Early material for an album had been considered and dropped, including the proposed title track "European Son", which later appeared on the compilation "Assemblage". The band then approached Roxy Music producer John Punter, but he was unavailable at the time and the group began to record with manager Simon Napier-Bell. However, the band learned that Punter was available later in the year and waited for him. Punter worked closely with the group and went on to produce two more albums and touring with them.