In 1996, Show of Hands performed at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with the performance resulting in the live album Live at the Royal Albert Hall. The performance was not expected to be a success, but tickets sold out in advance, and the live album became the band's best-selling album. Steve Knightley of the duo noted that as a result of its success, "it's easier to get in local papers. But we now need to replace that with a story about the music. That's the dilemma." The following album Dark Fields (1997) was ultimately a critical success, despite its single "Crazy Boy" underperforming commercially.