Argent (band)

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Argent
Argent (1973).png
Argent in 1973
Background information
Origin London, England
Genres
Years active1969–1976, 2010, 2012, 2013
Spinoff of The Zombies
Past members Rod Argent
Bob Henrit
Jim Rodford
Russ Ballard
John Verity
John Grimaldi

Argent were an English rock band formed in 1969 by former Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent. They had three UK top 40 singles: "Hold Your Head Up", which reached number five and spent 12 weeks on the chart, "Tragedy" (number 34), and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (number 18). Two of their albums charted in the UK: All Together Now , which peaked at number 13 in 1972, and In Deep , which spent one week at number 49 in 1973. [3]

Contents

History

Rod Argent put together Argent just as his former band The Zombies' post-breakup single "Time of the Season" was becoming a worldwide hit in 1969. Argent had enjoyed considerable success with The Zombies but wanted his new outfit to become part of the burgeoning progressive rock scene.[ citation needed ] Indeed, his new band employed much heavier rhythms and a generally weightier sound, but also continued the minor keys and complex lyrics of The Zombies, often by Argent's writing with former Zombie bassist Chris White. Guitarist and vocalist Russ Ballard also developed strong melodies and hit singles, writing a string of FM staples. The band was completed by bassist Jim Rodford and drummer Bob Henrit. [1] Lead vocal duties were shared between Ballard and Argent. [4]

Their first album, Argent, was critically acclaimed, if not a massive seller. It was a solid start and contained the song "Liar", which was subsequently covered by Three Dog Night. 1971's Ring of Hands was their second album and featured the minor hit "Sweet Mary". All Together Now was their third album, released in 1972. It featured the song that they are best remembered for: "Hold Your Head Up", which was a top 5 hit in both UK and the US charts. [3] [5]

Their next album, In Deep, contained two more hits in "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" and "It's Only Money". 1974's Nexus did not have any songs the band considered to be a potential hit;[ citation needed ] Rod Argent's writing dominated the album, with Ballard only contributing 3 of the album's 9 songs. The album's centerpiece, "The Coming of Kohoutek", was inspired by that year's appearance of the comet of the same name. Uninspired by this change and seeking a vehicle for his prodigious songwriting, Ballard left after the album's release to pursue a successful career as a solo artist. Ballard's departure was followed by the release of the live album Encore, whose sound quality is considered poor.[ citation needed ]

The band regrouped as a quintet with the addition of young virtuoso guitarist John Grimaldi and guitar/vocalist John Verity. Both of their final albums, Circus and 1975's Counterpoints, were poorly received and failed to sell, though their final concert tours were well attended. In 1975, John Grimaldi left the band. While Rod Argent considered whether to continue Argent, the remaining members (Henrit, Rodford and Verity) became Phoenix.

The original Argent lineup reunited at the High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London on 25 July 2010, and undertook a short five-date concert tour in December 2010, with gigs in Frome, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leamington Spa, and London.[ citation needed ]

Argent also reunited for a five-show tour from January to February 2012, before performing one last show at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury as part of a benefit concert, on 2 June 2013, supporting the Zombies, on a bill that also included Marillion members Steve Hogarth and Steve Rothery. [6]

Rodford died after a fall on 20 January 2018, at age 76. [7] [8]

Band members

1969-19741974-19762010, 2012, 2013
Rod Argent keyboards, backing and lead vocals, producer, songwriterkeyboards, backing and lead vocals, producer, songwriterkeyboards, backing and lead vocals, producer, songwriterkeyboards, backing and lead vocals
Bob Henrit drumsdrumsdrumsdrums
Russ Ballard guitar, lead vocals, songwriterguitar, lead vocals
Jim Rodford bass guitar, backing vocalsbass guitar, backing vocals, songwriterbass guitar, backing vocals, songwriterbass guitar, backing vocals
John Verity guitar, lead vocalsguitar, lead vocals
John Grimaldi guitarguitar, songwriter
Chris White producer, songwriterproducerproducer
Tony Visconti producer

Timeline

Argent (band)

Songs

Argent's biggest hit was the Rod Argent and Chris White composition "Hold Your Head Up", featuring lead vocals by Russ Ballard, from the All Together Now album, which, in a heavily edited single form, reached No. 5 in the US. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. [9]

The sound of the band was a mix of rock and pop, but also covered more progressive rock territory in songs like "The Coming of Kohoutek", an instrumental from their Nexus album. When Ballard left the band after Encore , they took an even more progressive/fusion turn with their final Epic album Circus [1] and then signed to a new record label (RCA) for the final 1975 album Counterpoints . By 2005, all albums, including compilations, have been re-released on CD, except Counterpoints.

Legacy

Argent recorded the original version of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", written by Russ Ballard, which was covered by Kiss in 1991 under the name "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II", and featured prominently at the end of the film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey . The song also became a Contemporary Christian rock anthem and was twice covered by the Christian Rock band Petra, in 1977 (on the album Come and Join Us ) and again in 1984 (on the album Beat the System ), with new verses. [10]

Some of Ballard's compositions became hits when they were covered by other artists, including Rainbow ("Since You Been Gone", from the album Down to Earth , and "I Surrender", from the album Difficult to Cure ), Kiss, Petra, Hello, Santana, and more recently the Brazilian metal band Oficina G3. The Russ Ballard song "Liar", on Argent's first album, became a hit for Three Dog Night in 1971 [11] and was also released as a single, ten years later, by Graham Bonnet (former Rainbow vocalist, who sang the vocal on "Since You Been Gone"), taken from his debut album Line-Up .

Fish (former lead singer of Marillion) recorded a version of "Hold Your Head Up" for his 1993 album Songs from the Mirror , a selection of his favourite songs. [12] [13] The American band Phish play an instrumental version of "Hold Your Head Up", usually as a transition into a "joke song" by drummer Jon Fishman. [14] "Hold Your Head Up" was covered in 1987 by the band 20/Twenty and (in the same year) by Australian group the Party Boys.[ citation needed ] Mother Love Bone recorded a cover of "Hold Your Head Up" in 1989. Their version was released on a promotional only 7" vinyl in 1989. It was reissued on 7" vinyl in 2014 as a limited edition Black Friday Record Store Day release on Stardog/Republic Records.[ citation needed ] The band Jellyfish opened most of their shows with an abbreviated version of "Hold Your Head Up".[ citation needed ]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbumLabelPeak chart positions
US
[5]
UK
[3]
CAN
1970 Argent Epic
1971 Ring of Hands
1972 All Together Now 231314
1973 In Deep 904969
1974 Nexus 149
1975 Circus 171
Counterpoints RCA
"–" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positions
US
[5]
UK
[3]
1974 Encore 151
1995In Concert
1997The Complete BBC Sessions
2010High Voltage Festival
"–" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Singles

YearSongPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[15]
UK
[3]
1970"Liar"Argent
"Schoolgirl"
1971"Sweet Mary"102Ring of Hands
"Celebration"
1972"Hold Your Head Up"55All Together Now
"Tragedy"10634
1973"God Gave Rock and Roll to You"11418In Deep
"It's Only Money, Part 2"53 [upper-alpha 1]
1974"Man for All Reasons"Nexus
"Thunder & Lightning"
"Time of the Season"Encore
1975"The Jester"Circus
"Highwire"
"Rock 'n' Roll Show"Counterpoints
"–" denotes releases that did not chart.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Zombies</span> English rock band

The Zombies are an English rock band formed in St Albans in 1961. Led by keyboardist/vocalist Rod Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone, the group had their first British and American hit in 1964 with "She's Not There". In the US, two further singles—"Tell Her No" in 1965 and "Time of the Season" in 1968—were also successful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Argent</span> British rock musician

Rodney Terence Argent is an English musician. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Argent came to prominence in the mid-1960s as the keyboardist, founder and leader of the rock band the Zombies, and went on to form the band Argent after the first break-up of the Zombies.

Unit 4 + 2 were a British pop band formed in Hertfordshire, England, who had a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1965 with the song "Concrete and Clay". The track topped the UK chart for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Blunstone</span> British singer

Colin Edward Michael Blunstone is an English singer and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Blunstone came to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the rock band the Zombies, which released four singles that entered the Top 75 charts in the United States during the 1960s: "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", "She's Coming Home" and "Time of the Season". Blunstone began his solo career in 1969, releasing three singles under a pseudonym of Neil MacArthur. Since then, he has released ten studio albums under his real name. He appears on several albums with the Alan Parsons Project and sang "Old and Wise".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Rodford</span> English musician (1941–2018)

James Walter Rodford was an English musician, who played bass for several British rock bands. He was a founding member of Argent, which was led by his cousin Rod Argent, and performed with them from their formation in 1969 until they disbanded in 1976. He was the bassist for the Kinks from 1978 until they disbanded in 1997. In 2004, he joined the reunited Zombies, whom he had been closely associated with since the early 1960s, and remained a member until his death in 2018. He was also a member of the Swinging Blue Jeans and the Kast Off Kinks.

Robert John Henrit is an English drummer. He has been a notable member of several musical groups, including Buster Meikle & The Daybreakers, Unit 4 + 2, the Roulettes, Argent and The Kinks.

John Verity is an English guitarist and singer. Best known for as a member of Argent, a band formed by Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent. He joined the band alongside John Grimaldi, replacing Russ Ballard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Ballard</span> English musician

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Gave Rock and Roll to You</span> 1973 single by Argent

"God Gave Rock and Roll to You" is a 1973 song by the British band Argent and covered by Kiss as "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II" in 1991, with modified lyrics.

<i>Encore: Live in Concert</i> 1974 live album by Argent

Encore is a live double-LP by Argent which was released in December 1974, on Epic Records PEG 33079. The performance includes the Rod Argent penned Zombies hit "Time of the Season" (1968) and the Russ Ballard penned "I Don't Believe In Miracles" which was a UK #31 hit for Colin Blunstone in 1972. Blunstone had previously been the vocalist in the Zombies with Rod Argent.

<i>All Together Now</i> (Argent album) 1972 studio album by Argent

All Together Now, released in April 1972, was the third album recorded by British rock band Argent. It was originally released on Epic Records, KE 31556. It was Argent's first hit album; it features "Hold Your Head Up", their most successful single, which reached #5 in the UK, Canadian, and U.S. singles charts. Other featured songs include "Tragedy" which reached #34 in the UK, "I Am the Dance of Ages" and "He's a Dynamo". The album reached #14 in Canada.

<i>Argent</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Argent

Argent is the debut album by British rock band Argent. Released in 1970 on CBS Records, the album did not chart in either the U.S. or the UK and did not produce any hit singles, although the song "Liar" would become a top-10 Billboard hit the following year through a cover version by Three Dog Night. The track "Dance in the Smoke" was made popular in the UK by its inclusion on the best-selling CBS Sampler album Fill Your Head with Rock (1970).

<i>Ring of Hands</i> 1971 studio album by Argent

Ring of Hands is a 1971 album and the second released by British rock band Argent. It was originally released on Epic Records, E 30128.

<i>Circus</i> (Argent album) 1975 studio album by Argent

Circus is the sixth studio album of Argent, released in March 1975 by Epic, and distributed by CBS. It was the last album as part of their contract with CBS Records and the first after the departure of founding member/lead vocalist/guitarist Russ Ballard. New lead vocalist John Verity was added at the recommendation of Ballard.

<i>Ennismore</i> 1972 studio album by Colin Blunstone

Ennismore is the second solo studio album by the English singer Colin Blunstone of rock band the Zombies. The name of the album comes from Ennismore Gardens, a square in Knightsbridge where Blunstone was living; the name being a variant spelling of the island Inishmore.

<i>Counterpoints</i> (Argent album) 1975 studio album by Argent

Counterpoints is the seventh and final album released by British rock band Argent in October 1975 on RCA Victor. This was the second studio album recorded without founding member Russ Ballard. John Verity stepped in to fill Ballard's shoes with the previous album Circus after Verity's band supported Argent on tour 1974 tour. Phil Collins played drums and percussion on Counterpoints while Bob Henrit was ill.

<i>Nexus</i> (Argent album) 1974 studio album by Argent

Nexus is the fifth album by British rock band Argent. It was released in 1974 on CBS Records. "Nexus" was the last Argent album to feature guitarist/lead singer Russ Ballard.

<i>In Deep</i> (Argent album) 1973 studio album by Argent

In Deep is the fourth studio album by English rock band Argent, released by Epic Records in October 1973. It features the original full-length recording of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", which reached No. 18 in the UK charts when released in edited form as a single later the same year. It was remade by Kiss as "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II" for the film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey in 1991. The album reached #69 in Canada.

<i>The Argent Anthology - A Collection of Greatest Hits</i> 1976 greatest hits album by Argent

The Argent Anthology - A Collection of Greatest Hits is the first compilation album released by British rock band Argent. It was released on the Epic label in 1976. The British release was called The Best of Argent - An Anthology and had a different track list.

<i>R.I.P.</i> (The Zombies album) 2000 studio album by the Zombies

R.I.P., also known as R.I.P. - The Lost Album, is a studio album by English rock band the Zombies. It was originally scheduled to be released in 1969, but was cancelled. It was first released in Japan in October 2000 by Imperial Records.

References

  1. Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  1. 1 2 3 "Argent". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Eder, Bruce. "Encore: Live in Concert Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 29. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 49/50. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  5. 1 2 3 "Argent - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  6. "Gig review: Johnny's Rock N Roll Show – The Zombies, Argent, Aylesbury, 2 June 2013". Get Ready to Rock!. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  7. "Jim Rodford, of Argent, Kinks, Zombies Fame, Dies". Bestclassicbands.com. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  8. "Jim Rodford, Kinks and Argent Bassist, Dead at 76". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.  308. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  10. Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. p.  693. ISBN   1-56563-679-1.
  11. "Three Dog Night, "Liar" U.S. Chart Position" . Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  12. "Songs From The Mirror". Fish-thecompany.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  13. Wilding, Philip (26 January 2018). "Fish – Songs From The Mirror reissue review". Louder. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  14. "Phish.net". Phish.net. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  15. "Argent Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 5 November 2022.