Top 10 Argent Songs

Feature Photo: J-Ham2000, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Argent songs list looks at a band Rod Argent formed in the late 60s. While the band Argent may not be a household name, several members of the band have ties to some of the most famous groups in Rock and Roll history. The group’s founding member, Rod Argent, was a member of the Zombies, another very short-lived band that is now a classic rock band in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band Argent released their first album in 1970, entitled Argent. While the band did not have any successful singles from the record, the album included a song titled “Liar,” written by Russ Ballard. The song would become a big hit for the band Three Dog Night the following year.
In 1971, the band Argent went to London’s Abbey Road Studios to record the third album. A little of that Beatles magic must have rubbed off on the band because the third album, All Together Now, contained Argent’s biggest hit. The song “Hold Your Head Up” was a top 10 hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom in 1972.
The band’s follow-up album to All Together Now, In Deep, was released in 1973. Those two albums would be the only Argent records to enter the top 100 album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It would also be the last Argent album to chart in the United Kingdom. The next Argent album, Nexus, was released in 1974. The follow-up album to Nexus would be Circus. That would be the last Argent album for CBS Records.
In 1975, the band Argent signed with CBS Records’ rival, RCA Records. That record deal would deliver one last studio album entitled Counterpoints. The album would also feature Phil Collins on drums on some of the tracks. In addition to their six studio albums, Argent released three live albums and five compilations. They were not a band that changed members often. The band’s four original members, Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, Jim Rodford, and Robert Henrit, remained with the band for the most part throughout the 1970s.

# 10 – The Coming of Kohoutek

We open our top 10 Argent songs list with the opening track to their album Nexus. The album was released in 1974. This great instrumental song showcases Argent’s progressive style. Argent has a large following among progressive rock fans. Listen to the great Rod Argent keyboard work on this instrumental track. His organ tears it up

# 9 – Be Glad

Listen to the opening piano riff on this great tune. The smoking blues piano riff then catapults into an ensemble of rock-and-roll musicians who are on fire. This is great stuff and so underrated in the story of rock and roll. Argent’s “Be Glad” was the opening track to side two of their album In Deep.

# 8 – Schoolgirl

The Argent song “Schoolgirl” was released on the album Argent. It was the band’s first record. It was released in 1970. The song “Schoolgirl” was written by original Argent member Russ Ballard, who would also enjoy success as a songwriter outside his work with Argent. Ballard was responsible for composing the song “New York Groove,” a hit for Ace Frehley when Kiss released their four solo albums.
Russ Ballard also composed Santana’s 1981 hit “Winning.” He worked with The Who’s Roger Daltrey, composing the songs “Breaking Down Paradise,” “Free Me,” “Just A Dream Away,” and a few others. Russ Ballard also wrote America’s colossal hit “You Can Do Magic.”

# 7 – Pleasure

Continuing with our Top 10 Argent songs list, we turn to the Argent album entitled Ring Of Hands. The album was released in 1971. The song “Pleasure” was written by Rod Argent and Chris White. Ring of Hands was Argent’s second album release.

# 6 – Thunder and Lightning

The classic Argent song “Thunder and Lightning” was released on the Nexus album. Russ Ballard wrote the song, which was the album’s opening track on the record’s second side. Nexus was probably the band’s most progressive rock record.

# 5 – Keep On Rollin

All Together Now was Argent’s most commercially successful album. The record did extremely well on the album charts, reaching number 16 in the United Kingdom and number 23 in the United States. Of course, the album’s success was due to the big-time single “Hold Your Head Up.” Nonetheless, that album was filled with great Argent songs, including the one we have placed here entitled “Keep On Rollin.”

# 4 – Liar

Most classic rock fans know this one from the Three Dog Night version. Argent’s original version is quite different from Three Dog Night’s, which, by the way, was a top 10 hit in the United States. The song “Liar” was written by Russ Ballard. The song was released on Argent’s debut album, Argent, in 1970.

# 3 – Tragedy

This one opens with some really funky guitar playing that is simply to die for. “Tragedy” has always been one of our favorite Argent songs. The track was released on their legendary album All Together Now and written by Russ Ballard.

# 2 – God Gave Rock and Roll To You

Like the Argent song “Liar,” which was made more popular by the group Three Dog Night, Argent’s song “God Gave Rock and Roll To You” became more popular when it was recorded by the New York-based band Kiss. Argent’s original version was released on the album In Deep.

# 1 – Hold Your Head Up

Well, there was no doubt about this one. The Argent song “Hold Your Head Up” was released on the band’s third album. It was by far the band’s biggest hit. It reached the top 10 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and the United Kingdom music charts. It was Rod Argent’s biggest hit since his work with the Zombies. “Hold Your Head Up” stands as one of the premier songs of the classic rock era. The song “Hold Your Head Up” has been covered by many artists, including Uriah Heep, Mother Love Bone, and Steppenwolf.