No apologies for revisiting this great song. I’ve always loved the title track from the 1973 album by Reid, who in my view could have achieved much more in his career given his undoubted talent.
Here is another interesting take, released a few years ago on The Other Side of the River.
I’ve loved the music of Terry Reid since seeing his performance on the “Glastonbury Fayre” film, when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980s. I’d stayed up till past midnight for the film, knowing that Fairport were on it, but, at the start of the film… WOW WHO IS THIS? I’d never heard Terry before, although I’d heard of him, from his near-fame with Led Zeppelin. Terry does the song “Dean” on the film, and it is honestly one of the best things you’ll ever see. (There is a more subdued version of “Dean” on the River LP.)
I rushed out and bought all his LPs. I was a little underwhelmed by most of them, but his first one is really good, and is his best; and I also like “Rogue Waves”, which is a very rich, sumptuous sounding LA production featuring a few cover versions.
He was discovered very young, much like Steve Winwood. His voice is great, but as is well known, he is a waster. I saw him a couple of years ago at Hebden Bridge and I was bitterly disappointed. He was completely ratarsed and could barely tune his guitar let alone play it. He is at an age when all the other surviving great rock stars have given up the vices, but is still steaming along. He is the George Best of rock, or maybe the Paul Gascoigne.
I cannot overstate how good Terry Reid is – Led Zeppelin knew this; although the Led Zep connection is irrelevant. Terry is one of those magical people in the rock world whose talents cannot be harnessed. You have to be there when he’s on form. If I were a poncey Guardian journalist I might called him a chimera or something.