Terry Reid is more famous for what he didn't do than for what he did. A teen singing prodigy in the late Sixties, this British rocker turned down Jimmy Page's offer to front what became Led Zeppelin and also passed on Deep Purple. Falling victim to management disputes, Reid never attained the popularity he surely deserved. His ardent vocals merged soul, blues, and rock without resorting to mannerism or affect. Like Janis Joplin, Reid could inhabit rather than simply emulate black music, and his "Stay With Me Baby" is nearly as gut-wrenching as Lorraine Ellison's blistering hit. Reid's own compositional skill is best captured in two songs covered by other artists: "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace," a highlight of Cheap Trick's 1977 debut, and "Without Expression," covered by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. His version of "Rich Kids Blues" is also amazing, so heartfelt and raw. He is an incredible artist and rock and roll's best kept secret.
(henry Diltz, corbis)
