Rhino's fine 16-track collection
Used Songs (1973-1980) chronicles
Tom Waits' first seven albums, all recorded for Asylum Records. This contains pretty much all his staples from the '70s -- "Heartattack and Vine," "Burma Shave," "Ol' 55," "Jersey Girl," "(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night," and "Tom Traubert's Blues" among them -- sequenced not chronologically, but sequenced for maximum impact. Given the sheer amount of music
Waits made for Asylum, it shouldn't be surprising that there are some fan favorites missing, but there are no complaints with what is here, and this provides a near-perfect encapsulation of his pre-Island years, especially for those only familiar with the Island recordings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine