The tour came four and a half months after the release of Springsteen's 1987 album, Tunnel of Love, which had sold well – although nowhere near the blockbuster levels of its predecessor, Born in the U.S.A., which the album was partly a counter-reaction to – and already generated a hit single in "Brilliant Disguise". In part, the unusual lag reflected the ambivalence of the album; Springsteen had first recorded it solely by himself, and then some E Street Band parts had been dubbed in.
The tour took place four and a half months after Springsteen's 1987 album, Tunnel of Love, was released. The album had sold well but not as much as his previous one, Born in the U.S.A., which it was partly a response to. It also featured a hit single called "Brilliant Disguise".