It was not apparent from their records at first, but the Thompsons had embraced an esoteric Sufi strand of Islam in early 1974. "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" was recorded before this conversion, but released some time afterwards. The songs for the second Richard and Linda album, "Hokey Pokey", were similarly written some time ahead of the album's recording and eventual release. It was "Pour Down Like Silver", with its cover photo of a turbaned Richard Thompson, that tipped the public off to the Thompsons' growing preoccupation with their faith.