Gilbert left and was replaced on bass by Mick Lloyd. Their first album, Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty, followed the next year. Signing įelt signed to Cherry Red Records and their first single as a band, 'Something Sends Me to Sleep', was released in 1981. He was replaced soon after by Gary Ainge who would remain the only constant member besides Lawrence throughout the rest of Felt's existence, as well as the only member to play on all ten of their albums. Gilbert switched to bass and drummer Tony Race was added.
The band performed as a trio before deciding that bass guitar was needed. Becoming co-writer with Lawrence, Deebank's jangly, classical-influenced style of playing would provide the band's signature sound in its early years. With Lawrence initially on vocals and guitar, they formed properly in 1980 with the addition of schoolfriend Nick Gilbert on drums and local guitarist Maurice Deebank.
A noisy effort unlike Felt's subsequent records, it was later awarded single of the week by Dave McCullough in music newspaper Sounds. Lawrence founded the band in 1979 with the release of the single 'Index', a self-published solo recording.