Spotify keeps suggesting Argent to me, and seems to think some of their albums are prog. Are they? The only song I know is Hold Your Head Up, which I don't consider prog. Though Fish did cover it! Still, I'm skeptical... Rod Argent is from...The Zombies?
Gosh. I sure hope so.
I would say their first album (the only one I have really liked, TBH) could be classed as early prog. It was released in 1969 on CBS. My favourite track is Like Honey.
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I need to play their live album 'Encore', lots of prog on that from what I remember! They became more of a proggy fusion band when Ballard left and 'Circus' is a great album. Phil Collins drummed on one of those albums but don't own that one!
BTW, surely you've heard other songs by them even if they where more well known covered by other artists such as Three Dog Night & Kiss.
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Prog or not Argent is up there in my life with the best of the best, same with the Zombies. The songs, the musicians who graced the groups, some of which have gone on to other great bands and long careers( I just can't list them all now). Top Ten in my list,(IMO, I'm past the thinking part of my day, sorry).
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When I was in 7th grade, two of my favorite albums were the first, s/t Argent album and 'Ring of Hands'.
They were certainly an interesting mix for 1969-70 of proto-progressive elements and sophisticated 60s pop, and there was some excellent singing and tunes on both of those albums and I think that they still hold up. 'Prog' or not.
Last edited by Steve F.; 11-05-2021 at 09:34 AM.
Steve F.
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“Remember, if it doesn't say "Cuneiform," it's not prog!” - THE Jed Levin
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"Death to false 'support the scene' prog!"
please add 'imo' wherever you like, to avoid offending those easily offended.
Yes- in particular, 'The Coming Of Kohoutek' (posted above) is full-on, ELP-esque prog.
There is a natural follow-on from the sound of The Zombies' later work too. Decades later 'Christmas For The Free' was re-recorded with Colin Blunstone singing, on The Zombies' album Breathe Out Breathe In. (And some of The Zombies' last, post-Colin Blunstone recordings were recorded by Blunstone on his debut.)
Been a while since I heard it but I remember really liking 'Freefall' and 'Dance In The Smoke' on the debut.
Good album, some belting stuff on there. Need to get myself a copy of that.Originally Posted by Rufus
I love the first three Argent albums. Are they prog, hm... I'd say by the standards of their era, they're relatively restrained. Songs are usually 4-5 minutes with clear verse/chorus structure, lyrics are about everyday concerns such as love and romance and self-esteem, musicianship is solid but not showy. I think they were releasing albums during a time where it was expected for most rock bands to have excellent musicianship, an occasional longer song, occasional mythological references in the lyrics, etc. I think by the standards of any time other than their own time they were a prog-rock band; by the standards of the late sixties/early seventies they were an excellent rock band playing in a time when everything had some prog influence.
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Very well put
We walked arm in arm with madness, and every little breeze whispered of the secret love we had for our disease
I guess you mean Counterpoints, which indeed features Phil Collins. Recently released on CD in Japan (or S. Korea):
And prog it is...
Time
Circus is excellent. I love Argent though. Just having Rod in the band makes it plenty likely to be progressive. Hold Your Head up is fucking classic, i don't care what anyone else may tell youWhat a great organ solo and fabulous tune. I need to put that on right now, dammit.
Cursing done
Seriously, back then we didn't know from Prog™ but there was progressive stuff all over the place and still is. I've since learnt, however, from more knowledgable Prog™ enthusiasts (some right here on this very forum where i first heard about this "Prog" thing) that Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd weren't. So, what do i know?
Encore is also great, Rufus, yes. Ballard was really a big part of their greatness. What a brilliant songwriter. But the next phase was definitely more fusion oriented.
.... and if it's sad.... mmmmmm tasty....
Someone mentioned Encore earlier which reminds me to mention Nexus which is one of their best. It may not be prog but it is kick ass organ rock, imho. Here is a Nexus track being performed live (from the album "Encore"). If this isn't progressive, well whatever
Last edited by Polypet; 11-05-2021 at 04:01 PM.
And the code is a play, a play is a song, a song is a film, a film is a dance...
Are you kidding Jed? Rod Argent is one of the great prog keyboardists...They have always been in my classic prog artists group along with all the biggies.
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I prefer Nature to Human Nature
Circus is a full on fusion album. Prog enough for me.
One of their tracks was included on the Supernatural Fairy Tales box set back in the 90's (a rather infamous prog compilation). I would say that at least means some people consider them prog. Then again Golden Earring and ELO were on there too and they might be even less prog than Argent.
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Is Argento Prog? What about Argentina?
Nexus and some of Circus. In spite of recommendations here, avoid Counterpoints; there’s a little fusion-esque stuff on there but most of it’s drivel.
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Although it didn't have the accompanying hit single that its two predecessors did, Nexus is a good album. '...Kohoutek', 'Thunder And Lightning' and 'Music Of The Spheres' are particularly worthwhile.
Sadly Jim Rodford is no longer with us- he died in an accident in his home a few years back. He was in The Zombies when I saw them in 2008, and in The Kinks during their late 70s US resurgence (and onwards).
Argento must have been partly prog due to David Hemmings' input on Profondo Rosso and the latter's connection to Ashley Holt, who performed the multi-complex baritone fart-part of Journey to the Center of the Earth and further sang and danced in Warhorse and donned a high-five thigh-dive tophat titjob blow-rob boy the joy to rob-Bob poppy floppadoppy.
It's symphonic concept triple foldout.
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
As for Argent, they were worthy of pursuit no matter the "prog" quota. Start with Ring of Hands (IMO).
"Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
"[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM
Ring of Hands is a classic, for sure.
And the code is a play, a play is a song, a song is a film, a film is a dance...
I'm an Argent guy, IMO most all of everything Rod does is listenable.
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