Six months after the Los Angeles sessions for "King of America", Costello returned to the studio with the Attractions to work on the songs for this album. Costello reported the band's relationship as having "soured", and after the album's completion and one more tour, Costello would not work again with the Attractions for another eight years, until "Brutal Youth". Costello explained, "It was recorded just over six months after the Hollywood sessions for "King of America". The Attractions' sole contribution to that album, 'Suit of Lights,' had been made during our least successful and most bad-tempered days in the studio. The air of suspicion and resentment still lingered as "King of America" was released and we entered Olympic Studios, London, to make what proved to be our last record together for eight years."