After the relative disappointment of Field Day, Crenshaw had unsuccessfully attempted to leave Warner Bros. Records.

"[2] Crenshaw decided to embark on a stylistic change from his previous albums, aiming for a more rootsy sound.

This is seen in his choice of producer, T-Bone Burnett; Crenshaw explained, "That [change in style] was genuine because I was really obsessed with that kind of music.

"[2] Downtown was commercially less successful than its predecessors, hitting number 113 while its singles failed to chart.

"Blues is King" was produced by Mitch Easter and Marshall Crenshaw.