Manager Malcolm McLaren was left with a major problem - how to sell a double LP soundtrack with no songs featuring the Sex Pistols' dynamic, original vocalist.

In an effort to keep up their "chops", the band would rehearse during downtime at Wessex Studios while attempting to record the 'Anarchy In The UK' 7" single for EMI with producer Dave Goodman in October 1976.

[3] The double album features a significant number of tracks that omit Lydon entirely, most of them written and recorded after he had left the band.

These include Sid Vicious singing cover songs, two new original songs ("Silly Thing", sung by Cook and "Lonely Boy", sung by Jones), tracks Cook and Jones recorded with Ronnie Biggs, the title track and "Who Killed Bambi?"

sung by Edward Tudor-Pole, and numerous novelty tracks including French street musicians playing "Anarchy in the UK" and a medley of several Sex Pistols songs covered by a disco band.

This would also be the first set of recordings to feature guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook in roles as lead vocalists before they would form The Professionals, and the final album of new material credited to the Sex Pistols, albeit it technically not being a second studio album due to various guests and other artist featuring on it.