The album was released on Cherry Red in 1983, prior to Watt's success in Everything but the Girl, and reached number one in the UK Indie Chart the same year.

Jazz saxophonist Peter King, who went on to collaborate with Everything but the Girl, contributes alto saxophone to several tracks.

There is a "North Marine Drive" in the nearby resort of Bridlington which Ben Watt felt was a better title for the album.

[3] CD issues also feature five bonus tracks of Watt's collaboration with Robert Wyatt, originally released as an EP in March 1982 (Summer Into Winter).

The song "Some Things Don't Matter" first appeared on the Cherry Red showcase compilation Pillows & Prayers in 1982.