The whole album was done in one day, with most sections done in just one take. It was all on a single, mono track. A lot of the numbers are familiar, almost classic blues. "Roll Em, Pete," of course was a great hit for Joe Turner along with Pete Johnson, his piano player. I first heard "Gee, Baby, Aint I Good to You?" in the very good version Joe Williams made with the Count Basie band. "Up Above My Head" was made popular by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mary Knight. Ian had played piano with them, when they were on tour in Britain. Unfortunately the song is the only recorded duet between Rod and myself to be released. Later on, we made quite a few recordings with the Steampacket, but contractual problems made them impossible to be issued to the public. "Times Are Getting Tougher than Tough" was Jimmy Witherspoons theme song; "Going Down Slow" was written by St. Louis Jimmy Oden, although a lot of people take credit for it. "Five Long Years" was written by Eddie Boyd. He lives in Belgium now, and plays in a bar in Brussels; still swinging along. It brings back a lot of memories to me, this album. I know its an old one now, getting on for eight years. But it still sounds fresh to me. I think it doesnt sound that dated . But then the blues doesnt really date, does it? --John Baldry Los Angeles, California June, 1971