The Ophelias' The Crocus was recorded at night in a converted "2000 percent haunted" Masonic lodge, which surely had an effect on the album's ability to weave darker tones through the taut song structures.
The concept for his tour was avoid artistic complacency and try more progressive, theatrical approaches to performing live. The bulk of the album was recorded live at San Francisco's Boarding House and during the Neil Young/Crazy Horse tour in late 1978