Garland Jeffreys - Wild in the Streets (Official Music Video)

Wild in the Streets is my pride and joy. I consider it my "first" Rock 'n' Roll record, written and released in 1973, and recorded with Dr. John and his band, with Alan Freedman, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, David Spinozza, David Peel, Produced by Roy Cicala
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Single written and released in 1973. Also on the album "Ghost Writer" (A & M Records, 1977) and reissued on the album "I'm Alive" (Universal International, 2006).
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Garland Jeffreys: Lead vocal and acoustic guitar
John Boudreaux: Drums
Rick Marrotta: Drums
Johnny Ace: Bass
Alan Freedman: Acoustic electric guitar
Sugarbear: Electric guitar
Dr. John: Clavinet
Michael Brecker: Tenor sax
Randy Brecker: Trumpet
David Sanborn: Soprano sax
Phil Messina: Trombone
David Peel and Friends: Background vocals
Produced by Roy Cicala and Garland Jeffreys
Arranged by Garland Jeffreys and Dr. John
Recorded and mixed by Roy Cicala at Record Plant, 1973
Mastered at Atlantic
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Video compiled and edited by Doug Webb.
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WILD IN THE STREETS (Music and Lyrics by Garland Jeffreys)
In the heat of the summer
Better call up the plumber
And turn on the street pump
To cool me off
With your newspaper writers
And your big crime fighters
You still need a drugstore
To cure my cough
Running wild in the streets
We got a gang called Shady
And a midnight lady
And two transvestites
To beat the band
You better not touch us
You best believe us
Your teenage Johnny's
Gonna be a man
Runnin' wild in the streets
Mrs. America
Tell me how is your favorite son
Do you really care
What he has done
Runnin' wild in the streets

[@savannahrae13]

sickest song ever dad you rock

[@RecordMogul]

Garland : I am the producer of the original 1980 punk "hit" version of the Circle Jerks' cover of your song. I worked with Circle Jerks right at their very beginnings. "Wild in the Streets" was a rehearsal "jam" song : the group had no intention of recording it but I insisted they did along with 5 original numbers. It came to be released as the Jerks wanted to be on the Rodney on the Roq album that I was compiling and they didn't want to "waste" an original song and ironically your song was the one that I wanted on. All this is borne out by their first album "Group Sex" not produced by me and not containing the song. It was a minimalist production in keeping with the times, the only sweetening being Keith Morris's very effective "running, running" chants. The group members played their own instruments, the tracking done in about an hour, vocals another hour at a later date and immediately mixed. An acetate would have been cut at Gold Star and played the very next Saturday night on KROQ in L.A.. Right from the beginning, my version of the song was accurately credited to you and your publishing company. Ironically, I am only finding out about the song's usage in Thrashin, the presumption being that a later re-recording by the Circle Jerks was used. Robbie Fields

[@kevind7422]

For reference, the '82 Circle Jerks vid version which Posh Boy's Robbie Fields (further comments below) produced n notes. So, '70s v '80s, LA v NYC, Joey Ramone v Tony Hawks, Son of Sam v Hillside Strangler... Culture's a bitch.

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Thanks so much for your comments... My best to you all for the Thanksgiving holidays.

[@GtaSanAndreas320]

"I've been sitting at the bar for three hours... or about, five years, depending how you looked at things."

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Yes, David Peel and his crew did indeed sing on the chorus with other singers and we mixed them all together to create a special sound!

[@tiptucker9523]

“I’d been sitting at the bar for three hours, or five years depending on the way you looked at things.” - Max Payne

[@damonmebane410]

Max Payne 3 very good song

[@j.f.greaney]

I've loved this song forever, I guess I first heard it around 1975. When I was in High School (1978 Grad.) I always used to listen to this, loud, right before I went out on Friday and Saturday nights to party and cause trouble with my friends. Good times! Thanks Mr. Jeffreys.

[@Indians-dl3to]

Max Payne 3 anyone ?

[@darkwolf6122]

Me!

[@eksskellybur]

MAX PAYNE 3 WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IS WAS THIS MUSIC?! I HAD TO SEARCH EVERYWHERE FOR THIS! ;-;

[@scruffyp9480]

Shazam that next time ;)

[@PanekPL]

0:35 - Dee Dee Ramone on the right

[@Salguine]

This is one of those kinds of songs that other songwriters kick themselves because they didn't write it.

[@spencerhoberg2641]

I always thought this was the Stones.

[@fmk1106]

I thought this was the Rolling Stones when I first heard it.

[@Maliceofdallas]

Oh...my....God. Not only a great song....that was one of the most brilliant, beautiful music videos I think I've ever seen.

[@silviabrodkorb3300]

Oh YESSSSS!!!

[@meruvian]

Great song. Always though Kieth Morris wrote it, glad that after twenty years I finally found Garland Jefferies.

[@alexandersomethingorother786]

Max Payne saved me. Garland gave me boogie. The streets? Can't trust em. Won't leave em either

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Those credits sound pretty amazing even now.

[@prezadopedro]

I thought it was a song written by the band Circle Jerks. I loved the original version!

[@jimmyt88]

Saw him open on Lou Reed's Transformer tour in '72 and he blew everyone away. That first LP is outstanding too.

[@jamespkruse]

"The Get Down" brought me here. Such a terrific song.

[@jfungee136]

Me too! Great to find excellent new, old music!

[@MADMAXXII]

Is there any one here form max payne 3 😂❤

[@wereallydontknowwhatweredo5038]

I also grew on on the Circle Jerks version, and just discovered that you did the original......I cant get enough of this song!!! The video is so damn cool too!!!!

[@efsq]

WHO MADE THIS VIDEO? it is absolutely amazing, and so is the song; and the combination of the two, just perfect

[@MisterBigBlunts]

I grew up on the Circle Jerks version of this song, but never knew it was a cover of a much better original version.

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Thanks! Glad word is getting out...after 43 years!!

[@WhiteBoy41]

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !! > Right ON !!!

[@MisterBigBlunts]

+Garland Jeffreys Better late than never!

[@MisterBigBlunts]

+Garland Jeffreys Is this a fan page or are you actually Garland Jeffreys?

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Really me. Finally trying to reply to comments.

[@JDennisThomas]

Wow. What an amazing song. For years I thought the Circle Jerks wrote this song and it was one of my favorites. This version is just much more amazing (although the Jerks really did a great homage). I'm glad I found this song, and I'm definitely going to buy the record. Rock on!

[@briant.kirchner9623]

Can you imagine if Garland and Jim Carroll had done an album together? That would have been amazing! Pure New York.

[@josephmarshall9288]

I would love THAT record!

[@echanos]

Still blowing minds 51 years later

[@allen78331]

i heard this on max payne 3 sceen lol

[@JUSLOFI]

THE GET DOWN brought me here.

[@mudflaps9811]

First heard this in 1977 when it was released in Australia a week (or so) before Elvis died, best song ever, it has been on every mixed, tape, CD and USB I made, long live Garland

[@rezaboor]

Imagine the kinda mood max payne was in when sitting in a bar listening to this masterpiece..

[@chriswienk5669]

I grew up in rural America. The news reported on the goings on in the major cities, but it was Garland Jeffreys who made it real to me. Happy 75th birthday, Garland Jeffreys! You still rock! Thank you for this, and all of your music.

[@markdeming6224]

Garland Jeffreys is one of the greatest of our rock 'n' roll poets, and this song is just as powerful and relevant as the day it was recorded.

[@zacharyyoung3834]

It has taken me so long to find this. Thank god for the internet

[@leehen400]

Wow! Just heard this as a lead - up on a news show. Haven't heard it in years!! Yes Garland Jeffreys you should be proud of this song, it's fantastic. The acoustics, drums, guitars are fabulous. Thanks for adding this to youtube.

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Thanks Lee - what news show was playing the song? If you can, please email [e-mail] with the info, thanks! I am proud of the song - Garland

[@VigilantnotMilitant]

+Garland Jeffreys to what extent was this song political or alluding to peoples struggles in the streets at the time? Love this song. Thanks for making it

[@HustlerNS]

actually i heard this song on fashion tv as a background to some fashion video and shazam it. great song!

[@garretmctavish2953]

I can’t believe I’ve never heard this song before today, this is fantastic

[@MichelleWhitingAssoc]

God I am so happy I found this video---this is one if my all-time favorites. I listened to the shit out of this album in high school!

[@revlovemusic]

fyi, this song made number 7 on the Village Voice's 60 Best songs about NYC :)

[@EricMVan]

I've been trying to remember all the great hits from the golden age of progressive FM radio (WBCN in Boston, e.g.) that never made the Billboard Top 40. There's no list of these available that I know of (although I'm pretty sure that airplay charts existed at the time). I just remembered this one today and confirmed my memory that it's an inner-circle of the inner-circle classic. It pulls off the rare trick of having the chorus be essentially the same music as the verse about as well as it's ever been done (cf. "Cinderella" by the Sonics and "When My Baby's Beside Me" by Big Star). And the groove is amazing.

[@witchfoote9441]

I had only been familiar with the Circle Jerks version until I recently heard this on the Netflix series The Get Down. Such a great song!

[@davidhaley7567]

That record is ridiculous. Just perfect. Get's my entire family moving too and three of them under the age of 10. Love it Garland!! Love it.

[@americansantiago]

This is an excellent video. I really love the halftone pop art styles, the footage of New York. It's fascinating. Thank you for writing this song!

[@simosimov3826]

original more than cool..............viva la punk rock......................................

[@AvaBruno]

When this played on The Get Down, I was so happy! I remember hearing it when I was little; my aunt used to play obscure and old music like this in her car all the time. It playing in TGD brought back so many good memories! That show is a blessing.

[@spofcher1]

Love this song. An anthem. I don't know why it never became a hit. I also never knew that David Peel was on this.

[@kurt52073]

Awesome song, great video. I'm 37 years old, and since I was 14, I always thought this was just a Circle Jerks song. Glad I finally found out about this.

[@fanaticat1]

For some reason, I was thinking about Garland Jeffreys the other day. I remember the song R O C K that came out in the early 80's. He also did a version of 96 tears. I haven't heard anything about him in years, wondered what happened to him. Never knew much about him, just that I liked those songs he did. I decided to look it up on the web. Come to find out that he and I have the same birthday, just different years. Small world!

[@donaldmorrow3096]

Thank you, Mr. Jeffreys, for following your own muse and giving us a song that shows us mere mortals what "going hard" really means. You don't use one profanity ("transvestites" is NOT profanity) and gave us a song meaner and nastier than any rap song in the 2000's. I won't rest until everyone that listens fondly to Rock music knows your name.

[@gil.gosseyn4786]

I haven't heard this in years. One of my favorites in '77. My girlfriend was a college radio DJ and I'd get her to play it for me.

[@johnminogue7360]

An amazing talent and a sweetheart of a man.

[@ACAPREDDUDE]

Dee Dee and Sid on the street @:36!!

[@danfbaby15]

This song never gets old

[@amsanchez3717]

77 the coolest year in hell is a must watch documentary if you love ny and the 70s music movement

[@Putaspellonyou]

one of the best ever songs about new york, even if it doesn't say so in the lyric...never get tired that beat!

[@falladowna]

Very cool images of NYC. Reminds me of my first visit as a kid in the early 70's. Love it.

[@raouljeanluc]

Thanks Garland for your talent . u got that natural mystic blow into the air

[@michaelpaul7426]

Glad to met you in the hood ❤

[@TheNamelessOne19]

savage

[@misisipimike8020]

whoa, i had no idea all those folks played on this record. our mutual pal Chuck Prophet got me thinking of this tune this week.

[@shankelley6736]

Saw GJ last night in Toronto. At 70 he hasn't lost a step. Great new material also. Keep on keepin' on, Garland.

[@Olanov]

Absolutely great song!

[@andrewventura8654]

Jamie Foy !!!

[@TigerLikesTail]

@lumpagogo Yeah I think Bonjovi is about the most overrated garbage band ever too. However his Wild In The Streets is a completely different song. Helix & WASP also have songs with this title The title is one of those titles that is popular. Think of the title "This Time"..Bryan Adams, Tracy Chapman, Starsailor, John Legend. Anyhow this Wild In The Streets is an absolute classic. As far as the video goes it is amazing. This is why MTV was initially created. So sad what it has become.

[@donmichaelcorleone4282]

THE BOYS WHO CAME FROM MAX PAYNE 3, I KNOW YOU ARE HERE :)

[@liquidgee13]

This is a blast from the past. Remember listening to WFNX 101.7 FM play Garland back in the 1980s. I remembered him this past weekend was glad to find this on KZbin. Thanks for the post.

[@lowellmccormick6991]

I love this song and have since it was released. It's an American Anthem complete with a Yenko Chevy. Great tune Garland.

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Thanks Lowell!

[@scottlevison7994]

Still sounds great 40 years later :)

[@dreamers8683]

Loreal advertising brought me here xD

[@smartalek180]

Donald Trump's new theme song.He just HATES rioters -- unless they're his.

[@markmustb1]

I wish i could say, its a good video ~ but its Excellent !! love the 70's flashback Garland always and forevermore

[@jonbecker03]

what did david peel do on this track? provide background vocals? shake a tambourine? or is it some "non lower east side" david (lower east side) peel certainly isn't much of an instrumentalist. or is it some "non lower east side" david peel who played on this?

[@millicentbistander]

Hit me! Hit me! Hit me! Ya! Ya! Ya! Rah! Rah! Rah! Hit me! I'm a dancin' fool right now! Look at me world! Garland Jeffreys has put ants in my pants! Ants with a groove! I love it! I love it! What a decadent moment! Wild baby! Wild!!!!!!!

[@thatevoguy192]

The get down brought me here.

[@jscotthales]

Is today your birthday, Garland? Someone just posted that.. and I really didn't know who you are.. this is a great song! It sounds like Mick Jagger is maybe just a Garland Jeffreys imitator!

[@kevind7422]

Garland, thank you for being here and sharing. Saw you most recently @ Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ guess about 2012 and you were still killing, commanding, spilling your heart all over that sweaty stage. Good to see Dee Dee (w Richard Hell?) in that shot - he was always walkin'round like so many others back then. Joey, that sweetheart, too (is that Alan Vega n Martin Rev? whew). This '77 rerelease vid of your groundbreaking '73 45 captures NYC at that abandoned moment when only the bravest and boldest were left to reclaim, remake/remodel it. (Warriors, come out and playayy...) Props to yourself and that proud girl of yours. Kid, your Dad changed things when it was tough to do so. Like, really tough.

[@kevind7422]

Oh , David Peel! Used to catch him at Washington Square wailing 'round the fountain. Henry James, Edith Wharton - if only you'd lived long enough...

[@zebipbamboom]

I graduated high school in 1978 and this was my theme song. It would get me so pumed up then and it still does. Such a nasty sound, raw and mean but still smart. Love this tune as much as the first time I heard it, you are the man, GJ.

[@jamessaft5424]

I have always loved this song but only today found out what an amazing group of musicians you had on this. Thank you.

[@fabkav]

And Joey at 0:44

[@mickeymousebiker1]

This is king tone. I haven't heard it in a long time. The best song for a summer's day in NYC back in the early '70s. Thanks for posting it.

[@DeathPunk4Life]

Great video! Great song! Even better album!! Ghost Writer is one of my all time most rockiness lyrically stripped down & kept super real Albums EVER!! Pound 4 Pound, still stands up. Music isn't made like this anymore.

[@Hyde1415]

Heard this song in Max Payne 3. Awesome song.

[@ArvidTheViking]

Me too

[@vinkodog]

The Rolling Stones song Miss You sounds alot like this. The Stones must have been influenced by this song.

[@WhyDidIEatThat]

Now accepting donations to build a time machine to travel to 1970's NYC.

[@joshboy64]

+Garland Jeffreys I literally just found out about this song thanks to the trailer for The Get Down on Netflix, and I am IN LOVE WITH IT! I wanted to know... I'm in a film competition for schools... so I was wondering, could I perchance use this? I'd credit you and everything!

[@falcoburke8687]

no reply...salted by some old timer

[@catherinedougan1302]

Garland, Have loved you for at least 40 years. You are simply brilliant. xo's catd

[@GarlandJeffreysOfficial]

Ghost Writer is out on all digital platforms now!

[@fmazzar]

I forgot how good this sounded and how much it fueled that generation just coming from the 60's and into the new world....another child of Velvet Underground and the Stones

[@RichardDayGore]

Saw the Leslie West Band do this amazing song live back in the 70's; it's one of those unforgettable tracks. Wonderful vid, too.

[@RemiStardust]

A make-up commercial got me here, no judgin'.

[@NebaNow]

Well MP3 brought me here but eh, all that matters is we're here now, yeah?

[@paulb1566]

dee dee!

[@adonisvancampen3292]

I love this original version. I never knew the Circle Jerks song I was into back in the 80's was a cover.

[@taragreenetarotastrologyre4945]

I loved this song. A great anthem. So contemporary.

[@CarterKennedy-bc5wm]

Me believing this was a circle jerks original

[@orfenandanarchy]

Maybe it's because I'm an idiot, but I prefer the Circle Jerks version.

[@TheEanorth]

Is that David Peel from the Lower East Street Band, David Peel?

[@phoboswhiplash]

Fucking Circle Jerks brought me here... thanks, it is awesome.

[@mallratt07]

Jesus some of these gangs looked straight out of The Warriors

[@fuzzarelly57]

Heard this in Atlanta in the early 70s. Fucking A!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tyronesmith8250]

This is indeed a great song!!!