The Fall’s second album, ‘Dragnet’, was recorded between the 2nd and 4th of August 1979, less than eight months after its predecessor, ‘Live At The Witch Trials’, establishing at an early stage two key patterns of the group’s work – high productivity and a regular turnover of group members. Only Mark E Smith and Marc Riley remained from the debut album and Riley had changed his role from bass guitar to guitar.

‘Dragnet’ is most notable for the arrivals of guitarist Craig Scanlon and bassist Steve Hanley. Both were just 19 when they joined the group and would form The Fall’s musical backbone until the mid 90s. This is the only studio album recorded with drummer Mike Leigh.

The album is somewhat self-referential lyrically, with several songs referencing the music industry. At least two tracks, ‘Printhead’ and ‘Your Heart Out’, quoted or paraphrased reviews of the band’s live shows. The former even verifies this fact within its own lyric.

‘Dragnet’s production is muddy – Riley has claimed this was a deliberate contrast to the sharp, clean sound of ‘Live At The Witch Trials’.

It would be the group’s final album for Police manager Miles Copeland’s Step-Forward label, with the group signing to Rough Trade in 1980.