The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Junky Eyes,“ the latest video from Central Jersey-based singer-songwriter Greg Amici’s 2025 solo debut LP, “Tragicomic.” PHOTO BY DAVID FAGIN
The latest video from Central Jersey singer-songwriter Greg Amici’sacclaimed James Mastro-produced debut solo album, “Tragicomic,” on Montclair’s Magic Door label, is for “Junky Eyes.”
The haunting tune is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Junky Eyes“ also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on June 5 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.
Engineered by label/studio owner Ray Ketchem, “Junky Eyes” features Greg on lead and backing vocals, James on 12-string acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, Wurlitzer piano, and tenor sax, Ray on percussion, and Greg's longtime band mate Joe Gentile on backing vocals.
The song was co-written back in the early 1980s with Junk band mate Michael Artenstein, who played guitar.
“Michael wrote most of the music,” Greg said. “I wrote the lyrics and contributed to some of the music. I loved the chord progression and melody he’d come up with for what would become this lustful, sleazy slice of noir. Mike wanted to call the band Junk, and I had been reading William Burroughs’ ‘Junkie.’ The combined talents of Burroughs and Artenstein were too difficult for a young would-be-hipster to resist, so I took it and ran with it.
“As far as the likely ill-fated love story goes, I think I was undergoing serious depression at the time,” he continued. “In fact, I’m sure of it. Many, many, many years later, when we were gathering material for ‘Tragicomic,’ I played cassettes of both an acoustic version and a New Wavy/dancy version for Jim Mastro. I liked them both. Jim preferred the acoustic rendering, and, I do believe, turned it into gold — maybe not a gold record, though I still hold out hope — but gold nevertheless.”
Listen to “Junky Eyes” on Apple Music and Spotify.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
