It was released in December 1976 on Charisma Records and is their last studio album to feature guitarist Steve Hackett prior to his departure to pursue a solo career. Following the success of their 1976 tour to support their previous album A Trick of the Tail, the group relocated to Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands to record a follow up album, their first recorded outside the UK. Writing and recording caused some internal friction as Hackett felt some of his contributions were dropped in favour of material by keyboardist Tony Banks. Wind & Wuthering received a mostly positive response from critics which contributed to the band's growing popularity in the US. It reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 26 in the US and continued to sell, eventually reaching Gold certification by the British Phonographic Institute and the Recording Industry Association of America. The album's sole single, "Your Own Special Way", peaked at No. 62 in the US. The band's 1977 tour, their last with Hackett, was their first with Chester Thompson hired as their live drummer. Three tracks left off the album were released during this time as an extended play, Spot the Pigeon. The album was reissued with a new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix in 2007.