Ofra recorded this album as a tribute to her parents. It began with two Yemenite songs — Galbi and As’alk — which she played for them. Their enthusiastic response led Ofra and Bezalel to realize they were onto something special. Bezalel coached Ofra on the correct Yemenite pronunciation, and they initially selected ten songs for the recording. Ultimately, Bezalel included only eight tracks to allocate the remaining budget for remixes of two previously recorded songs. Ofra dedicated six months to the recordings, with an intense focus on vocal and technical quality.

Radio and television stations were initially baffled by the album and gave it no airplay at all. In response, Ofra and Bezalel, with the help of Yair Nitzani and Izhar Ashdot, decided to create a remix of Galbi to bring the music to the dance floors. This remix eventually reached a British DJ, who began playing it frequently on his radio show in England.

Yair Nitzani: “I arrived at Hed Arzi when the album was more or less finished, and I was asked to prepare a marketing plan. I didn’t think it would get any airplay, so I suggested the idea of a remix. No one really understood what I wanted from them—not Ofra and Bezalel, and not the people at the record company led by Itchi Shtrou (who is now a major film producer in Hollywood). Consequently, the budget given to Izhar Ashdot, Yoav Gera, and myself to execute the project was relatively tiny ($1,500). I think Itchi, who made the final call on the album, believed it wouldn’t sell; he went through with it to maintain good relations with Ofra and Bezalel, and because he wanted to help them bring joy to their parents. It was, essentially, a gift from Ofra and Bezalel to the family.”

On Ofra’s birthday in November 1985, Hed Arzi presented her with the first copy of the album as it was released in England. Meanwhile, the British rap duo Eric B. & Rakim sampled Ofra’s voice from “Im Nin’alu” in their song “Paid in Full” (featured in the movie Colors). The song was a massive hit in the UK and sparked immense interest in the “mysterious” background singer. The rappers were certain they were sampling a “deceased Arab singer,” but Ofra seized the opportunity, recorded a dance version of “Im Nin’alu,” and conquered Europe. Despite receiving zero airplay on Israeli radio and TV initially, the album sold over 40,000 copies in Israel that same year.