In addition to Prima's "Jump Jive An' Wail", covers include "This Old House" by Stuart Hamblen, "Since I Don't Have You" by the Skyliners, "Nosey Joe" popularized by Bull Moose Jackson, and "As Long As I'm Singin'" by Bobby Darin.

"You're the Boss", penned by Leiber and Stoller in 1961, is the album's seventh track, a duet featuring singer (and labelmate) Gwen Stefani; an earlier popular recording of the tune paired Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret.

The album also features a cover of the instrumental "Sleep Walk", made popular originally by songwriters and performers Santo & Johnny Farina in 1959.

The illustration and logo for The Dirty Boogie was created by Sir Richard Wentworth, using techniques such as pen and ink linework and cut rubylith sheets.

Wentworth's retro logotype is still an essential part of the Brian Setzer Orchestra's brand identity[8] and has inspired a commercial font called "Swinger".