Customer Reviews

Wild in the Streets: Best of 1977-1983

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Very little of Garland Jeffreys output from the 70s & 80s has been issued on CD, so it's great to see that Raven has seen fit to release this compilation. The following original albums are represented: "Ghost Writer" ('77), "One-Eyed Jack" ('78), "American Boy and Girl" ('79), "Escape Artist" ('81), and "Guts For Love" ('82). There is nothing from Garland's 1972 eponymous debut album. There are 8 tracks from "Ghost Writer", 4 from "Escape Artist", and the others get 2 or 3 each. While I'm pleased with the existence of this collection, I must quibble with some of the song choices. Several essential, and obvious, selections are absent: "Spanish Town" from "Ghost Writer", "City Kids" from "American Boy And Girl", and "Mystery Kids" from "Escape Artist" are only the most glaring examples. There was an earlier collection, "Matador And More", issued on CD in 1992, which was limited to only 12 tracks and only covered the 1977-1979 timeframe, but it did a much better job of picking the highlights from that period. This newer compilation is more generous with 20 songs, including material from the two later albums ('81-'82) that are not represented on the 1992 collection, so overall it's the best that anyone has done yet at providing Garland Jeffrey's fans with his early music on CD, but in light of the omissions, I'm still glad I have the original albums on vinyl. For anyone not particularly familiar with Garland's music, his biggest hit, "Wild In The Streets", is included here, as are many other choice cuts including "Cool Down Boy", "New York Skyline", "Matador", "Christine", and his great cover of "96 Tears". His music in general is literate, groundbreaking, streetwise, passionate, soulful rock 'n' roll, and he threw healthy doses of reggae and other world beat influences into the mix back before it had become fashionable to do so. Four stars due to the song selection, but Garland is certainly worthy of the five-star collection that nobody has yet managed to assemble.

I originally owned Garland Jeffrey's 'Ghost Writer', which forms a significant part of this anthology on vinyl and it was rarely off my turntable. 28 years later it sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it. The mystery to me is how Garland Jeffreys never got the recognition he deserves for these sharp, witty, beautifully crafted songs with their sharp NY streetwise lyrics, reggae influence, great arrangements with contributions from Michael Brecker and Steve Gadd to name but two of the sidemen on this long-overdue retrospective. Well done to Raven Records for re-releasing this gem. Now do the right thing and give Garland Jeffreys the recogintion her deserves.

Great choice of tracks but why did they leave out Spanish Town & Why O, from Ghostwriter? Spanish Town has got to be one of the best tracks that he's put down and any collection is incomplete without it! For that reason, this only gets 4 stars.

I'm surprised the other reviewers didn't mention it... but this Aussie compilation has a different, slow version of "Christine" -- not the upbeat gem that appeared on the American version of Escape Artist. Since the fast version of "Christine" is one of my favorite Garland Jeffreys songs, I was very disappointed with this collection. I'll buy Escape Artist on CD and listen to my vinyl until they release a U.S. "best of" collection.

As all the others have bemoaned in one way or another - it's a crime that Jeffreys is so little known.
My main peeve though is that his outstanding live set from the late '70's or early '80's is nowhere to be found - anywhere on the planet as near as I can tell. I still have my vinyl but I would love another record, cassette, CD something. Throw me a bone over here.

A rollicking collection of really well crafted + occasionally slightly irritating pop songs that just grow and grow on you until you give in and end up singing along. The beats vary and there is surprising lyrics every so often that jar with the happy beats, such as "and it still takes a drugstore to clear my cough" or "sick and tired of taking the back street and playing it cool" that have one quietly knowing that feeling. The songs are strangely uplifting sung in a winning nasally New York voice and the collection hangs together very well. As the sound is unique and quite varied it hasnt dated either. Well recommended.

For any fans of singer-songwriters like Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, James Taylor, John Hiatt, or Warren Zevon, you will find Garland Jeffreys to be a serious treat.

This talented artist deserves attention for those who appreciate well-crafted songs and a great voice. Starting with his 1970's album with Grinder's Switch, you may think you're listening to The Band with a young Mick Jagger on vocals. By the late 1970's Jeffreys moved firmly into the mainstream rock arena with the superb Ghostwriter album, of which this CD has a few tracks. By the 1980's, bits of reggae filtered into his sound, most evident on his 1981 Escape Artist (of which this CD has 4 songs, but buy the whole album on Amazon for only $6.98!). The Best Of CD has a few good tracks from 1982's Guts for Love, which includes one of my favorite rock tunes, Real Man, with GE Smith on guitar.

Jeffreys was always supported by excellent backup singers and musicians, so check out the liner notes. After a personal hiatus for nearly ten years, he is currently touring again, cut a single for the new Bruce Springsteen tribute album (an incedible version of "Streets of Philadelphia"), and may make his own new album. You won't go wrong with any of his available CDs, particularly his early 90's "Don't Call Me Buckwheat", which is not on this 1977-83 Best Of CD.

But buy this album for an introduction to the talented Jeffreys -you won't be disappointed, and you'll discover one of rock's true gems. ...