Terry Reid

There should be a Wikipedia link to Terry Reid under the phrase “what might have been.” The British singer-songwriter had a tough road. He turned down jobs as the lead singer of both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple—before anyone ever heard of Robert Plant and Ian Gillan—to pursue his solo career. Then his music never caught on the way it should have. Reid had a great, wailing voice that was suited to the British blues he favored but could also work its way around delicate, winding ballads—and he wrote some great ones that really showed his promise: particularly “Erica,” “July” and “Penny.” But he’s best known for his letter-perfect cover of Donovan’s psychedelic gem, “Superlungs My Supergirl.” Reid’s first two albums were classics of the sixties which should have made him more of a force. There’s another offbeat but lovely acoustic album from ’73, The River, which should have gotten him more attention. Nevertheless, he endured, and he’s still writing and recording today, as a cult hero instead of as a rock star.