The Early Years (album series)

The Early Years
Compilation album series by Tom Waits
Released Volume One - July 16, 1991
Volume Two - February 1993
Recorded Aug 1971-Dec 1971
Genre Rock
Length 43:35 & 44:11
Label Bizarre/Straight
Producer Robert Duffey
Volume Two
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Review scores
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Allmusic (Volume One) link
Allmusic (Volume Two) link

The Early Years is a two-part retrospective album series of Tom Waits songs, consisting of recordings made before Waits's actual debut album Closing Time. Volume One was released in 1991 and Volume Two was released in 1993 on Bizarre/Straight. The recordings were made between July and December 1971. Some of the songs on the album had been previously released in polished form.

Reissued on vinyl in 2010 by Manifesto Records

Volume One

No. Title Length
1. "Goin' Down Slow"   2:48
2. "Poncho's Lament"   4:17
3. "I'm Your Late Night Evening Prostitute"   3:16
4. "Had Me a Girl"   5:32
5. "Ice Cream Man"   3:11
6. "Rockin' Chair"   3:15
7. "Virginia Avenue"   2:41
8. "Midnight Lullaby"   3:26
9. "When You Ain't Got Nobody"   3:23
10. "Little Trip to Heaven (On the Wings of Your Love)"   3:02
11. "Frank's Song"   1:56
12. "Looks Like I'm Up Shit Creek Again"   3:03
13. "So Long I'll See Ya"   3:30

Volume Two

No. Title Length
1. "Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You"   5:01
2. "Ol' '55"   4:07
3. "Mockin' Bird"   3:27
4. "In Between Love"   3:01
5. "Blue Skies"   2:13
6. "Nobody"   2:47
7. "I Want You"   1:22
8. "Shiver Me Timbers"   3:48
9. "Grapefruit Moon"   4:36
10. "Diamonds on My Windshield"   3:10
11. "Please Call Me, Baby"   3:43
12. "So It Goes"   2:31
13. "Old Shoes"   4:24