A follow-up to 1971's The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, the concept was to combine American bluesmen with British and Irish blues/rock stars.

The album features Waters on slide and acoustic guitar, backed by Sammy Lawhorn and Irishman Rory Gallagher on guitar, Carey Bell Harrington on harmonica, Rick Grech on bass, Georgie Fame (credited as "George Fortune") and Steve Winwood on piano and organ, Mitch Mitchell from Jimi Hendrix Experience and Herbie Lovelle on drums and Rosetta Hightower on vocals, Ernie Royal and Joe Newman on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone and Seldon Powell on tenor saxophone.

Winwood reprised his keyboard role on the Howlin' Wolf sessions, making appearances on three tracks.

Mitchell, who had worked with Georgie Fame's Blues Flames prior to joining the Jimi Hendrix Experience and drew his greatest inspiration from jazzmen such as Elvin Jones, played on most of the album.

On the shuffles like "I'm Ready" and "Blind Man Blues", the drummer is New York session veteran Lovelle.