recorded in the summer of 1978 at chipping norton recording studios in the west oxfordshire town of chipping norton, "stealin' home" was the result of ian matthews' first uk recording sessions since 1973 but in the opinion of mark deming of amg, matthews on "stealin' home" "dove headfirst into a polished pop sound that made the one-time british folkie sound like a member of the la mellow mafia. [though] recorded in oxfordshire, 'stealin' home' re-created the meticulously crafted sound of west coast pop with impressive accuracy."