It was recorded at Shea Stadium in New York City on 13 October 1982, the band's second night opening for The Who; the concert was produced by Kosmo Vinyl.

The album features Terry Chimes on drums instead of Topper Headon, who was fired for heroin abuse earlier in the year.

The original recordings were unearthed by Clash frontman Joe Strummer while packing for a move.

[5] All tracks are written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where notedThe performances of "Career Opportunities" and "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" are widely available.

On 11 December 2020, during a Q&A celebrating the debut of his music video for "The Magnificent Seven", Don Letts confirmed that only "Career Opportunities" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" were filmed.