Despite Factory Records having released it and "Jimone", the band wasn't formally signed to the label. Glennie thought Factory worked inefficiently and wasn't trusting them to release an album, with Whelan adding that the label would pay to have a single made, only for them to have no money left to promote it. James received praise from Morrissey of the Smiths, who proceeded to ask the band to support them on tour. The two previous EPs were combined into the "Village Fire" EP, which was released in June 1985. With the aim to have their songs reach a wider audience, the band signed to Sire and Blanco y Negro Records in November 1985. "Chain Mail" was released single in January 1986. "Stutter" was produced by Patti Smith live guitarist Lenny Kaye, and engineered by Gil Norton, at Amazon Studios in Liverpool in March 1986.