"Early Recordings" is a compilation album by american rock band Opal. Released in 1989 by Rough Trade, in the wake of the group's breakup, the album collects the majority of tracks from the Fell From the Sun and Northern Line EPs, along with a handful of outtakes and unreleased cuts, all spotlighting Opal's more subdued, acoustic-folk side. While Opal's "Happy Nightmare Baby" is more representative of the group's richly textured brand of neo-psychedelia, the stripped-down Early Recordings compilation is an even better example of David Roback and Kendra Smith's remarkable songcraft. Peeling away the mystical haze which enshrouded their previous work, here the songs are plaintive and stark, exposing the emotional complexity at the band's core -- the wistful "Empty Box Blues" and the haunting "Harriet Brown," both previously unissued, are unmatched in their beauty and grace. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.