What Are You Listening To?

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



One of those hidden gems. Hidden in one of my boxes anyway, but you know what I mean. An overlooked artist that
made some awesome music that never reached a wide audience. New York born, bi-racial (black/Puerto Rican),
rock/reggae/soul blend that hits the mark for me. This is his fifth album and each seemed to get better to this
point. Sadly I lost touch after this. I don't know why. How about that guest roster on this one, Roy Bittan,
Brecker Brothers, David Johansen, Lou Reed, and members of the Rumour and the Wailers. Lou and Garland go way back,
pre-VU days. Started on the NY club scene and played on John Cales debut album. A lot of race related themes in
Garland's work which I guess only those of a mixed ethnic make up can be knowledgable of. Excellent cover of ? and
the Mysterians 96 Tears on here, complete with that monster organ riff. Other than that all original tunes with
great lyrics. The album reached #59 on the Billboard chart, with 96 Tears as a single, not doing very well. Rightly
so as the original was a classic in itself.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Innocent

Best Track - Mystery Kids

Marcellino Casanova
Little Angel from Laslow Street
Cinderella, she's a crossover
She got no father in her history
She got no good life
She got no love life
She got no future
Got no hopes or dreams
In the cool world
In the cruel world
You're a number
You're a mystery

Who are the mystery, mystery kids
the mystery kids, who are
The mystery, mystery kids
the mystery, mystery kids

I remember, it was late December
Crazy Michael, down on Jefferson Street
Johnny-one-arm, he's holding one hand
With his sister, it was bittersweet
She got no good life
They got no love life
Got no future
Got no hopes or dreams
In the cool world
In the cruel world
You're a number
You're a mystery

Who are the mystery, mystery kids
He's such a mystery kid
DOOM-DOOM-DOOM
I climb six flights
To the tenement heights
And there ain't no lights
In the darkest of nights
And the piss-stench smell
In the black stairwell
With the William Tell Overture
In the background
And across the floor
I see two big rats
In a world like that
They can't take anymore
They can't take it...

Come on let's go

The mystery kids

1) Modern Lovers ***
video - Modern Lovers - Garland Jeffreys - YouTube
2) Christine ***
live - Christine - Garland Jeffreys LIVE
3) Ghost Of A Chance **
4) 96 Tears ***
live - 96 Tears - Garland Jeffreys LIVE on "Fridays"
5) Innocent **
live - INNOCENT - GARLAND JEFFREYS *LIVE*
6) True Confessions ***
audio - true confessions by Garland Jefferys - YouTube
7) R.O.C.K. **
live - R.O.C.K. - GARLAND JEFFREYS *LIVE*
8) Graveyard Rock **
live - "Graveyard Rock" - Garland Jeffreys
9) Mystery Kids ***
live - Mystery Kids - Garland Jeffreys
10) Jump Jump **
audio - JUMP JUMP - GARLAND JEFFREYS
11) Lover's Walk **
12) Miami Beach ***
audio - Miami Beach - Garland Jeffreys
13) We The People **
live - We the People - Garland Jeffreys on "The Old Grey Whistle Test"

3's - 6
2's - 7
1's - 0

Grade - 2.5

so many albums, so little time