Searching for the Young Soul Rebels

Geno was recorded in 1979 and the rest of the album in April 1980 at Chipping Norton Recording Studios, in twelve days. Pete Wingfield produced, Barry Hammond engineered and Peter Barrett designed the artwork. On the last mixing day the band took the master tapes while the producer was out and drove to Birmingham during a contract dispute. EMI raised the royalty from 6 percent to 9 percent and the tapes were returned. The sleeve photograph shows a Belfast Catholic boy carrying his belongings after leaving his home during the Troubles, and Rowland said he wanted a picture of unrest. Only Geno and There, There, My Dear were written by Rowland and Archer together. Wingfield disliked Rowland's lyrics for Keep It and turned them into the separate song Love Part One, and Geoff Blythe wrote new words for the album version of Keep It. Seven Days Too Long is a cover, written by J. R. Bailey and Vernon Harrell.

It reached number six in the UK, number 11 in New Zealand, 31 in Sweden and 66 in Australia, and was certified silver by the BPI two weeks after release. Robert Christgau praised its horn interjections, and Daryl Easlea of BBC Music called it one of the greatest debut albums of all time. David Hepworth of Smash Hits disliked the mannered vocals and would-be epic arrangements. Geno reached number one and There, There, My Dear number seven. Reviewing the 30th anniversary edition for Pitchfork in 2010, Tom Ewing called it the tightest and most consistent Dexys album. The reissue added a bonus disc that runs from Dance Stance to Plan B.