"Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two" is the second studio album by the English new wave and synth-pop band China Crisis, released on October 31, 1983, by Virgin Records. The album spent 16 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 20 in February 1984. It features the song "Wishful Thinking," which became a top-ten hit on the UK Singles Chart.
After their debut album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, released in late 1982, China Crisis embarked on their first major tour supporting Simple Minds. During this time, they premiered several new songs on a BBC John Peel session in January 1983. The lineup expanded with bass guitarist Gary Johnson, oboe player Steve Levy, and drummer Kevin Wilkinson, who later joined the band full-time.
The album was recorded at Amazon Studios in Liverpool and completed at The Manor Studio in Oxfordshire in 1983. Some songs were written around the same time as those on their debut album. The addition of new members and session musicians contributed to a less synthetic sound, incorporating brass, woodwind, and string instruments. The band utilized the latest technology, such as the emulator introduced by producer Mike Howlett. During the sessions, they also recorded "It's Never Too Late," but it was dropped for being too similar to "Wishful Thinking," later released on a limited edition 12" single.
The lead single "Working with Fire and Steel" gave the album its title. The additional "Possible Pop Songs" title was inspired by Jon Hassell's collaboration with Brian Eno on their album Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics. "Tragedy and Mystery" was released as a single in May 1983, peaking at No. 46 on the UK Singles Chart. The title track was released as a single in October 1983, reaching No. 48. "Wishful Thinking," released in December, became the band's only Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 in January 1984. The final single, "Hanna Hanna," was released in March 1984 and reached No. 44.
