The album was the final release of the 1970s by Van der Graaf Generator, who by 1977 had abbreviated their name to Van der Graaf and featured a line-up of Peter Hammill (vocals, piano, guitars), Guy Evans (drums), Nic Potter (bass), and Graham Smith (violin) who added Charles Dickie (cello) to the band mid-way through the year. Following a long year of touring and recording the album The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome, the band greeted 1978 with two concerts at the Marquee Club in London on 15 and 16 January which were recorded. The concerts featured a guest appearance by former member David Jackson on saxophone and flute. Vital was a brutal sonic assault and featured Van der Graaf at their most powerful and impassioned. The record proved to be their swansong of the 1970s, as by the time of the album’s release in July 1978, the band had broken up due to financial difficulties.