The roots of Cressida lay in a band, Charge, formed by singer Angus Cullen and guitarist John Heyworth, with bassist Kevin McCarthy and drummer Iain Clark. Named after the Shakespeare play Troilus and Cressida, they rebranded themselves in late 1968, upon the arrival of keyboardist Peter Jennings. With a contract from the newly formed Vertigo Records already in hand, the band spent time in Germany; but before the recording of first album began with producer Ossie Byrne, they split with manager Mike Rosen (later in Mogul Thrash).