Rollins had joined the Quintet five months beforehand, replacing Harold Land, who left New York to care for his sick wife in California.

Rollins was working as a janitor in Chicago, spending most of his time practicing and rethinking his life (a shorter sabbatical compared to ones he would take).

But this arrangement produced only two albums, one for each label, before the tragic deaths of Quintet members Clifford Brown and Richie Powell in June 1956 ended the deal.

Rollins heard Rosemary Clooney sing "Count Your Blessings" in the film White Christmas and decided to record a version due to his fondness for Irving Berlin standards.

"Valse Hot" is a jazz waltz in A-flat major which remains one of Rollins's most well-known pieces, just like his other composition, "Pent-Up House".