James Patrick Page was too late to the party. The kid on helium has been already taken...

It seems like if this subject is not dealt with, it would keep stubbornly resurfacing, so let's just clear the mud right now.

I've only seen one blog entry about Terry Reid where his Led Zeppelin connection was blissfully (and quite intentionally) ignored, because, as the author insisted, Mr. Superlungs is "a legend in his own right." This author, sadly, is in minority. Most folks, even if they only write two lines, make those two lines entirely about the "worst decision in rock history" - how Page approached Reid with the offer to front Led Zeppelin and was turned down. That's all they seem to know about Terry, and jump to what they see a logical conclusion: "How dumb was that?!"
Yes, “dumb” is the easiest thing to say, but… just try to rewind” 40+ years and let’s take an unbiased look.

The Stones have already taken Terry Reid along on a tour before (in 1966), and I remember reading that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards discovered the young vocalist on their own (back in the Jaywalkers days). This time they already knew what they’re getting, and must’ve had a reason to “ask him out” again. As for the studio solo deal, it was with none other than Mickie Most. Some sources suggest that Graham Nash was the one who recommended Reid to Most. Page’s recollection of the events leaves no doubt of the unfortunate – so it seemed – timing: the ink has dried on the 5-album exclusive contract by the time Peter Grant was dispatched to find Terry with the offer to join the New Yardbirds.

In effect, he was spoken for, both studio- and tour-wise, in the nearest future, and not at liberty to accept the proposition. It’s also well known that Jimmy couldn’t wait because he had the Scandinavian tour looming. So what’s a decent man to do with two obligations? Go on to fulfill them, right? Once you sign your name on the dotted line, you’re legally bound and expected to stick to it. Even if you’re only 18. After all, no one seems to be suggesting that Page should’ve ditched his Yardbirds tour commitments and wait till Reid is free again. (And to think of it, he had a better excuse – the band no longer existed, so sorry! Whereas Terry’s would’ve sounded kind of lame: Sorry, Messrs. Most and Richards, an old pal came along and made me change my mind…)

It is ironic that the very same band that has first brought them together * now stood between them. It is ironic that Mickie Most and Peter Grant were partners at RAK, desks facing each other in the office, yet Grant seemed to be unaware that Most had just snapped up Terry right under his nose until Jimmy Page asked him directly to locate the singer.

When Ritchie Blackmore called Terry Reid a year later, asking to join Deep Purple, the same recording contract was in effect, though by that time it might have acquired the appeal of the prison shackles. But that, again, is another story.
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*as far as I know – though this may be inaccurate – Page and Reid first met in 1966 as both were supporting the Stones on their UK tour.

The above was first written as a response to Peter Bull, IOW photographer, in comments to his blog entry about Terry Reid. Great blog, awesome never-seen-before pictures. We arrived, it seems, at mutual understanding. Within just days of posting my comment I ran across another blog containing the same old misunderstanding. It prompted this slightly edited re-post, and from now on it's easy to direct the confused folks here.

Adventures of SuperLungs: The unexpected bit of publicity

"There are only three things happening in London: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Terry Reid."

I've seen this comment by Aretha Franklin quoted more times than I can remember... It sounds like something one says on a whim rather than after carefully thinking it through; and though far fetched almost to the point of absurdity, it makes perfect sense. This 18 year old mod-turning-hippie must have made a strong enough impression on her - which is precisely the part that doesn't surprise me. It's a fairly typical reaction of an unprepared listener: Never heard of him, but OMG what a voice! The same sentiment echoed in hundreds of posts and comments by spellbound metalheads, scattered all over the Internet. "How did I never hear this song till Devil's Rejects came out! Fantastic song, so much depth..... Music like this will never fade away." *

40 years later** Terry's vocal performance still has that show-stopping quality. If your back was to the stage in the beginning of the gig for whatever reason, he'd make you turn around. Effortlessly.
And 40 years later after the (in)famous quote was printed in New Musical Express, it's highly amusing to read about his side of the story:

'I was doing a gig down at this place called the Revolution Club, which was a bit upscale London club. Me and Joe Cocker, we were residents - we came up through there. Ike and Tina Turner came into town, and they're doing concerts, and I toured with them and the Stones, and they did a gig at this club. "Oh, hold the phone! I mean, the whole bandin a small room it's a little awesome. I was sweating bullets. So they did it, and Aretha came down with Ahmet Ertegun to see the whole show, so she didn't exactly come down to see me. It's even more ridiculous. The next day I go up to the office to pick up the check - you know, I get paid, right? - and I go walking in there. Every day I get in there I don't get a coffee, never had a dinner - it's like a Red Buttons deal. I walk in and everybody's looking at me. The secretary's going, 'Oh, hi, Terry!' I go, 'What the hell is going on?' "I almost did a 360: perhaps it wasn't me that came in! And I sit down. 'Do you want a coffee?' I go, 'Uh-oh. Something's wrong.' 'Would you like a sandwich?' A sandwich! Something's wrong. I'm going home. Either I'm going to be indicted for murder or something. So Peter goes, 'Come on in. I hope everybody's treating you nice.' 'Yeah, what's going on?' 'He goes, 'I'll explain you.' I walk in and he slaps out this New Musical Express, the middle pages. 'Aretha says there's nothing going on in England except the Rolling Stones and Terry Reid.' Well, we know who the Glimmer Twins are. A couple of hits - they might go somewhere. Terry Reid - who the hell is that? So I'm looking at this going, 'Who said this?' 'Aretha Franklin. Terry, I couldn't afford to pay her that much money to say that, and nor could you. None of us. I would have paid her if I could get her to say it, but frankly it never crossed my mind. But she said it, so you're screwed.' That's Peter Grant for you! I said, 'Why?' 'Well, you walk out that door, everybody's going to treat you like a different person.' I said, 'Yeah - for how long?' He said, 'Well, it'll wear off. Next week. We'll all get a free sandwich.' ***

P. S. Terry is playing a live gig in New York on January 30th, at B. B. King Blues Club and Grill
Then in February a possible date in LA (McCabe's Guitar Shop) and then off to the UK in May.
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*comments to Seed Of Memory -YouTube, various users

**(I actually mistyped 40 as $0, and unfortunately this freudan slip is also too true to even laugh about - the total lack of commercial success despite the massive talent... but that's another story, folks)

*** hijacked in its entirety from here: Out Through The In Door by Hays Davis

A larynx made of fire

It was 1994 or 1995. I was listening to the Psychedelic Dream compilation for the 1st time. Yes, there's always the 1st time - but in this particular case I wish I could go back and re-experience this 1st time, in all its jaw-dropping glory. Truth is, I hardly remembered any other tracks from the compilation, as one of them - a single vocal performance - eclipsed them all completely.

The voice sounded very young and melodic, I guess I'd even use the word smooth... then suddenly after the 1st verse it whipped into a scary, unholy frenzy, - screaming rather than singing, yet still somehow strangely melodic and effortless... most of all though it sounded so powerful, scorching like a liquid fire. I remember the goose bumps and feeling a bit shaken - though the sound wasn't jarring, the intensity seemed just unreal. I demanded to know who the kid was, and I never forgot the name.

Terry Reid.

The name told me absolutely nothing ("Is he in some band?" "No, he's solo"), but on the strength of just that one song I listed him in my personal top 10 best voices. He was only 19 when this was recorded, ans yes I always knew it was a Donovan cover... and I've been warned against expecting much of the original but still couldn't avoid crushing disappointment... the original is pretty but limp and uninspired against Terry's fire-infused remake, and I almost wish I could "unhear" it.

My favorite moment here is that intense vocal splash - the first scream, right after "she's only 14 but she knows how to draw"

Superlungs My Supergirl
Only recently I found out that Terry was nicknamed Superlungs after this song... and that he was the first choice for the lead singer position in both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple (before Gillan) and turned them both down. But that's another story.