Daniel Johnston has been the singer/songwriter of choice of the alternative/underground rock scene and at various times has had his work championed by members of Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Half Japanese, Yo La Tengo, Nirvana (Kurt Cobain was often photographed wearing a Daniel Johnston T-shirt), and numerous others. Johnston's recordings are basically homemade affairs, his plain voice accompanied by crude piano and guitar playing. His narrative concerns focused mainly on lost love, the pain of miscommunication, his love for the Beatles, and comic book hero Captain America.

The Early Recordings, Vol.1 is a complete 37 track, 2-CD compilation of Daniel Johnston's long out of print albums from the early '80's, Songs Of Pain and More Songs Of Pain and were digitally remastered and available on CD for the first time. The special commemorative packaging includes new original artwork from Daniel and new liner notes from Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers and Louis Black, editor of the Austin Chronicle.