Del Amitri had released their debut single "Sense Sickness" in 1983 on the Glasgow indie label NoStrings Records.

[8] Before the release of the album's first single, Melody Maker magazine heard a cassette tape of work in progress[8] and put the band on the cover of their February 1985 issue, dubbing them "the hottest new twang of '85".

[10] In the Del Amitri biography on AllMusic, James Christopher Monger wrote that the album was released "amidst a tidal wave of hype, but their signature blend of new wave and country folk isolated audiences and critics alike, resulting in their inevitable departure from the Chrysalis family.

He felt that the lyrics were "intelligent and witty, laced with sarcasm and venom," and the music contained "jaunty rhythms and quirky melodies."

"[11] All songs written by Justin Currie, Iain Harvie, Bryan Tolland and Paul Tyagi, except where noted.