A curta biografia da banda, que segue, foi escrita por Steve Huey para o site allmusic e traduzida livremente do inglês.
Após a Zombies acabar, o tecladista e compositor Rod Argent formou sua própria banda em 1969, que incorporou mais música clássica, jazz e influências da arte roqueira para a formação do som da Argent. Os outros membros do grupo eram o guitarrista e compositor Russ Ballard, o baixista Jim Rodford e o baterista Bob Henrit. Os primeiros dois discos da banda, “Argent” e “Ring Of Hands”, receberam uma boa acolhida da crítica, mas o sucesso veio mesmo no álbum de 1972, “All Together Now”, que continha o estrondoso Top Five “Hold Your Head Up”; “In Deep” produziu um hit menor, “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You”, que foi regravado pela banda Kiss em 1992. Em 1974, Ballard tinha desenvolvido seu talento de compositor de maneira suficiente para tentar uma carreira solo (a Three Dog Night teve um único Top Ten em 1971 com a canção “Liar”, de Ballard), tendo sido substituído pelos guitarristas John Verity e John Grimaldi. Sem Ballard, o grupo perdeu seu rumo e tendeu a tocar jams longas e solos improvisados a níveis excessivos. A Argent terminou em 1976; Rodford se juntou à banda Kinks, enquanto Rod Argent gravou vários álbuns solos e se tornou produtor musical, trabalhando com Tanita Tikaram, entre outros.
Discos, por ordem de lançamento:
(1969) Argent
Tracklist:
1. Like Honey (White, Argent) 3:15
2. Liar (Ballard) 3:15
3. Be Free (White, Argent) 3:52
4. Schoolgirl (Ballard) 3:22
5. Dance In The Smoke (White, Argent) 6:17
6. Lonely Hard Road (Ballard) 4:23
7. The Feeling Is Inside (White, Argent) 3:51
8. Freefall (White, Argent) 3:19
9. Stepping Stone (White, Argent) 4:40
10. Bring You Joy (White, Argent) 4:12
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Piano [Pianette], Vocals [Lead Vocals: tracks 1, 7, 8]
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals [Lead Vocals: tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10]
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1970) Ring Of Hands
Tracklist:
1. Celebration (White, Argent) 2:52
2. Sweet Mary (White, Argent) 4:05
3. Cast Your Spell Uranus (Ballard) 4:29
4. Lothlorien (White, Argent) 7:50
5. Chained (Ballard) 5:18
6. Rejoice (White, Argent) 3:44
7. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:51
8. Sleep Won’t Help Me (White, Argent) 5:09
9. Where Are We Going Wrong (Ballard) 4:10
10. He’s A Dynamo (Ballard)
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1972) All Together Now
Tracklist:
1. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 6:16
2. Keep On Rollin’ (White, Argent) 4:30
3. Tragedy (Ballard [*]) 4:47
4. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 3:44
5. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 5:18
6. He’s A Dynamo (Ballard) 3:46
7. Pure Love [Fantasia, Prelude, Pure Love, Finale] (White, Argent) 13:05
Bonus Tracks:
8. Celebration [bonus track] (White, Argent) 2:52
9. Kingdom [bonus track] (White, Argent) 3:06
10. Closer To Heaven [bonus track] (Ballard) 3:29
11. Rejoice [bonus track] (White, Argent) 3:44
12. God Gave Rock And Roll To You [bonus track] (Ballard) 6:42
13. Christmas For The Free [bonus track] (White, Argent) 4:13
14. It’s Only Money - Pt. 2 [bonus track] (Ballard) 5:09
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Electric Piano, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Piano (track 3), Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
[*] Alguns sites (allmusic, answers) apontam os irmãos Gibb (Robin, Barry e Maurice), dos Bee Gees, como co-autores da música.
(1973) In Deep
Tracklist:
1. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 6:41
2. It’'s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 4:02
3. It’s Only Money (Part 2) (Ballard) 5:08
4. Losing Hold (White, Argent) (5:32)
5. Be Glad (White, Argent) 8:38
6. Christmas For The Free (White, Argent) 4:13
7. Candles On The River (White, Argent) 7:00
8. Rosie (Ballard) 3:43
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Electric Piano, Vocals [Lead Vocals: track 6], Mellotron, Piano
Russ Ballard: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
Dereck Griffiths: Guitar [Solo] (track 6)
(1974) Encore: Live In Concert
Tracklist:
1. The Coming Of Kohoutek (White, Argent) 10:34
2. It’s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 3:51
3. It’s Only Money (Part 2) (Ballard) 5:04
4. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 7:03
5. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 6:21
6. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 9:15
7. I Don’t Believe In Miracles (Ballard) 3:27
8. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 9:28
9. Keep On Rollin’ (White, Argent) 5:19
10. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 11:16
11. Time Of The Season (Argent) 6:28
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
1ª parte:
2ª parte:
(1974) Nexus
Tracklist:
1. The Coming Of Kohoutek [instrumental] (White, Argent) 3:01
2. Once Around The Sun [instrumental] (White, Argent) 2:49
3. Infinite Wanderer (White, Argent) 3:43
4. Love (Ballard) 3:52
5. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 8:10
6. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 5:07
7. Keeper Of The Flame (White, Argent) 6:00
8. A Man For All Reasons (Ballard) 4:44
9. Gonna Meet My Maker (Ballard) 4:37
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1975) Circus
Tracklist:
1. Circus (Argent) 3:45
2. Highwire (Argent) 9:05
3. Clown (Argent) 5:50
4. Trapeze (Rodford) 8:48
5. Shine On Sunshine (Argent) 4:02
6. The Ring (Argent) 1:20
7. The Jester (Argent) 3:35
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Mellotron, Vocals, Synthesizer [Moog]
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
John Grimaldi: Guitar
(1975) Counterpoints
Tracklist:
1. On My Feet Again (Argent)
2. I Can't Remember, But Yes (Argent)
3. Time (Rodford)
4. Waiting For The Yellow One (Grimaldi)
5. It’s Fallen Off (Grimaldi)
6. Be Strong (Argent)
7. Rock ‘N Roll Show (Argent)
8. Butterfly (Argent)
9. Road Back Home (Argent)
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
John Grimaldi: Guitar
(1976) The Argent Anthology: A Collection Of Greatest Hits
Tracklist:
1. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 6:17
2. Liar (Ballard) 3:14
3. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:54
4. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 6:45
5. It’s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 4:06
6. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 5:09
7. Tragedy (Ballard) 4:48
8. Time Of The Season (White, Argent, Atkinson, Blunstone, Grundy) 6:40
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1995) BBC Radio 1 In Concert
Tracklist:
1. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 6:47
2. Sweet Mary (White, Argent) 5:48
3. Tragedy (Ballard) 5:35
4. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 8:52
5. The Fakir (White, Argent, Ballard, Henrit, Rodford) 13:47
6. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 7:04
7. He’s a Dynamo (Ballard) 7:03
8. God Gave Rock & Roll To You (Ballard) 6:09
9. It’s Only Money (Ballard) 4:50
10. Gonna Meet My Maker (Ballard) 4:29
11. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 8:59
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(2008) Greatest: The Singles Collection
Tracklist:
1. Liar [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:14
2. Schoolgirl [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:28
3. Dance In The Smoke (Argent) 6:22
4. Sweet Mary [Single Version] (White, Argent) 3:14
5. Lothlorien (White, Argent) 7:55
6. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:56
7. Celebration [Single Version] (White, Argent) 2:57
8. Cast Your Spell Uranus (Ballard) 4:34
9. Hold Your Head Up [Single Version] (White, Argent) 3:19
10. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 5:22
11. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 3:46
12. Tragedy [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:36
13. God Gave Rock And Roll To You [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:24
14. It’s Only Money (Part 2) [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:38
15. Man For All Reasons [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:08
16. Thunder And Lightning [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:34
17. The Jester (Argent) 3:41
18. Time Of The Season [Live] (White, Argent, Atkinson, Blunstone, Grundy) 6:41
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
John Grimaldi: Guitar
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
Após a Zombies acabar, o tecladista e compositor Rod Argent formou sua própria banda em 1969, que incorporou mais música clássica, jazz e influências da arte roqueira para a formação do som da Argent. Os outros membros do grupo eram o guitarrista e compositor Russ Ballard, o baixista Jim Rodford e o baterista Bob Henrit. Os primeiros dois discos da banda, “Argent” e “Ring Of Hands”, receberam uma boa acolhida da crítica, mas o sucesso veio mesmo no álbum de 1972, “All Together Now”, que continha o estrondoso Top Five “Hold Your Head Up”; “In Deep” produziu um hit menor, “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You”, que foi regravado pela banda Kiss em 1992. Em 1974, Ballard tinha desenvolvido seu talento de compositor de maneira suficiente para tentar uma carreira solo (a Three Dog Night teve um único Top Ten em 1971 com a canção “Liar”, de Ballard), tendo sido substituído pelos guitarristas John Verity e John Grimaldi. Sem Ballard, o grupo perdeu seu rumo e tendeu a tocar jams longas e solos improvisados a níveis excessivos. A Argent terminou em 1976; Rodford se juntou à banda Kinks, enquanto Rod Argent gravou vários álbuns solos e se tornou produtor musical, trabalhando com Tanita Tikaram, entre outros.
Discos, por ordem de lançamento:
(1969) Argent
Tracklist:
1. Like Honey (White, Argent) 3:15
2. Liar (Ballard) 3:15
3. Be Free (White, Argent) 3:52
4. Schoolgirl (Ballard) 3:22
5. Dance In The Smoke (White, Argent) 6:17
6. Lonely Hard Road (Ballard) 4:23
7. The Feeling Is Inside (White, Argent) 3:51
8. Freefall (White, Argent) 3:19
9. Stepping Stone (White, Argent) 4:40
10. Bring You Joy (White, Argent) 4:12
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Piano [Pianette], Vocals [Lead Vocals: tracks 1, 7, 8]
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals [Lead Vocals: tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10]
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1970) Ring Of Hands
Tracklist:
1. Celebration (White, Argent) 2:52
2. Sweet Mary (White, Argent) 4:05
3. Cast Your Spell Uranus (Ballard) 4:29
4. Lothlorien (White, Argent) 7:50
5. Chained (Ballard) 5:18
6. Rejoice (White, Argent) 3:44
7. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:51
8. Sleep Won’t Help Me (White, Argent) 5:09
9. Where Are We Going Wrong (Ballard) 4:10
10. He’s A Dynamo (Ballard)
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1972) All Together Now
Tracklist:
1. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 6:16
2. Keep On Rollin’ (White, Argent) 4:30
3. Tragedy (Ballard [*]) 4:47
4. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 3:44
5. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 5:18
6. He’s A Dynamo (Ballard) 3:46
7. Pure Love [Fantasia, Prelude, Pure Love, Finale] (White, Argent) 13:05
Bonus Tracks:
8. Celebration [bonus track] (White, Argent) 2:52
9. Kingdom [bonus track] (White, Argent) 3:06
10. Closer To Heaven [bonus track] (Ballard) 3:29
11. Rejoice [bonus track] (White, Argent) 3:44
12. God Gave Rock And Roll To You [bonus track] (Ballard) 6:42
13. Christmas For The Free [bonus track] (White, Argent) 4:13
14. It’s Only Money - Pt. 2 [bonus track] (Ballard) 5:09
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Electric Piano, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Piano (track 3), Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
[*] Alguns sites (allmusic, answers) apontam os irmãos Gibb (Robin, Barry e Maurice), dos Bee Gees, como co-autores da música.
(1973) In Deep
Tracklist:
1. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 6:41
2. It’'s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 4:02
3. It’s Only Money (Part 2) (Ballard) 5:08
4. Losing Hold (White, Argent) (5:32)
5. Be Glad (White, Argent) 8:38
6. Christmas For The Free (White, Argent) 4:13
7. Candles On The River (White, Argent) 7:00
8. Rosie (Ballard) 3:43
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Electric Piano, Vocals [Lead Vocals: track 6], Mellotron, Piano
Russ Ballard: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
Dereck Griffiths: Guitar [Solo] (track 6)
(1974) Encore: Live In Concert
Tracklist:
1. The Coming Of Kohoutek (White, Argent) 10:34
2. It’s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 3:51
3. It’s Only Money (Part 2) (Ballard) 5:04
4. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 7:03
5. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 6:21
6. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 9:15
7. I Don’t Believe In Miracles (Ballard) 3:27
8. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 9:28
9. Keep On Rollin’ (White, Argent) 5:19
10. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 11:16
11. Time Of The Season (Argent) 6:28
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
1ª parte:
2ª parte:
(1974) Nexus
Tracklist:
1. The Coming Of Kohoutek [instrumental] (White, Argent) 3:01
2. Once Around The Sun [instrumental] (White, Argent) 2:49
3. Infinite Wanderer (White, Argent) 3:43
4. Love (Ballard) 3:52
5. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 8:10
6. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 5:07
7. Keeper Of The Flame (White, Argent) 6:00
8. A Man For All Reasons (Ballard) 4:44
9. Gonna Meet My Maker (Ballard) 4:37
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1975) Circus
Tracklist:
1. Circus (Argent) 3:45
2. Highwire (Argent) 9:05
3. Clown (Argent) 5:50
4. Trapeze (Rodford) 8:48
5. Shine On Sunshine (Argent) 4:02
6. The Ring (Argent) 1:20
7. The Jester (Argent) 3:35
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Organ, Piano, Electric Piano, Mellotron, Vocals, Synthesizer [Moog]
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
John Grimaldi: Guitar
(1975) Counterpoints
Tracklist:
1. On My Feet Again (Argent)
2. I Can't Remember, But Yes (Argent)
3. Time (Rodford)
4. Waiting For The Yellow One (Grimaldi)
5. It’s Fallen Off (Grimaldi)
6. Be Strong (Argent)
7. Rock ‘N Roll Show (Argent)
8. Butterfly (Argent)
9. Road Back Home (Argent)
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
John Grimaldi: Guitar
(1976) The Argent Anthology: A Collection Of Greatest Hits
Tracklist:
1. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 6:17
2. Liar (Ballard) 3:14
3. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:54
4. God Gave Rock And Roll To You (Ballard) 6:45
5. It’s Only Money (Part 1) (Ballard) 4:06
6. Thunder And Lightning (Ballard) 5:09
7. Tragedy (Ballard) 4:48
8. Time Of The Season (White, Argent, Atkinson, Blunstone, Grundy) 6:40
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(1995) BBC Radio 1 In Concert
Tracklist:
1. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 6:47
2. Sweet Mary (White, Argent) 5:48
3. Tragedy (Ballard) 5:35
4. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 8:52
5. The Fakir (White, Argent, Ballard, Henrit, Rodford) 13:47
6. Hold Your Head Up (White, Argent) 7:04
7. He’s a Dynamo (Ballard) 7:03
8. God Gave Rock & Roll To You (Ballard) 6:09
9. It’s Only Money (Ballard) 4:50
10. Gonna Meet My Maker (Ballard) 4:29
11. Music From The Spheres (White, Argent) 8:59
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion
(2008) Greatest: The Singles Collection
Tracklist:
1. Liar [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:14
2. Schoolgirl [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:28
3. Dance In The Smoke (Argent) 6:22
4. Sweet Mary [Single Version] (White, Argent) 3:14
5. Lothlorien (White, Argent) 7:55
6. Pleasure (White, Argent) 4:56
7. Celebration [Single Version] (White, Argent) 2:57
8. Cast Your Spell Uranus (Ballard) 4:34
9. Hold Your Head Up [Single Version] (White, Argent) 3:19
10. Be My Lover, Be My Friend (White, Argent) 5:22
11. I Am The Dance Of Ages (White, Argent) 3:46
12. Tragedy [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:36
13. God Gave Rock And Roll To You [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:24
14. It’s Only Money (Part 2) [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:38
15. Man For All Reasons [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:08
16. Thunder And Lightning [Single Version] (Ballard) 3:34
17. The Jester (Argent) 3:41
18. Time Of The Season [Live] (White, Argent, Atkinson, Blunstone, Grundy) 6:41
Personnel:
Rod Argent: Keyboards, Vocals
Russ Ballard: Guitar, Vocals
John Verity: Guitar, Vocals
John Grimaldi: Guitar
Jim Rodford: Bass, Vocals
Robert Henrit: Drums, Percussion