Sarjana Muda was Iwan Fals solo debut album, following two albums as part of the group Amburadul, and some comedy songs released on various compilations.
It featured high production standards, as Musica had identified Iwan Fals' talents from his existing recordings, and were willing to invest in the album.
Guest stars on the album include Idris Sardi, wh played violin on Guru Oemar Bakrie, while Jazz violinist Luluk Purwanto plays throughout the album, a role that she reprised on the album's follow-up, 'Opini'.
The album contains many of Iwan Fals most popular songs, and contains mostly wistful ballads, but also the lively country and western-style Guru Oemar Bakri and blackly comic 'Ambulance Zig Zag'.
Iwan Fals' early influence from Bob Dylan is evident in the richly descriptive documentary lyrics, and also in the heavy use of harmonica.