The Early Years: 1997–2000 is a three-disc set consisting of the first three album

Studio album

A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

s by alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band Switchfoot

Switchfoot

Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...

. This set was released after the band's meteoric rise to mainstream popularity with the double-platinum breakthrough The Beautiful Letdown

The Beautiful Letdown

The Beautiful Letdown is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Switchfoot. Released in early 2003, it launched the band into the mainstream on the strength of two top 20 singles: "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move." The album was hugely popular and remained a staple on the Billboard...

. The Early Years is seen as an introduction to Switchfoot's earlier material for fans who were introduced to the band with The Beautiful Letdown.

The three discs on this compilation were the original pressings of The Legend of Chin

The Legend of Chin

The Legend of Chin is the first studio album by the alternative rock band Switchfoot. It was released on June 17, 1997 under independent label re:think Records, which was distributed by Sparrow Records.-Track listing:...

, New Way to Be Human

New Way to Be Human

New Way to Be Human is the second studio album by the band Switchfoot. It was released on March 11, 1999 under independent label re:think Records, which was distributed by Sparrow Records...

, and Learning to Breathe. The original booklets and artwork are also included in the double jewel case that houses the entire collection.

The Early Years has been certified RIAA Gold

RIAA certification

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...

, with total sales of over 500,000 copies.

The Legend of Chin

1. "Bomb" – 2:46
2. "Chem 6A" – 3:11
3. "Underwater" – 3:46
4. "Edge of My Seat" – 2:47
5. "Home" – 4:03
6. "Might Have Ben Hur" – 2:38
7. "Concrete Girl" – 5:05
8. "Life and Love and Why" – 2:52
9. "You" – 4:13
10. "Ode to Chin" – 2:15
11. "Don't Be There" – 4:22

New Way to Be Human

1. "New Way to Be Human" – 3:36
2. "Incomplete" – 4:13
3. "Sooner or Later (Soren's Song)" – 3:58
4. "Company Car" – 3:13
5. "Let That Be Enough" – 2:38
6. "Something More (Augustine's Confession)" – 4:00
7. "Only Hope
   Only Hope
   "Only Hope" was sung by Mandy Moore for the film A Walk to Remember and is included in her compilation The Best of Mandy Moore, although left out of her 2002 release. It was slated as the second single after "Cry" which, however, was not a hit and consequently "Only Hope" was not released to radio...
   
   " – 4:13
8. "Amy's Song" – 4:30
9. "I Turn Everything Over" – 3:21
10. "Under the Floor" – 3:55

Learning to Breathe

1. "I Dare You to Move
   Dare You to Move
   "Dare You to Move" is a single by the alternative rock band Switchfoot from the band's fourth studio album, The Beautiful Letdown. The song was originally called "I Dare You to Move", and was on the album Learning to Breathe, but the band decided to remix it and put it on The Beautiful Letdown...
   
   " – 4:07
2. "Learning to Breathe" – 4:35
3. "You Already Take Me There" – 2:42
4. "Love Is the Movement
   Love Is the Movement
   "Love is the Movement" is a song written by Jon Foreman for his band Switchfoot and appears on their third studio album Learning to Breathe. The name of the song has been adopted as the slogan for the philanthropic organization, "To Write Love on Her Arms."...
   
   " – 5:10
5. "Poparazzi" – 3:20
6. "Innocence Again" – 3:28
7. "Playing for Keeps" – 3:44
8. "The Loser" – 3:43
9. "The Economy of Mercy" – 3:56
10. "Erosion" – 3:22
11. "Living Is Simple" – 5:17