Stephens recorded a demo with fellow songwriter John Carter at the Southern Music studio in Denmark Street, and gave a copy to Decca producer Mike Smith.

[6][7] On "The Crying Game", Sullivan experimented with a DeArmond wah-wah pedal to change the sound of his guitar, and the song is seen as the first UK hit to feature this effect.

The B-side features Page playing harmonica and was later notably covered by the Sex Pistols for the soundtrack to the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.

The duo had previously contributed the song "Nothing Has Been Proved", sung by Dusty Springfield, for the Woolley-produced 1989 film Scandal.

"[21] A reviewer from Music & Media felt it has the same "ethereal ambiance" as the one to TV series Twin Peaks, "punctuated by a similar big twanging guitar.

"[22] Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a strange little ballad, it's been pumped up in commercial house style by George, whose fragrantly fragile vocals never fail to impress.

"[23] Frank DeCaro from Newsday found that the singer's version of "The Crying Game" is "the most mesmerizing vocal since Annie Lennox first asked "Why" last summer.

[24] Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, "The gender-bending karma chameleon teams up with the Pet Shop Boys for a stunning version of the title song that drips with bittersweet languor.