Something about Tom...I don't know. His later stuff is definitely good, but it doesn't bring out the raw emotion, the feeling of lost love and loneliness but "getting by" without a woman. The early years cd's are so amazing, most of Tom's albums I like some tracks, dislike others. These (and maybe Closing Time and Heart Of Sat Night) are the only albums of his I can listen to all the way through. Nice to hear late at night in a dark, dank room with a drink and a good view of the moon. Don't let them fool you...the quality is pure, like its supposed to be, Tom solo with none of this mixing or anything, just a man spilling out his emotions in song. These two albums of his earliest stuff are good and I prefer his pre-Closing Time years over any of his later work. I particularly like "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" and "Please Call Me, Baby". Give it a listen and sing along, you may actually feel what he's feeling:)