I read recently, that in 1968, when Terry Reid was only eighteen, Aretha Franklin remarked that “there are only three things happening in England: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Terry Reid.” His teenage years found him touring with The Rolling Stones (including their fabled 1969 American tour), Cream, Jethro Tull, and Fleetwood Mac, as well as playing prestige slots at festivals such as Isle of Wight and Glastonbury. The story of him having to turn down Jimmy Page to front Led Zeppelin and recommending that he check out a certain other young singer who had recently supported him instead has become legendary. His soulful voice and powerful vocal range also earned him the nickname ‘Superlungs’ following his recording in 1969 of the Donovan song ‘Superlungs My Supergirl’.
So it was a kind of must-see evening when he arrived in the quiet suburb of Kings Heath at the tail end of a thirteen-date tour of the UK and was joined by the unassuming but wonderfully talented pedal steel player Chris Hillman. What followed was two hours of stories and songs written by Terry but also artists whom he`s had a relationship with or met.
The first couple of numbers have a country flavour with `Bend in the River` written by Marty Robbins and the self-penned `Time is a Virtue` before the first of his life reminisces begin with a couple of stories about Keith Moon`s antics. We head back in time to 1973 for an electric version of `Live Life` from the `River` album before a cover of the Band`s `It Makes No Difference`. Terry talks about still seeing Levon Helm` daughter as if it`s an everyday occurrence.
An acoustic rendering of Bobby Darin`s `Things` brings me back to my childhood as my late mom used to sing this to me and my siblings. `Seed Of Memory` was Terry`s fourth album released in 1976 and produced by Graham Nash and he shared four cuts from this release during this evenings show with `Faith to Arise`, `Brave Awakening`, `To Be Treated Rite` a track used by Rob Zombie in his film `The Devil`s Rejects` which the singer attended with his extended family and the delightfully contemplative title track written in the mid-70s for his grandmother back in Co. Durham.
We also enjoyed `Without Expression` and the almost introspective `Mayfly` which was a shout out request from the audience which the singer dedicated to his wife as it`s a number she loves and he hadn`t played for some time. Amongst all these gentle numbers shared were tales of George Harrison, Joni Mitchell and of Spike from The Quireboys who supported at the Cluny in Newcastle and the singer feels he could tour with.
Terry was persuaded to return for an encore and obliged with `Don’t Know Why (I’m Shy About You)` which merged into Sam Cooke`s `You Send Me`.
This evening was a relaxed performance with some interesting stories and songs that have stood the test of time. A friend from Coventry who came along summed the night up in one word “mellow.”
There`s two shows left in Bristol and London early next week so if you want to catch this living legend before he heads back to California, you`ll need to get a move on.
