College radio stations in the mid- to late '80s could often be heard playing the Boston-based Scruffy the Cat, alongside many other groups dedicated to using the traditional sounds of rootsy rock ’n’ roll at a time when mainstream music was mostly overproduced pop and hair metal. This 23-track collection brings together Scruffy the Cat's early demos, radio broadcasts, live-in-the-studio tracks, and their final (mostly unheard) sessions from 1989 at Memphis' legendary Ardent Studios. Combined with the digital-only release of their official catalog of two albums and two EPs—Time Never Forgets: The Anthology (’86-’88)this makes all of Scruffy the Cat’s music available for the first time ever. Sadly, lead singer/guitarist Charlie Chesterman passed away in 2013, putting a halt to future reunions. The material here is his legacy, and the raw quality of “The Ghost Song” and its rough harmonies perfectly demonstrates what Scruffy the Cat did best and how their folk-rock influenced "cowpunk" served as a blueprint for the future alt-country scene.