The UK's economy was still not sufficiently strong to enable the British record buying public to prioritise albums over singles in terms of purchasing choices. From the mid-1960s, the album would eventually predominate over the single in the UK. This is the only Shadows album that features the original Shadows line up with Tony Meehan and Jet Harris. Meehan was sacked for persistent lateness in 1961 and Harris was constructively dismissed (resigned) in 1962. The only other early album of note featuring Harris and Meehan is the South African "Rockin Guitars" Shadows special compilation album. The British public in 1960-61 anticipated an all instrumental debut album but the Shadows and Paramor wanted to produce an album showcasing their numerous diverse talents instead, hence the inclusion of two specialist instrumental "solos", Nivram (a bass feature) and See You In My Drums (an obviously drum-heavy track). The album was rounded out with three relatively unexpected vocals. By contrast, the debut album of The Ventures (seen to be their American counterpart) was an all-instrumental one. This album reached the number-one slot in the UK albums chart in 1961. No singles were taken from it, though two "extract" Eps were compiled from its tracks: "The Shadows No. 2" and "The Shadows No. 3" - both in mono only. The group's first EP "The Shadows" (available in both mono and stereo) had been released in January 1961 and featured four original tracks: Mustang, Shotgun, Theme From Giant and Theme From Shane. However, notwithstanding any minor criticisms, this very successful debut album features seven (out of fourteen) all new original compositions written by members of the Shadows in various permutations, thus contradicting many later British authors who erroneously claim that this period of British pop music "before the Beatles" was 100% influenced and dominated by "Tin Pan Alley" songwriters who wrote their material at offices in London's fashionable West End.