The Early Years, Vol. 1 is an album of early demos recorded by a 21-year-old Tom Waits in 1971, two years before the release of his first album, Closing Time... Waits accompanies himself on piano or guitar and sings in an unaffected nasal tenor. (One track, 'Ice Cream Man,' is given a full-band treatment.) Several of these songs, notably 'Ice Cream Man,' 'Virginia Ave.,' 'Midnight Lullabye,' and 'Little Trip to Heaven,' turned up on his later albums...

Side One:

1. Goin' Down Slow

2. Poncho's Lament

3. I'm Your Late Night Evening Prostitute

4. Had Me A Girl

5. Ice Cream Man

6. Rockin' Chair

Side Two:

1. Virginia Ave

2. Midnight Lullabye

3. When You Ain't Got Nobody

4. Little Trip To Heaven

5. Frank's Song

6. Looks Like I'm Up Shit Creek Again

7. So Long, I'll See Ya