The album reached No. 35 in the UK album charts and produced three singles - "All in Red", "Calling All the Heroes" and "Whole New World". All three of these charted, although "Calling All the Heroes" was by far the most successful, reaching No. 6 in the UK charts and remaining the band's biggest (and only significant hit). "All in Red" was the band's modestly-charting debut single: "Whole New World" was the follow-up to "Calling All the Heroes" but did not repeat its success. (Keyboard player John Beck has subsequently suggested that its use of a guest horn section, the Kick Horns, was a mistake.)

Although marketed as a 1980s pop album, The Big Lad in the Windmill featured an unusual mix of musical styles including pop, hard rock, Prince-style funk, power balladry and progressive rock (with the band often making multiple stylistic switches within the same song). The album also showcased the band's musical virtuosity, featuring multiple changes of dynamics and tempo plus prominent guitar and keyboard solos. The version of "Calling All the Heroes" included on the album is the full-length version rather than the better-known single edit (and features additional musical sections plus several false endings).

UK/European version

North American version

"The Big Lad in the Windmill - It Bites". AllMusic.

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