Tyler recorded the album with producer Desmond Child at Bearsville Studios in New York, and many of the tracks later became hit singles for other artists, most notably "The Best" for Tina Turner.

Their collaboration led to two studio albums, and the worldwide hit singles "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero".

[2] Child co-wrote "Hide Your Heart" with Paul Stanley and Holly Knight, and it was originally intended for the Kiss album Crazy Nights (1987).

"Don't Turn Around" was first recorded by Tina Turner as the B-side to her 1986 single "Typical Male", and it later became a hit for both Aswad and Ace of Base.

"The Best" was written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, and originally intended for a male artist, but the track found its way to Tyler after he declined.

Tarradell added that Tyler "isn't always blessed with the best material and has been a victim of a roller-coaster career," but described the album as an "impressive return" to rock music.

[10] Curt Anderson of Bangor Daily News agreed that "Turtle Blues" is the album highlight, and "stands head and shoulders above the rest [of the tracks]."

He concluded, saying that the track "Notes from America" sounds "like much of the commercial rock 'n' roll on the radio," and that "it's a shame [Tyler] isn't singing more memorable music.

"[11] In Raw magazine, Malcolm Dome described the single "Notes from America" as "anthemic", but he opined that it sounded too similar to other popular Billboard-charting hard rock songs.