Wild in the Streets: Best of 1977-1983

Garland Jeffreys

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven [Australia]
• ASIN: B0000658GH
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,896 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rough And Ready

2. I May Not Be Your Kind

3. New York Skyline

4. Cool Down Boy

5. Ghost Writer

6. Lift Me Up

7. Wild In The Streets

8. 35 Millimeter Dreams

9. Keep On Trying

10. Reelin'

11. Haunted House

12. Matador

13. American Boy & Girl

14. 96 Tears

15. R.O.C.K.

16. Modern Lovers

17. Christine

18. Real Man

19. Surrender

20. El Salvador

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The first release to compile Garland Jeffreys highly regarded albums between 1977 and 1983. 20 tracks. 2002 release on Raven Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great To See This Music Available On CD, But...., November 22, 2002

By	Eric R. Last "misterrockobscurities" (San Bruno, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very well kept secret, September 9, 2005

By	P. M. Bergman "Philip Bergman" (London, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why leave out "Spanish Town" & "Why O"??, March 28, 2004

By	G. C. Murray (Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.