Dubbed “superlungs” for his raw vocal power, Terry Reid will forever be remembered as the man who declined the frontman job in Led Zeppelin , Okay, so the music here isn’t exactly new. But the latest release from the British soul shouter Terry Reid consists entirely of unissued songs, jettisoned from one of the most under-appreciated albums of all time. Back in 1973, the scratchy voiced star issued an album called “River”, which provided a daring contrast to his stentorian blues-rock declarations of the late ’60s. While cutting the original album, Reid moved from London to L.A., absorbing that locale’s folk-rock muse while elaborating it with the influence of dreamy jazz.
One high point is 1973’s River, Reid’s third album and first after escaping the clutches of producer Mickie Most (Yardbirds, Herman’s Hermits).Offering an hour of previously unreleased music, The Other Side of the River isn’t the first time the River sessions have been revisited, with a 2006 reissue adding bonus tracks to the original seven songs. Terry Reid also took inspiration from Puerto Rico (via contributions from Willie Bobo) and Brazil (aided by Gilberto Gil). The result suggested a cool amalgam of Tim Buckley, Van Morrison and John Martyn. ‘The Other Side of The River’ collects outtakes from the original ‘River,’ leading us farther into Reid’s ambitions. In one of the most adventurous tracks, “Country Brazilian Funk,” he finds an unlikely connection between Gil’s Tropicalia and David Lindley’s Americana. More than forty years later, these songs still trace the cutting edge.
The Fat Angel Sings 