It was released in 1984 in the US and Canada by Sire Records, serving as the band's debut album in those countries.

It contains six tracks from their United Kingdom debut Eden, two UK singles and four B-sides.

In the several months gap between recording and releasing Eden, Thorn and Watt opened themselves to new influences, mostly the Smiths, with whom they also became close.

58) only four weeks after Eden, and marked a departure from the album's themes and sound, with Thorn singing about a single mother and gender politics involved in surnames.

The other single "Native Land", which featured the Smiths's Johnny Marr on harmonica, only reached No.