[1] In a 1999 interview, the guitarist recalled that "they [Silvertone] didn't do a very good job for me, either in Europe or America.

[2] Recording for Breaking the Rules took place between January 15 and February 28, 1995, at Soundcastle in Los Angeles, California,[3] with Trout taking on production duties for the first time in his career.

Reviewing the album for the Los Angeles Times, Mike Boehm proclaimed it to be Trout's best album since 1990's Prisoner of a Dream, writing that "Trout can handle pop and rock songwriting, as well as play within the styles and forms of traditional blues.

[1] Boehm also praised Trout's first effort as a producer, claiming that he "gives himself and his band mates something they lacked on Tellin' Stories and its predecessor, Transition: a broad, uncluttered sonic field on which to operate".

[1] A review in Music & Media described Breaking the Rules as "a refreshing mix of rock and blues".