Life In Technicolor II was originally going to open Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, but feeling it was too obvious a single, the band removed the lyrics and released it as an instrumental. The lyrical version of the track omits the album’s Jon Hopkins instrumental opening. In early 2009, Life In Technicolor II finally became a single and was frequently played during the Viva La Vida tour.

A piano instrumental, Postcards From Far Away was at one point on the tracklist for Viva La Vida And Death And All His Friends and combined with the track Chinese Sleep Chant. The latter eventually became attached to Yes instead. Chris Martin’s sheet music for Postcards From Far Away was revealed as part of Viva’s extensive promotional artwork.

Glass Of Water was written late in the recording sessions for Viva when a looming delivery deadline resulted in a flurry of new songwriting. It was written — and announced — in the same period as the recorded but unreleased Famous Old Painters.

Rainy Day was the closing song on a preliminary tracklisting for Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. The track’s intro was originally the opening piano and vocal melody that became Death And All His Friends (called School at that point). Emily Bart-Smith contributes vocals to the track and Davide Rossi a plethora of strings.

The track for which the EP is named was once in consideration for inclusion on Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. At that point in time Poppyfields was its own song and appeared between Violet Hill and 42 on a preliminary Viva tracklisting. Prospekt’s March has never been played live, but has been soundchecked by the band.

Rapper Jay-Z adds his vocal contributions to Lost+. Jay-Z’s rap originated during recording sessions for his 2006 album Kingdom Come, but the track was unused. He performed the rap during a freestyle performance for a radio program in late 2008. Chris Martin and Jay-Z performed an acoustic version of Lost+ at the 2009 Grammy Awards.

Lovers In Japan (Osaka Sun Mix) is a remix of Viva’s Lovers In Japan with some subtle differences. There’s an added vocal melody after the first chorus (Chris Martin would sing this embellishment live), the tempo is quicker, and the drums are slightly louder. Reign Of Love is also omitted from this version of the track.

Now My Feet Won’t Touch The Ground was a popular sentiment during the Viva La Vida recording sessions: it pops up throughout Life In Technicolor II as a lyric in the chorus, and again in Strawberry Swing. On the Prospekt’s March EP that lyric became the closing track. Kelly Pratt, known for his work with Beirut and David Byrne, adds brass to the track.