Powerglide was the first New Riders album to feature Buddy Cage, who had replaced Garcia as the New Riders' pedal steel guitar player. It was the band's highest-charting album, reaching number 33 on the Billboard 200.[3]
The original LP contained a 12 inch by 12 inch heavy paper insert with the album credits. The artwork for the insert was drawn by Lore Orion, then known as Lore Shoberg. It is a caricature that portrays the band members as Western outlaws. Depicted from left to right are David Nelson, John Dawson, Spencer Dryden, Dave Torbert, and Buddy Cage.[4]
David Nelson – lead guitar, vocals, mandolin on "Runnin' Back to You", lead vocal on "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke"
Dave Torbert – bass, vocals, electric rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar on "California Day" and "Hello Mary Lou", piano on "Duncan and Brady", lead vocals on "California Day", "I Don't Need No Doctor", "Contract", "Hello Mary Lou", and "Willie and the Hand Jive"
Nicky Hopkins – piano on "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke", "California Day", "I Don't Need No Doctor", "Contract", "Runnin' Back to You", "Willie and the Hand Jive"
Jerry Garcia – banjo on "Sweet Lovin' One", "Duncan and Brady"; piano on "Lochinvar"
Billy Kreutzmann – percussion on "Duncan and Brady", "Willie and the Hand Jive"
Peoples chorus on "Duncan and Brady" – Nelson, McDuke, Buddy, Judy, Steve
Riderettes on "I Don't Need No Doctor" – our boys in drag