[9] The title track, which mentions Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed, was written by Walter Godbold.

[12] The Los Angeles Times noted that the album "employs a more pronounced Stax attack on Hill's typical assortment of cheating love songs".

"[17] Robert Christgau wrote that the songs were stronger than on Hill's previous Malaco album, The Rhythm and the Blues.

[14] The Lake Geneva Regional News called Hill "a link to the Southern tradition who shines on every song he sings".

[18] The Valley Advocate labeled Hill's music "red-clay soul", and listed I'm a Blues Man among the best "Black Pop" albums of 1984.