Farmer was co-founder and co-leader of the Jazztet, which had recorded two albums for Argo, including Big City Sounds on September 16, 19, and 20, 1960.

[1]: 6–7  "Goodbye, Old Girl", from the musical Damn Yankees, is played with a "mood of rueful farewell".

[1]: 7  "I'm a Fool to Want You" was described by Nat Hentoff in the original liner notes as "the essence of jazz lyricism – intimacy without self-pity".

[1]: 7 The Allmusic review stated "This series of studio sessions from 1960 [...] find the trumpeter in great form".

[3] The Penguin Guide to Jazz described the album as "close to perfect, [...] measured, unflashy but deeply felt".