shortly before recording this album, dexys' bandleader kevin rowland had decided to add a violin section to the band's existing horn section, which had contributed strings (viola and cello) to the band's previous single, "liars a to e". however, after violinists helen o'hara and steve brennan joined the band, the three members of the horn section, including dexys' co-leader and album co-composer "big" jim paterson, decided to leave dexys and become an independent horn band (ultimately known as the tko horns). rowland convinced them to stay with the band long enough to record the album and to perform in a kick-off concert debuting the album on bbc radio one in june 1982.