Tequila Mockingbird

Tequila Mockingbird was produced by both Larry Dunn of Earth, Wind & Fire and Bert DeCouteaux.^[10] Artists such as Ronnie Laws, Eddie Del Barrio and Ernie Watts featured on the album. As well E,W&F's Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Al McKay, Fred White and Johnny Graham made guest appearances.^[5][11]

Skippin' was later covered by both Victor Feldman and The Bill Watrous Combo feat. Danny Stiles.^[12]

The album cover was designed by Columbia Records art director John Berg, who also came up with the album title Tequila Mockingbird.^[13][14]

In May 2019, The Roots performed "Tequila Mockingbird" as Jeff Daniels walked to his guest seat on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as a nod to his role as Atticus Finch in the Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird.^[15]

Robin Welles for the Lake Geneva Regional News praised the album saying the “melody and improvisation blend with jewel-like precision”.^[16]

Emmett Weaver of the Birmingham Post-Herald noted "really solid percussion with a semi-Latin influence."^[17]

Cashbox described the album as having "a strong beat, fluid melodies and a richly orchestrated sound," calling Lewis’ keyboard work "clear, unhurried and affecting" and noting the title track as a "funky jump."^[18]

In a review published by The Lethbridge Herald, the album was described as featuring “new audio electronics combined with vibraphone and other familiar instruments”, resulting in “an easy listening amalgam of jazz that holds onto the Lewis tradition while remaining fresh.”^[19]