woman", was written for, and recorded by, Renée Geyer on her album of the same name, which had been produced by Kelly and was released in August 1994.

[6] The Canberra Times' Sharon Palmer noticed that "No real surprises or sounds appear on Deeper Water, however a number of songs are notable for the absence of back-up singers on them with Kelly providing all the vocals.

"[6] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic opined that Kelly used "a more consistent musical style than he had employed on Wanted Man.

"[5] Mordue expanded by describing its "take on family, growing older and love also has a dark edge to it, something in the territory around the songs, that gives the album an unusual intensity and warmth.