Since Wood did not have any songs ready that he thought would be a good single, the rest of the Move left him alone in a hotel room (which they normally doubled up on) to write one.
[3] The song uses a riff derived from "Somethin' Else" by Eddie Cochran, a work that Wood would continue to reference throughout his career.
[3] The book included with the 4-CD boxed set Anthology 1966–1972, released in October 2008, noted that sessions for the song began on 16 November 1967 at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London.
An earlier retrospective release, the 3-CD Movements: 30th Anniversary Anthology, from 1997, also has two slightly different recordings - the final version, and an undubbed one, before backing vocals, tambourine and opening 'fire engine' sound effects were added.
Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols said some years later that the guitar on the song had strongly influenced the opening riff of their single "God Save the Queen".