Released on Argo Records in November 1960, the album was produced by Phil and Leonard Chess.

Phil and Leonard Chess believed that James's voice had crossover pop potential, so with this debut album, they backed her with orchestral arrangements on many of the tracks.

"[1] The album's title track has been covered by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Joni Mitchell, Leela James, Cyndi Lauper, Randy Crawford, Celine Dion, Connie Wilson and Christina Aguilera.

A Simlish version of the title track was made for the reveal trailer of The Sims 4's eleventh game pack, "My Wedding Stories".

Stephen Cook of AllMusic gave the album five out of five stars, and, about James, wrote, "one hears the singer at her peak in a swinging and varied program of blues, R&B, and jazz standards."

James demonstrates her keen facility on the title track in particular, as she easily moves from powerful blues shouting to more subtle, airy phrasing; her Ruth Brown-inspired, bad-girl growl only adds to the intensity.

"[1] The writer for Rolling Stone stated, "James bloomed into a fiery interpreter on this spellbinding LP.