[5][6] The ISB came to prominence in the UK in June 1966, as a result of the release of their debut album, The Incredible String Band, which incorporated more conventional folk tracks in comparison to their later work.

It bestowed upon the group a "Folk Album of the Year" award in Melody Maker's annual poll, but members Robin Williamson and Clive Palmer left England following its release.

[8] Shortly afterwards, in early 1967 the two-piece ISB became regulars on the London folk scene as an opening act in local venues, with a set list that featured the upcoming album's songs.

The recordings were conducted on four-track, in the first instances of the duo overdubbing, and multi-tracking their wide assortment of instrumentals that included sitar, gimbri, and mandolin.

For the recordings, session musicians were featured, such as Nazir Jairazbhoy on sitar, Pentangle's Danny Thompson on double bass, and on piano was counter-culture activist John "Hoppy" Hopkins.

[8] Although several other musical acts, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, had already begun incorporating sitar into their compositions, the ISB featured Jairazbhoy, a musician who was traditionally taught with the instrument, rather than a western instrumentalist.

"Painting Box" then "Way Back in the Sixties" managed to promote the diversity in the band's lyrics and instrumentals, but failed to chart in the UK.