Phillips was pressured by his US label Passport Records to deliver more radio friendly songs, and produced Invisible Men as a collaborative effort with musician and songwriter Richard Scott.

In early 1982, Phillips released Private Parts & Pieces III: Antiques, the third instalment in his generic album series containing incomplete compositions, demos, and out-takes.

Feeling his vocals were inadequate, Phillips took singing lessons from John Owen-Edwards, who had worked with him on a musical project and had also coached Rutherford.

[2] After the backing tracks and rough vocals had been put down for about five songs, Phillips presented his work to his manager Tony Smith and recalled that he was "extremely impressed".

During recording at Atmosphere Studios, session drummers were brought in to play parts originally programmed on a drum machine as well as singers for additional vocals.

"[2] In addition, pressure was placed upon him to change his image and to present the album under the name Anthony Phillips Band, something with which he did not agree.

[3] Phillips encountered problems in finalising the album's release in the US as Passport rejected two cuts that Cooper had prepared, coupled with the opinion that none of the songs were suitable for a single.

Upon finishing the album, management of Street Tunes Records, the UK label that released it in the country, deemed "Exocet" too political and ordered its removal.