"Vision Thing" is the third studio album by the English gothic rock band the Sisters of Mercy, released on 22 October 1990 through Merciful Release and East West Records, with Elektra Records handling the US release. Soon after the previous album, Floodland, Andrew Eldritch approached guitarist John Perry to join in writing a new album. When Perry declined to become a full-time member, the band sought a new guitarist through their record label. They eventually received a demo tape from Andreas Bruhn, who was invited to audition shortly after.
As the band, now consisting of Eldritch, Bruhn, and bassist Patricia Morrison, prepared to enter the studio, Morrison was replaced by Tony James, a former member of Sigue Sigue Sputnik. The reasons for Morrison's departure remain unclear, but she later suggested that her resignation was related to her salary and dissatisfaction with the band's musical direction. Although there were questions about who played on the album, Perry expressed uncertainty about whether Morrison or James contributed any bass, suggesting the sound was sequenced.
The band recorded at a Danish studio over nine months, bringing in guitarist Tim Bricheno during the final weeks. Their manager observed the process, and despite initial doubts about the album's length, the band ended up with several completed tracks. The final mixes included some rough mixes from earlier sessions, preserving the immediate feel of the songs. Lyrically, the album was designed as a critique of the policies of the George H. W. Bush administration, with the title stemming from a notable quote by Bush, and its artwork featuring a faint image of Detroit's economically affected inner city.
