This album was recorded in Chicago in 1965 and released in 1966 by Impulse!, a label primarily known for jazz. The collaboration marked a rare blues entry in Impulse!'s catalog.
The album features Hooker accompanied by a full band, including a horn section, giving it a more polished sound than his earlier work. The title track became a blues classic.
Although the producer is not conclusively credited, engineer Bob Thiele oversaw many Impulse! recordings. The album is considered one of Hooker's best from the 1960s.