- Garland Jeffreys - vocals, guitar

- Grinder's Switch

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Ghost Writer

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4629

Year: 1977

Country/State: Brooklyn, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: small cut out hole top right corner; gatefold sleeve; white label promo copy

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4785

Price: $9.00

In my humble opinion, 1977's "Ghost Writer" is one of the decade's lost classics.  It's also the Brooklyn-born Garland Jeffrey's best album (making it unconscionable that the set hasn't been reissued on CD).  Coming four years after his solo debut on Atlantic, this album had everything going for it.  Jeffrey's had a great voice and was a truly gifted songwriter with a knack for writing stuff that was simultaneously gritty, yet highly commercial (Lour Reed eat your heart out). Like Reed's catalog, Jeffrey's was very much a product of New York and it showed in many of his songs which didn't hesitate to take on such topics as racism and student busing ('I May Not Be Your Kind, 'Cool Down Boy' and 'Why-O').  Jeffrey's clearly wasn't the only singer out there willing to take a stance on such topical issues, but what made him so different from other sensitive singer/songwriters was the fact he could rock out.  Add the fact he had a taste for reggae influences (the title track) and even renown critic Robert Christgau (who pretty much hates everything) gave this set an 'A' rating.  Elsewhere the album included a remake of 'Wild In the Streets'.  The track had originally appeared on his Atlantic debut.

"Ghost Writer" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Rough and Ready   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

2.) I May Not Be Your Kind   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

3.) New York Skyline   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

4.) Cool Down Boy   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

5.) Ghost Writer   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

(side 2)
1.) Lift Me Up   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

2.) Why-O   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

3.) Wild In the Streets   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

4.) 35 Millimeter Dreams   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

5.) Spanish Town   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  One-Eyed Jack

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4681

Year: 1978

Country/State: Brooklyn, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: small cut out hole top right corner; original lyric inner sleeve; white label promo copy with small promo sticker on back cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5070

Price: $9.00

Cost: $1.00

The first couple of times I played "One-Eyed Jack" I had this nagging feeling Jeffreys had opted for commerciality.  Co-produced by Jeffreys and David Spinozza the album wasn't all that different than his last couple of releases, but for some reason the set's smooth and polished performances seemed a little too mainstream for my tastes.  Backed by an all-star cast of sidemen, including The Brecker Brothers, Dr. John, and David Sanborn Jeffreys' seemed intent on scoring a hit.  Having pulled the album and played it for the first time in a decade I'm willing to admit my initial impressions were wrong.   It wasn't as good as "Ghost Writer", but material like the uplifting 'Keep On Trying', 'Reelin'' (with Phoebe Snow) and the reggae-ish 'Desperation Drive ' was tuneful, playful and (yes) quite commercial.  I even enjoyed the cover of Bob Marley's 'No Woman, No Cry'. 

"One-Eyed Jack" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) She Didn't Lie   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

2.) Keep On Trying   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

3.) Reelin'   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

4.) Haunted House   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

5.) One-Eyed Jack   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

(side 2)
1.) Screams In the Night   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

2.) No Woman, No Cry   (Vincent Ford) - 

3.) Oh My Soul   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

4.) Desperation Drive   (Garland Jeffreys) - 

5.) Been There and Back    (Garland Jeffreys) - 

Jeffrey's has a nice website at:

http://www.garlandjeffreys.com/