The album was primarily recorded at Celestial Sound in New York City and was produced by Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye.

The album's folk-style and stripped-back arrangements deviated from the prevailing trends of the time, and helped to usher in a new era of singer-songwriters.

Upon its original release, the song stalled at number 83 on the UK Singles Chart.

[6] However, after being re-released in 1986, it reached a new peak of number 21, becoming her highest-charting song in that country and one of her biggest hits.

[6] Spin wrote, "Vega can get a bit pretentious, but what singer-songwriter worth a damn doesn't?