[4] The album marked a shift from the new wave sound of their earlier work, as it contained songs influenced by rockabilly, R&B, blue-eyed soul, Merseybeat, and psychedelia among other genres.

In the UK, East Side Story was reissued on CD in 1997 with two album outtakes, as part of the band's Six of One... box set.

A year later, each separate CD (including the expanded East Side Story) was made available for individual purchase.

[5] In the studio, Costello, in the line of his longtime producer Nick Lowe, served more as a creative advisor while Bechirian handled the technical aspect of production.

[8] Simru Sonmez-Erbil opined that East Side Story was "more blended with their post-punk sound" and that it "demonstrated the band's ability to make any musical styling work".

[3] The album saw the band diverging from their traditional new wave sound and integrating elements of progressive rock,[9] psychedelia,[9] rockabilly,[9] soul and Western.

[1] The Toronto Star went on to note that "songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook hit their creative peak in 1981, grafting Motown rhythms, country melodies and close harmonies onto a nervy New Wave soundtrack.

At once ironic and sentimental, East Side Story is a masterpiece of kitchen-sink drama, from the shattered war bride in "Labelled With Love" to the harried housewife of "Woman's World".