"Theme One came about initially as a rehearsal knock-about by the others, being a groovy toon, gradually became a part of our sets, and finally...as there seemed no real place for it on an album...a single...also because we felt it stood a chance of getting through to people not normally exposed to us, and perhaps pulling a few of them round!! It could be regarded as a sell-out, a cop-out from our usual self, but then it's bad if you're always your usual self, but deadly to take yourself too seriously all the time. I guess the nature of your coming to hear it indicates some level of success. Incidentally it's got f*** all to do with me apart from authorisation...I wasn't even there when it was recorded!!"

Peter Hammill, from a personal letter to Jem Shotts, 24th April 1972.