Richard Hawley's eponymous debut was a mini album that featured seven songs and released in April 2001 through Setanta Records. It was supported by the single "Coming Home". While Hawley played "90% of the stuff" he was assisted by former Longpigs drummer Andy Cook and Colin Elliot, who became his long-term producer.
 
Clash Magazine described it as "a rather brief burst of seven mid-paced, ’50s-flecked moments of jangle.  Listening back now, it’s easy to spot the early signs of the grandeur that was to come, especially on standout  "Sunlight" amongst these tentative 22 and a half minutes". The cover of the album was shot in front of a bingo hall in Cleethorpes.