[3] The title of the album is a reference to a stand-up comedy routine by the British comedian Eddie Izzard, of whom Hazlewood was a fan.

[4] For his final album, Hazlewood opted to work with lower-profile performers rather than his usual roster of collaborators such as Nancy Sinatra or Ann-Margret.

The track was also featured on Bela B's album Bingo as “Lee Hazlewood & das erste Lied des Tages.”[6] Finally, Hazlewood includes a new version of "Some Velvet Morning", sung with his granddaughter Phaedra Dawn Stewart (whose namesake is prominently mentioned in the song).

Stephen Troussé of Pitchfork gave the album a 7.7 out of 10, saying: "sobriety has never been Hazlewood's style, and Cake or Death is as daffy, cornball and absurdly touching as anything he's put his name to over the last half century.

"[3] John Bush of AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5, saying: "In sound and execution, Cake or Death is a modern-day roots rock record (with the polished touch of Nashville), and Hazlewood's studio team finds no trouble moving from loping (Western) swing to red-hot rock & roll.