[4] The song refers to Brenda Ann Spencer's killing spree, which occurred on Monday, 29 January 1979 in San Diego, California.

The Boomtown Rats travelled around the United States leading up to The Fine Art of Surfacing, drumming up publicity in the country.

In 2005, the album was re-released (it had previously been released but fell out of print quickly), digitally remastered by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette with bonus tracks, mostly B-sides from various eras, that delve more deeply into the Rats' musical influences.

David Fricke of Rolling Stone highlighted the album's musical diversity, writing that "much of the Boomtown Rats' smarmy charm comes from an elusiveness that defies categorization because it draws from dozens of sources but embraces none.

Side A * A hidden track (with lyrics including "that's not funny, I'm not laughing"), on the original LP playing through to the run-out groove.