Partridge characterised as "the place you go when you're searching," "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" was the first song Partridge wrote for the album. He denied that he was inspired by the Kinks' "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" (1968), explaining that the song was actually inspired by the Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" (1971), and that he did not listen to any Kinks albums until several years later. Partridge called "Train Running Low" "possibly one of the most autobiographical songs I've ever written. I'm the train and I'm worried about losing my inspiration, I'm worried about losing my steam for the whole thing -- the whole XTC creative process." The lyric states: "I'm a thirty year old puppy doing what I'm told and I'm told there's no more coal for the older engines". The line "couple of empty carriages" is a possible reference to Moulding and Gregory. Backwards echo and three 12-string guitars were used for the track. The album ends with sounds that resemble a train falling apart. Leftover Other songs were produced but left off the album. "Thanks for Christmas" was a novelty song recorded to test Lord's potential as a producer for the band a few weeks before sessions commenced. According to Partridge, "I like the idea of anonymous music, and I thought I'd put together a song and then find an act to do it." It is the only instance in the band's catalog where Partridge and Moulding share lead vocals. Originally, the group wanted to call themselves "the Virgin Marys", but the label objected. Another song, "Countdown to Christmas Party Time", was recorded to be its B-side. He described the song as "all-out stupid funky" and "ersatz Michael Jackson or something". Erica Wexler contributed backing vocals and David Lord is credited as "The Good Lord" on the record sleeve. Three outtakes were relegated as B-sides to the album's singles. "Red Brick Dream" is an original poem about the Great Western Railworks. Partridge set it to music after he was commissioned to write a song for a documentary about Swindon. In the film, he is shown performing the song at Crescent. "Washaway" was another Moulding song about growing up at Pen Hill and the first he wrote on a keyboard. He said: "'This is looking at people going about their business but not being where [I] should