Mercury Revs 1991 debut album Yerself is Steam was a critical success, and quickly followed up by the Car Wash Hair single. The releases persuaded the band to perform their very first live gig then their third gig was on the main stage at Reading Festival and their fourth was supporting Bob Dylan an auspicious start to their decades-long career. Despite the plaudits resulting in strong sales and regular tours, it was not until their fourth album, Deserters Songs that they gained a mainstream audience.