"[6] A message on Young's website described the album as "an unheard collection of rediscovered songs from the past recorded on ancient electro-mechanical technology.

"[7][8] The album consists of covers of classic tracks by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot, which Young described as "songs I listened to as I formulated what to do with my life.

"[9] He said it was a "roots project" which explored his origins and the music that has affected him, adding that he chose tracks that "resonate with me personally".

'"[10] The opening spoken-word track, and other spoken lines throughout the album, are addressed to his mother, Edna 'Rassy' Young, who died in 1990.

"[13] Young recorded Bert Jansch's "Needle of Death" having unintentionally used the song as the basis of his own "Ambulance Blues" years earlier.

"[14] The album features two selections by fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, who Young called "a master.

"[18] White said, "After the discs were cut, we transferred them to one–inch two–track with a 1953 Scully lathe at Third Man that was previously used by Cincinnati’s legendary King Records.

Young later made a 'clean tape feed' of the album available for streaming on his website with improved sound quality over the official release.

"[26] "You can hear the continuous scrape of the grooves, pops, and momentary warps," a review in Pitchfork notes, adding that the album contains "some stunning performances" and one which is "heart-wrenching".

[27] Album cover artist Gary Burden was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package.