The starting point was Waits' debut "Closing Time" published in March 1973. This was recorded the year before in only ten days with a studio band under the direction of producer Jerry Yester. Even though the Waits mixture of jazz, folk, blues, R'n'B, vaudeville and theater music didn't really fit in with the times, the album was well received everywhere. In 1974 the Eagles covered the song "Ol' 55", later Lee Hazlewood and Tim Buckley dedicated themselves to the heartbreaking piece "Martha". Also on "Closing Time" is the acoustic number "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You".
