Argent (band)
Encyclopedia
Argent are an English
rock
band
founded in 1969 by keyboardist
Rod Argent
, formerly of The Zombies
.
from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod
on bass guitar
though he was not meant to become a member of the group.
Original members of the band were bassist
Jim Rodford
(Rod Argent's cousin and formerly with the Mike Cotton Sound), drummer
Bob Henrit
and guitarist
/keyboardist
Russ Ballard
(both formerly with The Roulettes
and Unit 4 + 2
). Lead vocal duties were shared between Ballard and Argent.
Rod Argent, Chris White
(former Zombies bassist, producer, songwriter) and Russ Ballard were the group's songwriters. Some of Ballard's compositions became hits
when they were covered
by other artists
, including Kiss
, Petra
, Rainbow
, Hello
, Santana
and more recently the brazilian metal band Oficina G3
.
When Ballard left in 1974, he was replaced by guitarist/vocalist John Verity
and guitarist John Grimaldi and there followed a period of intense recording
, in which they produced two albums, and a film that was never released (though a clip is available to view on John Verity's website). The band's decision to come off the road late in 1976 has never been fully explained, though the decision might have been influenced by the declining health of one of its members. Rodford, Henrit and Verity briefly continued together under the name Phoenix before going their separate ways, with first Rodford and then Henrit becoming members of The Kinks
. Meanwhile, Rod Argent went on to work with Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and to produce a couple of solo albums. He also opened a keyboard shop in the West End of London.
Argent's biggest hit
was Rod Argent and Chris White's "Hold Your Head Up" from the All Together Now
album, which, in a heavily-edited single form, reached #5 in the U.S. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. "Hold Your Head Up" was covered in 1987 by the band 20/Twenty, which recorded on Refuge records' Christian label. Argent also 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. The Russ Ballard song "Liar" on Argent's first album became a hit for Three Dog Night
.
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
and then signed to a new record label
(United Artists
) for the final 1975 album
Counterpoints
. By 2005, all albums, including compilations, have been re-released on CD
, except Counterpoints.
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.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
founded in 1969 by keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
, formerly of The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
.
Career
The first three demosDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod
Mac MacLeod
Mac MacLeod is an English musician who was a part of the Hertfordshire folk and blues scene from 1959 onwards. He played in St Albans alongside Mick Softley, Maddy Prior and toured with John Renbourn...
on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
though he was not meant to become a member of the group.
Original members of the band were bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jim Rodford
Jim Rodford
Jim Rodford is a musician who played with The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans and was a founding member of Argent...
(Rod Argent's cousin and formerly with the Mike Cotton Sound), drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Bob Henrit
Bob Henrit
Bob Henrit is an English drummer who has been a member of several musical groups, including Buster Meikle & The Daybreakers, The Hunters, Unit 4 + 2, The Roulettes, Argent and The Kinks....
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
/keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Russ Ballard
Russ Ballard
Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
(both formerly with The Roulettes
The Roulettes
The Roulettes were a British rock and roll group formed in London in 1962. They started out as the group playing behind Adam Faith, who enjoyed a run of chart hits in the 1960s. In 1963 they signed to EMI and began releasing their own material, and in addition they would continue to work with Faith...
and Unit 4 + 2
Unit 4 + 2
Unit 4 + 2 were a British pop band, who had a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1965 with the song "Concrete and Clay". The track topped the UK chart for one week.-Early days:...
). Lead vocal duties were shared between Ballard and Argent.
Rod Argent, Chris White
Chris White (musician)
Chris White was the bass guitarist and songwriter with the 60s British Invasion band The Zombies.Although born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, he was brought up in Markyate where his parents owned a village shop...
(former Zombies bassist, producer, songwriter) and Russ Ballard were the group's songwriters. Some of Ballard's compositions became hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
when they were covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, including Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
, Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, Hello
Hello (band)
Hello is a Bell Records label, teen appeal glam rock band, based in England.-Career:The core of Hello was founded in about 1969, originally being called The Age. The band was started by Bob Bradbury, previously of The Flashback Berries, with Jeff Allen , Keith Marshall and Vic Faulkner...
, Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
and more recently the brazilian metal band Oficina G3
Oficina G3
Oficina G3 is a Christian rock band from São Paulo, Brazil. Lead vocalist and guitarist Juninho Afram formed the band along with drummer Walter Lopes and bassist Wagner García in 1987. Through their history they have changed their musical style very drastically...
.
When Ballard left in 1974, he was replaced by guitarist/vocalist John Verity
John Verity
John Verity was an English guitarist with the band Argent from 1973 to 1976.When Argent split up, he formed Phoenix with Bob Henrit and Jim Rodford. The band recorded three albums with CBS Records and toured Europe before disbanding. Rodford joined the Kinks, Verity and Henrit joined Charlie, to...
and guitarist John Grimaldi and there followed a period of intense recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, in which they produced two albums, and a film that was never released (though a clip is available to view on John Verity's website). The band's decision to come off the road late in 1976 has never been fully explained, though the decision might have been influenced by the declining health of one of its members. Rodford, Henrit and Verity briefly continued together under the name Phoenix before going their separate ways, with first Rodford and then Henrit becoming members of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Meanwhile, Rod Argent went on to work with Andrew Lloyd-Webber, and to produce a couple of solo albums. He also opened a keyboard shop in the West End of London.
Argent's biggest hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
was Rod Argent and Chris White's "Hold Your Head Up" from the All Together Now
All Together Now (album)
All Together Now, released in 1972, was the third album recorded by British rock band Argent. It was Argent's first hit album and features their most successful single "Hold Your Head Up," which reached number five in both the U.K. and U.S. singles charts...
album, which, in a heavily-edited single form, reached #5 in the U.S. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. "Hold Your Head Up" was covered in 1987 by the band 20/Twenty, which recorded on Refuge records' Christian label. Argent also recorded the original version of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", written by Russ Ballard, which was covered by Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
in 1991 under the name "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II
God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II
The video was filmed in Los Angeles, California in July 1991 and was directed by Mark Rezyka. It features the band playing in a room with flashbacks of Simmons and Stanley during the make-up era of Kiss's heyday. There were no prominent clips of Carr during the make-up years featured in the video,...
", and featured prominently at the end of the film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey is a 1991 American science fiction comedy film, and the directing debut of Peter Hewitt. It is the second film in the Bill & Ted franchise, and a sequel to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure . Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin reprise their respective roles...
. The song also became a Contemporary Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
anthem and was twice covered by the Christian Rock band Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
, in 1977 (on the album Come and Join Us
Come and Join Us
Come and Join Us is the second studio release of the Christian rock band Petra. It was released in 1977.The album continues with a style similar to the one of their previous album, which is something between country and southern rock. However, the music is more rock-oriented, and the lyrics show...
) and again in 1984 (on the album Beat the System
Beat the System
Beat the System is the seventh studio release of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released in 1985.It is the first album to feature John Lawry on keyboards. He is featured prominently in it, veering the sound of the album more in the techno-rock genre of music. It is also the last studio...
), with new verses. The Russ Ballard song "Liar" on Argent's first album became a hit for Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
.
The sound of the band was a mix of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, but also covered more progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
territory in songs like "The Coming of Kohoutek," an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
from their Nexus album. When Ballard left the band after Encore
Encore: Live in Concert
Encore: Live in Concert is a live double-LP by Argent which was released in 1974.-Track listing:# "The Coming of Kohoutek" – 10:34# "It's Only Money, Pt. 1" – 3:51# "It's Only Money, Pt...
, they took an even more progressive/fusion turn with their final Epic album Circus
Circus (Argent album)
Circus is the sixth album of Argent, released in 1975 by Epic and distributed by CBS.- Track listing :All songs composed by Rod Argent except where indicated.Side One# "Circus" - 3:45# "Highwire" - 9:05# "Clown" - 5:50Side Two...
and then signed to a new record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
(United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
) for the final 1975 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Counterpoints
Counterpoints (Argent album)
Counterpoints is a 1975 album and the seventh released by British rock band Argent. This was the second studio album recorded without founding member Russ Ballard...
. By 2005, all albums, including compilations, have been re-released on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, except Counterpoints.
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.
Studio albums
- ArgentArgent (album)Argent is the first album by British rock band Argent. Released in 1970 on CBS Records , the album did not chart in either the U.S. or the U.K. 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...
(Epic, 1970) - Ring of HandsRing of HandsRing of Hands is a 1971 album and the second released by British rock band Argent. It was originally released on Epic Records.-Track listing:Songs written by Rod Argent and Chris White except as noted.Side One#"Celebration" # "Sweet Mary"...
(Epic, 1971) - All Together NowAll Together Now (album)All Together Now, released in 1972, was the third album recorded by British rock band Argent. It was Argent's first hit album and features their most successful single "Hold Your Head Up," which reached number five in both the U.K. and U.S. singles charts...
(Epic, 1972) UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#13, US #23 - In DeepIn Deep (Argent album)-References:http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-deep-r827...
(Epic, 1973) UK #49, US #90 - Nexus (Epic, 1974) US #149
- CircusCircus (Argent album)Circus is the sixth album of Argent, released in 1975 by Epic and distributed by CBS.- Track listing :All songs composed by Rod Argent except where indicated.Side One# "Circus" - 3:45# "Highwire" - 9:05# "Clown" - 5:50Side Two...
(Epic, 1975) US #171 - CounterpointsCounterpoints (Argent album)Counterpoints is a 1975 album and the seventh released by British rock band Argent. This was the second studio album recorded without founding member Russ Ballard...
(United Artists, 1975)
Live albums
- Encore: Live In ConcertEncore: Live in ConcertEncore: Live in Concert is a live double-LP by Argent which was released in 1974.-Track listing:# "The Coming of Kohoutek" – 10:34# "It's Only Money, Pt. 1" – 3:51# "It's Only Money, Pt...
(Epic, 1974) US #151 - BBC Radio 1 In Concert (1995)
- The Complete BBC Sessions (1997)
Compilations
- The Best of Argent - An Anthology (Epic, 1976)
- Hold Your Head Up (1978)
- Music from the Spheres (1991)
- Greatest: The Singles Collection (2008)
- Argent: Original Album Classics [A collection of the band's first five albums in miniature album sleeves] (2009)
Singles
- "Sweet Mary" (1971) US. #102
- "Hold Your Head Up" (1972) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5; USBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#5 - "Tragedy" (1972) UK #34, US #106
- "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (1973) UK 18 US #114