The album was released in 1969 on the Congress label, which had been relaunched that year by MCA as a subsidiary of Uni Records.

[3] One reviewer described the single as" a truly heavyweight funk jam that is the highlight of this gritty, soulful LP".

[5] In the liner notes, the album is described as being Jackson's attempt to fuse soul music and jazz music, with the album being critically described as one where Jackson "achieves a sound recalling Ray Charles' most deeply funky outings, complete with big band-inspired horn arrangements".

[4] Another described the album as containing "tons of horns and great singing here, plus 60's progressive moves, such as weaving walking bass interludes into the tracks.

"[6] The album is also notable for containing "Tenement Halls', a song co-written by Scott Fagan, a psych-folk artist rediscovered in the 2000s.