April 2024 | Terry Reid
BY-------Graham Sclater
Terrance James Reid was born in 1949 in St Neots, Huntingdonshire and I remember seeing
him with his band in 1968 in Exeter. Even then I loved his music so much that I went out
and bought his first album.
He was given the nickname of “Superlungs” for his incredible voice while his musicianship
and songwriting follow close behind. Early in his career, whilst playing with his band The
Redbeats, he was spotted by Peter Jay’s drummer and soon after joined Peter Jay and the
Jaywalkers, as lead vocalist. In 1966 the band was chosen to support the Rolling Stones on
their 23 date British Tour. During a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Graham Nash of the
Hollies recommended them to Columbia Records, a division of EMI. Their first single, “The
Hand Don’t Fit the Glove,” produced by John Burgess was only a minor hit and they soon
disbanded.
Whilst touring with the Stones, and following the demise of the Yardbirds, Reid was noticed by Jimmy Paige and asked to join his new band, Led Zeppelin, as lead singer. But he turned it down; something I believe was the right thing for him to do. However Reid suggested a young Birmingham singer, Robert Plant. The rest is history.
Mickey Most who had already had success as a producer with Lulu, Donovan and the Animals was impressed with Reid’s songwriting skills and great voice and signed him to a management and production deal. At that time Most was in partnership with Peter Grant, yet another link to Led Zeppelin. Reid’s first single, “Better By Far” produced by Most was a radio hit and this was followed by his first album “Bang Bang” released in 1968.
He was joined by Peter Solley on organ, playing bass pedals, Keith Webb on drums and they initially toured the UK, and that was when I saw him. Later that year they toured the USA supporting Cream. The US press were quoted as saying: “There are only three things happening in England: The Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Terry Reid.”
Ironically, many of the songs written and recorded by Reid for his first album, “Bang Bang,” were covered by other artists. The Hollies in 1968, Crosby Stills Nash and Young in 1969, REO Speedwagon in 1973, and John Mellencamp on his greatest hits release 1978-1988.
During 1969 Reid’s band toured Britain with Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac and again they supported the Rolling Stones this time on their US tour. When he returned to the UK Reid had a disagreement with Most over his musical direction and that prevented him from recording and releasing his music. So he concentrated on playing live and in 1971 he was asked to play at Mick and Bianca Jagger’s wedding in St Tropez. He formed a new band and returned briefly to the UK to play at the Isle of Wight Festival, Glastonbury and smaller venues.
Once his legal issues were resolved with Mickey Most, Reid signed to Atlantic records and began recording in the UK and then the USA. The result was his album “River” and that was released in 1973. Sadly it failed commercially and material not used on the album was finally released in in 2016 under the title, “The Other Side of The River.”
Between the early seventies and the eighties Reid was signed to various record labels but again he was jinxed when ABC records filed for bankruptcy the day his album, “Seed of Memory” was released.
He retired from solo work in 1981 and worked with Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and many others until 1991 when he was signed to WEA. He worked with producer Trevor Horne on his release “The Driver” which was innovative insomuch that it featured acoustic and fully orchestrated tracks. Despite high praise from the media and press, and extensive radio and TV promotion it failed to chart.
Terry Reid is one of those fantastic musicians that didn’t quite achieve the success that he should have. However, he has continued to tour and will be gigging in the USA in May 2024.
Catch him while you can, you won’t be disappointed.
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