Petit was drawn to Powell due to his work with Jack White and was particularly impressed by Vance's production ethos with The Dead Weather: "He was already doing some of those things [I wanted]… He’s got what Eddie Kramer or Sam Phillips had back in the day… he encourages you to try new sounds and ideas… Before we began ["Muzzle"] I said to Vance "I want this song to sound like a monster" and he just said "OK".
[1] Petit's production ethos for Cracking The Code was in keeping with his mission to present the blues in a modern way, push boundaries and deliver something new to the audience,[4] he revealed to Guitar & Bass Magazine: "When The Stones’ Satisfaction was first heard it was completely extraordinary.
Sumlin overdubbed guitar parts on "Get You Off" but the pair did not have the opportunity to record a finished version of the second collaborative song.
Despite Sumlin's evident fragility, his impressive musicianship remained intact even during his final weeks: "I had to help him up the stairs but when I put a guitar in his hands he was like a different man.
"[7] Petit further elaborated to Guitar & Bass Magazine: "I placed my [Gibson SG] in his hands and he instantly changed.
Guitarist Mick Taylor and jazz trombonist Chris Barber also appear on the album and have been long-term collaborators with Petit since their involvement in his successful campaign to "Save The 100 Club" in December 2010.
A few of them said "we really enjoyed your playing on the Stephen Dale Petit album" it was nice to be paid compliments for something other than what I did with the Rolling Stones but something just as important.
[3] Commenting on the album's guest appearances, UK music journalist Henry Yates wrote that Petit keeps "hallowed company, but [he] is their equal.
All vinyl albums were issued with a gatefold sleeve and oversized lyric booklet handwritten by Petit himself.
Petit discussed his choice of title for the album with Guitar & Bass magazine: "I once heard an acclaimed songwriter say creating a song comes in any number of ways; it’s just finding a way in, spending time with it and allowing it to come to fruition… she called it "cracking the code".
The shot features Petit seemingly walking on water, surrounded by white balloons suspended in mid-air.
Petit has since revealed that it was Boyd who suggested he stand in the middle of the pond featured in the image to create the illusion.
Similarly, the album credits also contains a red letter code that spells out "blues is truth" in anagram format.
Critical praise for Cracking the Code was consistent, with most leading press outlets agreeing that Petit's third studio album was a showcase for his "formidable"ongwriting skills and his "fiendish guitar chops"[7] s. Blues Matters magazine commented that the album transported Petit "to the next level".
[3] Legendary UK music journalist Charles Shaar Murray agreed, deeming the album Petit's "graduation piece".
Previous records established his credentials as guitar hero and ace blues geek, but now he’s found his voice.
"[7] Cracking the Code received an 8/10 star review in Classic Rock as well as being listed as one of the magazine's best albums of 2013.
[11] Hi-Fi News magazine awarded the Vinyl release of Cracking The Code a score of 88/100, describing the album as "an excellent modern blues LP… a fiery, kick-ass session".
[14] MOJO magazine's 4/5 star review described the album as "thrusting blues hooligan anthems… an inspired and unapologetically loud affair.
"Holla" also appeared on the compilation disc The Black Keys and Friends for the June 2014 issue of MOJO magazine.
[18] "My Friend Bob" received a 5/5 star rating from The Express, writing that the single was "a standout track, one hundred per cent toe-tapping… once heard it never fails to bring a smile.