The label began to interfere with Hackett's creative decisions, and the guitarist had noticed that the company was "in disarray" at the time.

[2] He added: "A&R were starting to make comments and requests which didn't fit the MD's ideas and it left me in the middle trying to steer a sensible course".

[2] The result led to Highly Strung being a difficult album for Hackett to complete, a process that lasted eighteen months.

[2] Among the difficulties faced was the label's suggestion for Hackett to work with a producer from the beginning, but the guitarist recalled that Charisma failed to agree on one.

In addition, Hackett said that management disliked the end product due to his decision to sing lead vocals when they were against the idea.