On 13 January 1986, Cocteau Twins made their US debut with the release of "The Pink Opaque".
After signing to 4AD in 1982, Cocteau Twins released three albums and five EPs between the autumn of 1982 and January 1985. Despite not having American distribution, the band gained popularity there through college radio, particularly with the 1984 single "Pearly Dewdrops' Drops." The American label Relativity Records distributed their albums on license from 4AD. Rather than reissuing all of the band's releases to that point, it was decided that the compilation The Pink Opaque would be issued instead, as a sampler of the Twins' output up through early 1985.
The Pink Opaque is also significant in 4AD's history, as it was the label's first CD release.