"Manzanita" is a duet between Alvin and Christy McWilson, a member of his band, the Guilty Women.

[3] The song "Harlan County Line" was written for the TV show Justified.

[5] Wayne Robins wrote in American Songwriter that the album's best songs were "character studies or snapshots of history".

[7] Many critics described "Johnny Ace is Dead" as one of the best songs on the album,[7][8] with Steve Horowitz of PopMatters calling it "the best damn Johnny Ace song one could ever imagine.

"[10] All tracks composed by Dave Alvin; except where indicated