When Gatton signed to Elektra, their only stipulation for his first album on the label was that it should be solely instrumental.[3] On presenting his ideas for the album to the label, they suggested he cut his version of the Simpsons theme tune. The manualist flatulence at the end of the recording may have been Gatton's response to the label's suggestion.[3]
The album's title, 88 Elmira St., is a reference to Gatton's home as a child.[4] Gatton stated that at the time of producing the album, he "was playing Scotty Moore's original guitar [...] It's a Gibson ES-295, and I bought it trashed out twelve years ago. It sounded incredibly good; it had some magic in it, but I didn't know it was Scotty's. Then Billy Hancock kept offering me all kinds of money for it, way more than it should have been worth, so I said, 'What's the deal?' He said, 'I think you've got Scotty Moore's guitar there.'"[3] Similarities to Moore, Al Casey and James Burton can be heard on the album.[3]
In a review for AllMusic, Cub Koda wrote that the album was "a whole lot more than just yer average fretboard wanking jam-fest".[1] Koda gave the album a 4.5/5 rating.[1]
The album peaked at 121 in the Billboard 200 chart.[7]
