“I was hoping to get this album out in February,” says Rusty Reid. “It came out right on schedule in September.”
By Graeme Smith
What’s a seven-month delay in the grand scheme of things? In the case of Seattle, USA-based Rusty Reid’s new/old album, The Unreasonables, not much. The songs on the album were recorded in Houston over four decades ago.
“We thought of these as ‘demos,’ expecting to be quickly signed to a major label and we would re-record them, you know, properly in a good studio. That didn’t happen,” explains Reid. “So, we all went our separate ways. I moved to L.A. and shopped the tapes around a bit but had no nibbles. Perseverance, people! That’s the key. I didn’t have it.”
Reid is perhaps too modest here, because clearly, he never gave up on the music, finally releasing the album in 2025. It’s fortunate for us that he held onto them. They feel like a time capsule, both in the literal sense, but also in the throwback sound we hear across its nineteen tracks.
Chronicling the ups and downs of relationships, The Unreasonables is quite the ride. We get undertones of love smothered with overtones of lust. Hot As A Pistol gets things going with a classic rock swagger and plenty of fire.
“Good gosh! The drums on Hot as a Pistol sounded like a couple of trash cans being banged,” exclaims Reid on when speaking about remixing the album digitally.
The theme is brought to the fore most significantly in Piece of The Action. The track sits as a centrepiece in the album. It has a memorable hook and plenty of guitar noodling. Reid’s vocals are at their most attitude-laden during a growling verse and charismatic chorus.
“I like Piece of the Action because it focuses on the very beginning, those initial moments when attention is riveted, eyes first meet, the heart beats a little faster… all possibilities are present, but only if the ‘transaction’ is consummated.” says Reid.
“I think it’s one of my best rockers. The other guys in the band are superb. That’s Rick Poss on first lead guitar. His work on the album is just sublime if you are a fan of rock. Ed Martinson on drums and Brent Waters on bass really lock it down and give the song a unique signature.”
Let’s talk about the album contributors. Reid goes to some length to point out the impressive line-up he mustered for the album’s recording. There are too many players to name here, but it’s quite the list. Some of them had a hand in getting this album released.
“Some former bandmates bugged me to do something – anything – with those recordings, which they remembered as fun to play… and good,” explains Reid.
I was interested to know how Reid felt the album fit into America in 2025. “I had no real expectations,” he says. “I just wanted to get it out and into my online ‘catalogue.’
“I do feel that the songwriting here, though far different from my other stuff, is worthy of note. I have been blown away by how it has been received as some kind ‘pure’ and ‘refreshing’ batch of ‘authentic’ rock and roll in comparison to the often polished and perfected pop music fare of our current era. That some younger folk seem to dig it is fun for me.”
I have to echo that sentiment. The Unreasonables is a living testament to a rock and roll sound that will never die. I think the ‘refreshing’ part is we’ve all got used to hearing the same ‘classics’ over and over again, so it feels like a treat to hear previously unreleased music from a bygone ear.
So, enough looking back, what’s next?
“Another detour it seems,” answers Reid. “And quite a contrast to The Unreasonables. My next album will be comprised entirely of covers. I’ve only released two covers before, now a whole album of them is on the way.”
It’ll be another double-album, and Reid fully admits that these kind of longer records have very much gone out of fashion. “I don’t care,” he says defiantly. “I like them. If they hold together as a unit, I’d rather put out a whole bunch of songs rather than limit it to ten or twelve or less.
“I can’t quite reveal yet what the connecting theme of all of these cover songs is, but you’ll be one of the first to know. It’s another labour of love… but this time no trash can drums to work with.”
The Unreasonables is out now, and you can listen to Piece of The Action below.
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