Paul's friend, Kenny Everett also heard the demo of Covington singing and promised to play the single if it was produced.

Recording overlapped with Atkin's first solo album Beware of the Beautiful Stranger, which shared producer Don Paul, as well as production of the two LWT series.

[6][7] Columbia released two singles in 1970, ahead of the full album: "The Magic Wasn't There"/"The Way Things Ought to Be" and "Tonight Your Love is Over"/"If I Had My Time Again".

Subsequently, it appeared in the 1977 television film and related album releases of The Mermaid Frolics where it was performed by Atkin and Covington with the Bowles Brothers Band.

"He Just Don't Appeal to Me" by Porter Grainger was selected by Atkin, who first heard it on a record by Ozzie Ware and the Whoopee Makers.

"My Silks and Fine Array", the other non Atkin/James tune, was a William Blake poem set to music by arranger Don Fraser.

The Observer called it a "pithy ditty" and reported that if the song charted, the songwriters were set to write a musical for Covington.

Richard Williams of Melody Maker praised "many moments of great beauty", especially the title track, while criticizing the lush arrangements and uninspired production.