When the time came to return to a recording studio, the band sought out a new record producer. Lillywhite, who had done the work for both of their previous albums, had other commitments, and many in the band felt it was time to chart a new course anyway.Thompson, p. 89. Columbia management first attempted to match the band with David Bowie, who was a high-profile Furs supporter and who expressed enthusiasm for working with them. Bowie, however, also had commitments which would have postponed work for what the band felt would be an unacceptably long time.Thompson, p. 90. More importantly, there was a belief among some band members that this partnership would not yield much of a change. According to Richard Butler, "the media were already making lots of comparisons between our music and his", and the band did not want to appear too indebted.Thompson, pp. 89–90. A last-minute offer by Lillywhite to fit the band into his schedule was politely declined.
