"The guitar loops for the five tracks were recorded live in concert during 1979 (some of the ones on "1983" were performed on "The Midnight Special",) with drum and bass parts added later that year by Michael Busta “Cherry” Jones (bass) and Paul Duskin (drums).All of the tracks are instrumental, bar "Under Heavy Manners", which features words half recited, half sung by David Byrne (credited using the pseudonym "Absalm el Habib").