How Green Is the Valley is the second studio album of The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was released in 1986 after the band were signed to MCA Records following the success of their previous album Night of a Thousand Candles. It is the last album to feature co-founder Shanne Bradley on bass guitar.

Waiting for Bonaparte is the third studio album by The Men They Couldn't Hang. It was recorded at Woodcray Studios in Berkshire and was released in 1988. It is the first album to feature Ricky McGuire on bass guitar. The album again features songs written about British culture and history. The only single on the album to feature a promotional video was The Colours. The video was given a Les Miserables style theme due to its historical lyrical content and features writer Paul Simmonds in drag playing the part of a woman of ill repute. The song itself, however was banned by the BBC due to the line, "You've come here to watch me hang!", which echoed the events happening in South African townships at the time, in particular the plight of the Sharpeville Six. The song told the story of the1797 Nore mutiny and the execution of Richard Parker for his role in the mutiny. Despite the ban it still managed to reach number 61 in the UK singles chart. The Crest is the only single to have an extended remixed version. This was less successful only reachin number 94 in the UK singles chart. Initial vinyl LP copies were a limited edition which came with a song book of lyrics and guitar tabs as well as a poster.