The album was inspired by music the band played during a six-part television mini-series on the CBC called The Root Seller.

The songs on the album are a mix of traditional music and folk-rock.

The album comprises music composed by Émile Benoît and songs written by Ron Hynes.

[1] This album features some of Benoît's first recorded music, specifically "Emile's Dream" which later, in 1980, the album of the same name was released by Benoît featuring titles that also appear on The Wonderful Grand Band.

The album also features the first and original version of the widely covered "Sonny's Dream" which also appears re-recorded on their second album, Living in a Fog.