While recording Clube da Esquina with Milton Nascimento and Beto Guedes, Lô Borges was pressured by Odeon Records to release a solo album. At just nineteen, he quickly wrote the album, sometimes completing a song in the morning and recording it that night. Although it did not achieve much success upon release, it gained cult status in later decades. Borges did not release another album until 1979's A Via Lactea.

Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys cited Borges's song "Aos barões" as an inspiration for their album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.

The album cover features a pair of second-hand Adidas shoes given to Borges by his cousin, earning it the nickname "Disco do Tênis" (Sneaker Album). Photographer Cafi took the picture in front of Borges's house, but the label disliked it, similar to their reaction to the Clube da Esquina cover. Borges noted that the sneakers symbolize his desire to hit the road after the album's release.