Search - Garland Jeffreys :: Wild in the Streets: Best of 1977-1983

Great To See This Music Available On CD, But....

Eric R. Last | San Bruno, CA United States | 11/23/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The Wrong Version of "Christine"

Thomas E. Moore | Fairfax, VA | 04/08/2004

(2 out of 5 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."

A very well kept secret

P. M. Bergman | London, England | 09/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."