Today, I’m inspired to write about one of my lifelong loves, Argent, after playing their final album, Counterpoint. I’ve loved the band since Hold Your Head Up, which was a hit in 1972, though originally released in the UK in October 1971 on an EP with 2 other tracks.
Interestingly, it was rereleased the following year as a 2-track single, which played the album-length version, then as a 45 rpm, which was edited. It got to #5 in the UK. The main band for most of their career was Russ Ballard, Rod Argent, Jim Rodford and Robert Henrit.
That inspired me to get All Together Now, the album it was on, which got to #13 and also featured the follow-up single Tragedy, that got to #34 but never gets any airing in the UK now. Although they were markedly less popular than some progressive rock bands, their hybrid sound, which took in prog, rock and jazz always appealed to me. That album closed with Pure Love, a 13-minute suite and encapsulated their essence.
When God Gave Rock N Roll To You came out in February 1973 I loved it and got the In Deep album it was on. It had originally been recorded for the All Together Now record, but was held over. The album version is 6:45, but it was edited to 3:30 for the 7” and got to #18 in UK and #114 in the USA, taking off Rod Argent’s keyboard solo. The follow up It’s Only Money got to #43.
My pal Russell got the double live Encore and I was blown away by it. The fact they featured jazzy/bluesy Hammond organ and heavy guitar and played long workouts gave them an original sound.
After taping and loving the live album, I got the excellent debut, which didn’t sell but was critically applauded. The debut single Liar is excellent and was a hit for Three Dog Night.
Ring of Hands, the second album, featured Cast Your Spell Uranus, which I first heard on an Epic compilation. By the time Nexus came out (with a terrible cover of I think, Rod Argent in unpleasant trousers, in some territories) they were 30% instrumental. The Coming Of Kohoutek was the standout, which was extended from its 3 minute studio version to 10 minutes live. But it was less successful. At which point they rather changed direction for the last two albums in 1975, Circus and Counterpoint. Russ Ballard left and the band was Rod Argent, John Verity, John Grimaldi, Jim Rodford, Robert Henrit and they became much more of a fusion band. Grimaldi was regarded as a bit of a whizz kid and John Verity had been recommended by Ballard after his band had supported them.
Counterpoints didn’t chart and they disbanded. It’s not very well produced and on my system lacks bottom end. It puts me in mind of the jazz-fusion of Isotope in places.
They’re a very satisfying band and at their best combine lots of different elements to create a sound that is all their own. I think right until the end they were a popular live draw and charted with 5 albums in America and only 2 in the UK. They toured America with Jeff Beck at one point, which must have been a great show. Encore features Colin Blunstone’s I don’t Believe In Miracles and the Zombies Time Of The Season as well of the brilliant Music Of The Spheres and, if you’ve never heard it or not for a while, revisit it, I think it’s one of the best double live’s of the era and reminds you of seeing such bands in the 70s.
When the band dissolved, Verity formed a new band, Phoenix, with Bob Henrit and Jim Rodford. The band recorded three albums with CBS Records and toured Europe before disbanding. Grimaldi became involved in more jazz-rock but died in 1983, aged just 28. Ballard has had a stellar career as a songwriter, including hits like Since You’ve Been Gone and No More The Fool. His self-titled debut solo in 1974 is excellent and very ‘Argenty’. He’s now 79 was 76, when, in 2018 he unfortunately fell down stairs. Henrit lives on aged 80. Now largely forgotten, they were a band that most people liked at some point.
