'Breaking Out' was released in 1980 by the British label JSP Records, specializing in blues. This album marked Buddy Guy's return to a rawer, more traditional Chicago blues sound, after experimenting with more commercial styles in the previous decade.
Recorded in sessions in Chicago and New York, the album features musicians such as pianist Pinetop Perkins and drummer Fred Below, both veterans of the Chicago scene. The album includes both originals and covers of classics, highlighting Guy's powerful guitar and passionate voice.
Although it had little distribution in the United States, 'Breaking Out' was well received in Europe and helped revitalize Buddy Guy's career, paving the way for his resurgence in the 1990s. The album has been reissued on CD by JSP and other labels.