"New York City" by Reid, Inc.

Another hidden gem from Henry Stone's massive T.K. Productions library.

Less Than 1,000 Spins is a Micro-Chop side project, Spotify and YouTube playlist, daily newsletter, and a place to find great songs with less than 1,000 spins. You can support the project by sharing the newsletter, the playlists, and/or music from the playlists with other people.

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In 1977 Reid, Inc. released their lone album, a self-titled debut put out by Bold Records - a subsidiary of the late Henry Stone’s T.K. Productions. I mentioned in my post about Paulette Reaves’ “Secret Lover” that I’ve spent a lot of time digging through Stone’s archives while compiling Less Than 1,000 Spins and it’s an absolute goldmine.

Co-production duties on Reid, Inc. are handled by Clay Cropper and the multi-talented Clarence Reid, whose lengthy production resume includes co-production on Betty Wright’s frequently sampled classic “Clean Up Woman.” The group’s name is also a reference to Reid’s affiliation with the group. Details about Reid, Inc. are rather scant online and I can’t even find the members’ names on Discogs.

Cropper and Reid employ a variety of styles that pair well with the vocalists in Reid, Inc., including dance/disco, funk, and slower, sentimental numbers. The funk stylings of “I’ll Be Damned If It’s Me” pair especially well with the lovelorn tale of an unfaithful man. The unnamed lead vocalist shines on one of the stronger overall songs on the record.

My selection for the Less Than 1,000 Spins playlist is “New York City” - a slowed-down, soulful, and reflective tale of loneliness and lost love in the Big Apple. The song features a particularly strong interplay between the lead and backing vocals. There’s much sadness, as the lead singer talks of a heartbreak so great that she needs to leave the city. However, the song also has a hopeful tone, as she later promises with great strength, “I’ll be back someday, yes I will.”

Like many other artists featured on Less Than 1,000 Spins, Reid, Inc. had a one-and-done career. They never had the opportunity to build on the promise demonstrated on their debut record, which is a shame. Now that their album has been re-issued a few times in recent years (original pressings fetch more than $500 on Discogs), their music has a chance to find a wider audience despite the group’s limited output.

Listen to “New York City” on any platform here. Make sure to check out Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube. You can also check out Formerly On Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube.

Thank you for your support - I’ll be in touch again tomorrow.

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