A blogger named Warren brought up this song and I want to thank him. This is a great song by a great singer/songwriter who turned down Jimmy Page to join Led Zeppelin. He is the one who recommended Robert Plant to Page. Some people may know this song from Cheap Trick as they covered it on their debut album in 1977.
This was his self-titled second album released in 1969. I can see why Page wanted him…his voice was fantastic. His nickname was Superlungs for a good reason. He wasn’t a bad songwriter either…the artists that has covered his songs are many. The Hollies, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Arrival, Marianne Faithfull, Cheap Trick, Jack White with The Raconteurs, Joe Perry, Rumer and Chris Cornell.
In around 1967 or 68 Jimmy Page was ending the Yardbirds or continuing a new version of them. He was looking for a singer and Terry Reid fit what he wanted. Reid told Page that he was already committed to two tours with The Stones and one with Cream at the time. He did tell Page that if he paid him the lost money and talked with the Stones to get him out of it he would join. It didn’t happen but Reid also told him of a lead singer he knew named Robert Plant from the Band of Joy that might fit what he was after. Oh, it most definitely did.
Reid had a busy solo career as a songwriter and performer. He has some songs in movies and many artists as I’ve listed above have covered him. He also works with younger bands now and sometimes as a guest vocalist. Robert Plant called him the outstanding voice of his generation.
He has released 7 studio albums, the last being in 2016. After hearing his voice and his songs…I am surprised he didn’t hit more. In the later half of the 20th Century he worked with the Eagles drummer, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Marianne Faithfull, Joe Walsh, and many others.
Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Piece
Yesterday feels like running awayFeels like givin’ the childGettin’ lost losin’ my mindI’m feelin’ low and I got no place to goGettin’ all tied upFeelin’ all tied up yeah yeah
Oh yesterday feels like running awayAnd I know, I’m givin’ up my timeTo still love still loveLove’s got me blind
My mind sees the things I don’t knowAnd I got no place to goGettin’ all tied upFeelin’ all tied up
Things I need to tell you loveYou’ll be true I knowThere’s still a chance for a better lifeYes, I know
…
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“Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace” sounds great! Cheap Trick did a neat job with their cover, though I think I prefer the original.
I know I’ve heard the name Terry Reid before – perhaps in connection with one of the many bands or artists who covered one of his songs. Looks like he’s had a pretty impressive career, though apparently it was more behind the scenes.
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Yea…I have to wonder how many times he thought about the Led Zeppelin situation. If not for him we wouldn’t have Plant probably but he was a hell of a singer himself. I really like his songs that I’ve found.
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I need to check him out!
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It’s amazing how you find these talented people that for whatever reasons didn’t become well known. I can’t say I’ve heard of him before but he clearly has a great voice. Sometimes timing is everything in music.
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Yes it is…it’s sad that he is probably best known for turning Jimmy Page down. He would have fit with Zeppelin no doubt…his voice is incredible.
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Thanks for this report Max…I never knew of the facts that you laid out here. Good stuff!
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A good singer who I knew nothing about, nice post Max.
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I really liked the live version with Cheap Trick’s guitarist antics on stage.
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They did a good job of it.
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Cheap Trick has a great version on there debut album of this track and it wasn’t until today I finally heard the original.
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They did a good job of it and knew how to pick a song that sounded good but everyone didn’t know it from another artist.
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I first heard Cheap Trick’s version on a soundtrack to a movie I can’t remember the name of…their intro is unreal.
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He has a fairly good sound & voice, but it’s hard to imagine a LZ with him not Plant. They seem to have made the right pick. This songs sounds prototypically 1970, a bit glam, a bit prog…I could have imagined it doing well in Britain
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After listening to his other stuff…he is up there with Plant…I can totally imagine him being the singer and Plant owes this guy a lot. I’m not saying worse or better but he is great. This guy is up in the upper tier with his voice.
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(Spot on comment about the 70 sound Dave. The organ sound is still there, as the decade went on it seems to have faded into the mix as the guitars cranked up. Unless you’re the Band.)
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Again, I’d heard tof he name if not the guys music.
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Yea that was me before Warren said something…I think CB mentioned him once as well…I can’t remember but I was impressed by his voice.
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Me, too. I’ve heard the name but didn’t know his work. He’s like Woody Allen’s character Zelig – he seems to have been everywhere and sang with everybody but we managed to overlook him.
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Aw shoot- ‘of the’ not that fumble-fingered ‘tof he’- Doh!
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LOL
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what I liked about the original just how basic pop it is……I mentioned that Reid kind of reminds me of Rory Gallagher as someone you knew was there but really didn’t pay attention….but even more similar was Billy Rankin who did some solo stuff while with Nazareth..just a working musician…..
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Yea he worked with the top people and it’s hard to believe something didn’t catch on and become a signature song…I appreciate you bringing him up
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This is good. I’ve heard the name, but never really listened to him. I’m not a fan of Led Zeppelin at all, so I’m glad he stayed out of that. “The Eagles’ drummer… AKA “He Who Must Not Be Named”?
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YES…I have a song coming out soon that he is a part of…yea I don’t like the guy. He has lawyers in a room looking at youtube all day finding people to bust… I saw a bass player telling people how to play Hotel California…he wasn’t even playing the song over it…but just showing how to play the bass and it got took down because of Henley… First reaction videos…any Eagles song….they try to take down.
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Wow, I didn’t know about all of that. I had just heard about the Don Felder stuff. He and Frey did seem like they could be dictatorial at times.
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Yes….that documentary of them that they made…really showed that and they didn’t really realize it. I separate art from artist…but I don’t like him personally…I do like his solo albums of the 80s…
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New to me Max. If I went through credits on some albums , sounds like he would turn up in the pile somewhere. I hear Slade in his cut . Good fit for Cheap Trick to cover. I’ll be exploring more. Thanks buddy.
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I thought you mentioned him at one time but I was wrong. I do think he is up your alley….he had some really good music.
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Im curious to hear what else he has.
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I love this, but only knew it through Cheap Trick.
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I was hoping you would know something about him…I know he is much older but I didn’t know if he was more well known there.
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No, have to admit I’d never heard the name…
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I have one of his records somewhere. I agree that he could have been a lot bigger, talented and fits that late 60s/early 70s sound.
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I listened to his music and yea I can see why Page asked him but this song in particular sounded somewhat commercial so yea I am surprised.
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