Let Your Love Flow recording studio in Tampa when a demo of a song written by David: "Spiders and Snakes", was optioned for Jim Stafford whose 1973 recording became a million-selling hit single. On the recommendation of Stafford's producer Phil Gernhard the Bellamy Brothers relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a recording career: the duo initially stayed with Jim Stafford in the Hollywood house whose purchase Stafford's success with "Spiders and Snakes" had made possible and for a time Howard acted as Stafford's road manager while Gernhard arranged for David to record as a solo act for the Warner Bros Records affiliate Curb Records
Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick tracks written and composed by Ian Dury and Chaz Jankel, except where indicated. The 12" version of the single features a different mix of "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" to the 7" version. The two sides of the single are labelled "A Wing" and "B Wing", in reference to prison blocks. The A-side has the caption "6_ Tricks, Points %✓" while the B-side has the captions "Late start high on fence" and "Segovia rules" printed on the label. "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" is credited to "Ian & the Blockheads – Under the musical direction of Chaz Jankel",