Argent - Total Rock Review (2003) Re-up

This is the long awaited critical review of the classic line up of Argent in concert, on record and film.

Drawing on rare television footage of the classic line up of Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, Bob Henrit and Jim Rodford performing live this is the definitive retrospective assessment of the career one of the most dearly loved bands of the progressive era.

This independent film features a team of leading critics and musicologists in a penetrating journey into the heart of Argent's music. Every album from Argent to Encore is reviewed and assessed. Hard hitting and forthright the critics pull no punches when it comes to discussing what worked in the music and also probes the reasons why sometimes it didn't. Maybe this was why the bank never made it to the very top flight of the rock world.

Features classic performance footage and bonus material by the original line up including Hold Your Head Up, God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You, Liar, Rejoice and more.

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Argent:

After the Zombies broke up, keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent formed his own band in 1969, which incorporated more classical, jazz, and art rock influences in accordance with Argent's musical training. The group's other members were guitarist/songwriter Russ Ballard, bassist Jim Rodford, and drummer Bob Henrit. Argent's first two albums, Argent and Ring of Hands, received a fair amount of critical acclaim, but their real breakthrough came with 1972's All Together Now, which contained the Top Five smash "Hold Your Head Up"; In Deep produced a minor hit in "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You," which was covered by Kiss in 1992. By 1974, Ballard had developed his songwriting talents enough to leave for a solo career (Three Dog Night had a Top Ten single in 1971 with his "Liar," from Argent), and was replaced by guitarist John Verity and string player John Grimaldi. Without Ballard, the group lost its focus and indulged its tendencies toward extended art rock passages and improvisational solos to somewhat excessive levels. Argent broke up in 1976; Rodford joined the Kinks, while Argent himself recorded several solo albums and became a record producer, working with Tanita Tikaram, among others.

~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Argent - английская рок-группа, основанная в 1968 году Родом Арджентом, бывшим участником «The Zombies». В первых трёх демозаписях от Арджента, записанных осенью 1968 года, участвует Мак МакЛеод на бас-гитаре. Другие участники: ударник Боб Хенрит и басист Джим Родфорд (позже ставшие участниками «The Kinks») и гитарист/клавишник Расс Бэллард, участвовавший в создании нескольких композиций на протяжении истории группы (некоторые компоиции Бэлларда стали хитами, когда их исполнили другие музыканты, такие как Rainbow и Карлос Сантана). Когда Расс Бэллард ушёл из группы в 1973 году, его заменил гитарист/вокалист Джон Верити и гитарист Джон Гримальди и затем последовал период интенсивных записей и гастролей, пока группа не распалась в конце 1976 году.