Robyn Hitchcock's first solo release, BLACK SNAKE DIAMOND ROLE, was recorded during the final days of his influential post-punk combo the Soft Boys. Players included all three Soft Boys Kimberly Rew, Matthew Seligman and Morris Windsor as well as Vibrators guitarist Knox, Psychedelic Furs drummer Vince Fly and soon-to-be synth-pop star Thomas Dolby. Here Hitchcock finds his solo sound with iconic psychedelia like "Acid Bird" and "Brenda's Iron Sledge". in this edition of the album the original tracks are rounded out by eight bonus cuts, most of them outtakes from the original recording sessions.