Rusty Reid

Imagine a geezer, an authentic child of the Sixties, an old “never-was” troubadour with a style and message born of the idealism of that revolutionary generation and honed through decades of study, experience and passion, trying to break through the noise and orgy of self-aggrandizement that is the contemporary music biz! Ridiculous, eh? Foolhardy! Audacious stupidity! Sheer cluelessness!

OK, we’ll give you that.

But it’s happening anyway.

Rusty Reid is an American, independent, alt-rock, folk-rock, country-rock, something-rock, singer-songwriter, liberal firebrand and spiritual seeker/guide who carries the spirit of the Sixties' counterculture and the vision of a mystic. From Texas, now based in the Pacific Northwest, Rusty writes melodic, guitar-oriented songs, many of which are philosophic, political and/or spiritual (heaven knows not religious) in thematic content. He extols universal virtue, defends the oppressed and throws musical fireballs at the citadel of conformity and all of its many cults.

His new album, Head to Heart (2019, Northern Latitudes Records), is nothing less than a Revolutionary Manifesto in Song! In as much music (78 min) as can fit on a single CD, this astounding album lays out a beautiful, compassionate, sustainable blueprint for humanity rising to a higher plane of being while taking direct aim at the lingering malignancies that plague us. Just as John Lennon observed in “Imagine,” such a better world will require sacrifice. Like Lennon, Rusty Reid knows that most people will not be particularly eager to comply. But change we must if the human species is going to flourish. With both economic and environmental catastrophe looming over us, every soul must now decide whether we take “Another Way” or continue on the road to ruin.

Where are the songs of philosophy and protest and wisdom and vision today? They can be hard to find among the ego and clatter. But on this one album, they have been gathered together in a “concept album” like no other.

In these dark and troubling times, Rusty’s voice deserves to be heard.

Check out Rusty Reid's Head to Heart on your favorite streaming service or on YouTube. On Facebook: https://Facebook.com/RustyReidSongwriterAnd at his website: https://RustyReid.com

Title song to Rusty Reid's 2019 album Head to Heart. It's great to be attractive, smart, and good-hearted, but until we let our love freely flow, we really let it go, we haven't reached our highest soul! OK, so that's not what you are interested in. Or is it?

Are we right to accept this many poor people? I think not. Do we really need billionaires? I think not.

Inspired by Banksy's "Dismaland Bemusement Park," let's just round up all the negativity in the world into one song, how about? But, don't worry, there's a way out. Yes, it involves you.

A higher view. A new mind's eye. The search for truth. You can't get there by human means. You have to hang out with rocks and trees. Ask Buddha.

Edgar Allan Poe's beloved poem "Eldorado" put to song... but with a twist at the end. The City of Gold. Riches. What good are riches? They bring happiness. So you think. So off you go after riches. Maybe you will find them after great toil and struggle (or chicanery... or luck). But then you most likely discover that those riches only bring superficial happiness; they don't bring lasting happiness. They often bring worse problems. And then it hits you... if you are wise. Real richness is not the gold; it's the happiness. Instead of chasing gold, you should have just looked for what was right inside you all along.

Reviews for Rusty Reid's 'Head to Heart' album

"Hey, enjoyed Head to Heart, you haven't lost yer touch!... sounds terrific—you haven't lost yer voice either, amazing at our age (and more than Dylan or McCartney can say!)... some fine & fancy guitar work, too! Glad you're getting it out the door and hope we don't have to wait another 20 years for #3! Look at ya!... You compose memorable hooks within range of Elton & Elvis C., sing melody/harmony w/Everly Bros. precision, jangle guitar chords and leads that would do the Byrds or Buffalo Springfield proud, and then top it all off w/self-produced SFX videos... Some people have way too much talent. That's right, I'm talking to you, bruddah! You live in a gilded Talent Taj Mahal."

—Jerry Lazar, journalist

"Rusty Reid’s new CD, aptly titled Head to Heart, takes us on a musical journey reminiscent of the 60s, punctuated with tones of East Indian sitar-like sounds in the song, 'Sat Cit Ananda.' Raising the question whether the Baby Boomer generation, which so flaunted 'flower power,' has taken us where we wanted to go... obviously not. 'To Find Me' is an example of such soul-searching, while the song, 'Dismaland' commands, 'We are better than this; we can turn it around.' Covering topics that should be near and dear to every listener, Head to Heart hits its mark beautifully."

—Vicki Welch Ayo, author (Boys from Houston)

"Steeped in country music, British pop, surf rock, psychedelic rock, and many other influences, Seattle musician Rusty Reid grew up on the dusty plains of West Texas, a region that has produced many revered singer-songwriters. Growing up in such a rich place, Reid had plenty of material to work with for his new album, Head to Heart. On the title track, Rusty Reid’s emotional, crooning-like vocals remind of Roy Orbison. The same is true for other notable songs like 'To Find Me' and 'Eldorado'—two of the strongest song from the 18-track album. We love how the guitars swirl around the chorus followed by melodic guitar solos. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that Orbison, also a native West Texan, is one of Reid’s top musical influences. You can hear it on track after track. 'The Story of Now' is more suited for country pop radio with its bright melodies and jangling guitars. Then there are more alt songs, such as the standout, 'I Went Searching,' with funk-like guitars and rhythms wrapped in a dark, yet upbeat, composition. It’s just a track you have to hear. All things being alternative and indie in the cafe, we prefer tracks like this. Another example is the one-minute industrial/punk jam number 'Your Tummy'—a totally different cut from the tone of the rest of the album. But it’s interesting and cool, and other listeners may also be happy he had the courage to record it and put it on the album. 'Satchitananda' represents 'existence, consciousness, and bliss' or 'truth, consciousness, bliss,' is an epithet and description for the subjective experience of the ultimate, unchanging reality in Hinduism called Brahma. The use of the bongos and sitar set the scene perfectly for a trip back 50 years when Eastern music was regularly mixed with pop and rock music. Other tracks like the psych folk-oriented, 'Ancient Stones,' also sound like they beckon the hippie era. The most pop-rock-oriented song on the album is 'Passion or Fashion.' It sounds like 80s rock and almost reminds us a bit of The Kinks in far as song structure and sound. Unlike many albums sent to us, the production level is solid here. Throughout the album, the listeners can clearly hear the influences of the deep, western south, where many different roads of music genres intersect and intertwine, and have for nearly a century. And yet there are unexpected influences like indie, punk, funk and Eastern music. There are enough interestingly different and strong songs on here to make Head to Heart a worthy listen."

—Indie Rock Cafe

"Head To Heart is the 2019 album by Seattle, Washington singer/songwriter Rusty Reid on the Northern Latitudes Records label. This amazing 17 track album features Rusty and many other great musicians showcasing his songwriting abilities with a sound that goes from country rock to heavier rock to even a little hip hop thrown in with such great tracks as 'The Story Of Now,' the title track 'Head To Heart,' 'I Went Searching,' 'Your Tummy,' 'Passion or Fashion,' and so much more. I was quite impressed with his songwriting style and performance as well as how this album was recorded and produced. I recommend you take a listen to this amazing album on Spotify, and I believe you will like it so much that you will want to own your own copy on CD or digital download from Amazon, CD Baby, Bandcamp and many other music outlets. You can learn more about this artist and music by going to his website https://rustyreid.com."

—Oasis Entertainment

"From Janis Joplin and Roky Erickson to Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Doug Sahm, Texas has produced its fair share of hippie-rockers over the years—some might even say more than its fair share. In any case, here’s another name to add to that list: Rusty Reid. The singer-guitarist makes his home in the Pacific Northwest these days, but don’t let that fool you; between the rootsy earthiness of his music and the spiritual bent of his lyrics, he’s clearly an old-school cosmic cowboy of the first order. I can dig it. it's got an intriguing mix of elements, sounds and styles. It's western and eastern, grounded and cosmic, organic and electronic, and you combine them all seamlessly and naturally. The arrangement/production/sonics are also excellent—every piece fits and the songs ebb and flows gracefully. This is a third-eye opener that stands up to repeated spins. Plus it's got a good beat and you can meditate to it. I suspect some would say this reminds them a bit of the Beatles (especially the quiet one) during the Maharishi days. I think your sound is unique enough that no one could accuse you of being a derivative copycat. Your rootsy spirituality puts me in mind of fellow Texans like Gilmore and Sahm (though obviously your music sounds like neither). Which raises the question: How did Texas manage to produce so many hippies? That's the real issue here, if you ask me."

—Tinnitist

"I like the message, absolutely. This kind of spirit-rock feels very west coast to me, all of the California hippies that are now spread out from LA to Vancouver, will enjoy this music. The tones are really nice, the drums sound great, and the production feels right into the vein of heartland rock like Tom Petty. I like your sense of style for building a chorus, you have a nice feel for that, and your best feature is the consistency of your messaging. I feel like I really understand you, and what you believe in, and I have your back on that. We share values. The meaning and depth of the lyrics is your greatest strength. Please stay on brand and message the way that you are—it will be the core of how you connect with your audience. That is not a problem for you, and adds a lot of depth to the music."

—ChillFiltr

"I like the mellow drum tempo & lead guitar riffs and your vocal has a tender/poetic quality that brings the lyrics. Overall an easy listening sound with a nostalgic vibe. There is clearly a lot of thought that goes into your lyrics. I like a song that tells a story and takes you on a journey and your songs definitely do that. You have created an uplifting sound that I can see resonating with a lot of listeners."

—Playlist Boutique

"Such a mesmeric voice that oozes the soul of 60s and 70s pop and rock. It's both earthly and angelic, which is apt as you unpack a truly profound statement on reconnecting to our past and the world slipping from our grasp right now. Quite honestly, these are the kind of songs that resonate with me and I think would resonate with many people. In the time we are now living, it's imperative more than ever that we never forget our roots and what drives us forward."

—B-Sides & Badlands

"Awesome, so vibrant and rockin'! It reminds me of Austin in the 60s with Roky at my side."

—360 degrees: The Best Indie Music

"Nice Tom Petty kind of vibe. The lyrics are written by someone who has lived and has a sense of wisdom."

—Leg Puppy

"We were able to feel the songs through the lyrics. One can definitely tell how much heart and meaning you place in your music. We see an audience that should appreciate your talents."

—Indie Artist Music TV

"Really nice overall sound on your tracks. I like the vocal performance, and the production is good, too."

—Plastic Mag, UK

"Performance is impressive and the songwriting is notable."

—BroadTube Music Channel

"Reflective vocals and lush guitar work shine."

—Obscure Sound

"Really inspiring sound."

—Born Music Online

"Great voice."

—Keep Walking Music

"A bit of a Morrissey vibe. It's pretty."

—Buffalo Blog

"Nice classic songs and performance."

—Modern Music Maker

"Cool guitars, lively natural vibe. Reminded us of Poco in some moments."

—Grotesquelizer

"Good songwriting, cool musicianship and vocals."

—Queen City Sounds

"Very well assembled and the vocals are really dope."

—Cloudy

"Evokes the big hitters of the genre. Radio friendly."

—Various Small Flames

"Professional artist with charming voice."

—Cheers to the Vikings

"A lush alt country take with confident production."

—We All Want Someone To Shout For, blog channel

"Impressive vocals."

—Gems & Secrets

"Lovely vocal performance."

—Conversations about Her

"Love the themes, such a great message that is often completely neglected."

—When the Horn Blows

"Solid. Keep up the good work."

—Mugatunes

"You have something special in your hands."

—Precision Select

"Music production is very well done. Vocal delivery is good and a nice tone to singing voice."

—Monster Hits Music

"Love how clear the vocals are."

—Tongue Tied Magazine

"Catchy and chill sounds/beats."

—The Drunken Coconut

"Awesome!"

—Texas Country Music Radio

"This is dope, man. The vocal work is impressive."

—ChillTracks

"Incredible voice!"

—Keep Walking Music