MUSIC – ARGENT
Russ Ballard was part of the British Rock Group Argent from 1969 to 1974. Argent was an important time before Russ started his solo-career. See here the Argent discography including the 2 last albums (released after Russ has left the band), where John Verity and John Grimaldi joined Argent The band did reunite in 2010 for some live gigs, where the original line-up (Rod Argent, Jim Rodford, Bob Henrit and Russ Ballard) was back on stage.
HIGH VOLTAGE LIVE
HIGH VOLTAGE FESTIVAL | 2010 / Concert Live
CD 1:
The Coming Of Kohoutek | It’s Only Money – Part 1 | It’s Only Money – Part 2 | Keep On Rolling | Rejoice
CD 2:
She’s Not There | I Don’t Believe In Miracles | Since You Been Gone | Hold Your Head Up | God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You
CD 1: 1/4/5 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 2/3 written by Russ Ballard
CD 2: 1/3/4/6 written by Russ Ballard | 2 written by Rod Argent | 5 written by Rod Argent/Chris White
Facts:
Recorded live on 25th July 2010.
ANTHOLOGY
Hold Your Head Up | Liar | Pleasure | God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You | It’s Only Money (Part 1) | Thunder And Lightning | Tragedy | Time Of The Season
1/3 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 2/4/5/6/7 written by Russ Ballard | 8 written by Rod Argent
COUNTERPOINTS
On My Feet Again | I Can’t Remember, But Yes | Time | Waiting For The Yellow One | It’s Fallen Off | Be Strong | Rock’N’Roll Show | Butterfly | Road Back Home
1/2/6/7/8/9 written by Rod Argent | 3 written by Jim Rodford | 4/5 written by John Grimaldi
Singles: Rock’n’Roll Show/It’s Fallen Off
Facts:
The last Argent studio album.
CIRCUS
CIRCUS | 1975 / Epic
Circus | Highwire | Clown | Trapeze | Shine On Shunshine | The Ring | The Jester
1/2/3/5/6/7 written by Rod Argent | 4 written by Jim Rodford
Singles: The Jester | Highwire
Facts:
The first studio album without Russ Ballard. New to the band were John Verity and John Grimaldi. With Trapeze, the band saw the first composition from Jim Rodford.
ENCORE
The Coming Of Kohoutek | It’s Only Money (Part 1) | It’s Only Money (Part 2) | God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You | Thunder And Lightning | Music From The Spheres | I Don’t Believe In Miracles | Dance Of Ages | Keep On Rolling | Hold Your Head Up | Time Of The Season
1/6/8/9/10 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 2/3/4/5/7 written by Russ Ballard | 11 written by Rod Argent
NEXUS
The Coming Of Kohoutek | Once Around The Sun | Infinite Wanderer | Love | Music From The Spheres | Thunder And Lightning | Keeper Of The Flame | Man For All Reasons | Gonna Meet My Maker
1/2/3/5/7 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 4/6/8/9 written by Russ Ballard
Singles: Thunder And Lightning/The Coming Of Kohoutek (B-Side in Turkey was Gonna Meet My Maker) | Man For All Reasons/Music From The Spheres
Facts:
This was the last studio album with Russ Ballard.
IN DEEP
IN DEEP | 1973 / Epic
God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You | It’s Only Money (Part 1) | It’s Only Money (Part 2) | Losing Hold | Be Glad | Christmas For The Free | Candles On The River | Rosie
1/2/3/8 written by Russ Ballard | 4/5/6/7 written by Rod Argent/Chris White
Singles: God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You/Chrsitmas For The Free | It’s Only Money Pt.2/Candles On The River (in the US, the B-Side was Losing Hold)
Facts:
God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You gave the band a #18 hit in UK and peaked at #114 in the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was covered by Christian rock band Petra in 1977, and rock band Bride in 1993. The best known cover was recorded by Kiss. With a minor lyric chance the band released the song in 1991 as God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You II. It appeared on the soundtrack album for Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. This was a massive hit for Kiss, peaking at #4 in the UK Charts and a #21 hit in US Billboard Album Rock tracks. Some say, God Gave Rock’N’Roll To You is the first Rock Anthem.
The album artwork was designed by Hipgonis, which also did the Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Flyod) and Difficult To Cure (Rainbow) artwork, just name two.
Russ Ballard on Elton John in Russ’ podcast: “He told us that “In Deep” was his favourite album”
ALL TOGETHER NOW
Hold Your Head Up | Keep On Rollin’ | Tragedy | I Am The Dance Of Ages | Be My Lover, Be My Friend | He’s A Dynamo | Pure Love -> I – Fantasia | II – Prelude | III – Pure Love | IV – Finale
1/2/4/5/7 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 3/6 written by Russ Ballard
Singles: Hold Your Head Up/Keep On Rollin’ | Tragedy/Rejoice | Hold Your Head Up/Sweet Mary (South Africa release)
Facts:
Hold Your Head Up gave Argent a #5 hit in UK and and US and the bands only entry into the Billboard Hot 100 charts. During the years, the song was covered many times by artists like Uriah Heep, Steppenwolf, Fish and Francie Conway.
RING OF HANDS
Celebration | Sweet Mary | Cast Your Spell Uranus | Lothlorien | Chained | Rejoice | Pleasure | Sleep Won’t Help Me | Where Are We Going Wrong
1/2/4/6/7/8 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 3/5/9 written by Russ Ballard
Singles: Celebration/Kingdom | Sweet Mary/Rejoice
Facts:
Sweet Mary made it up to #102 in the US Hot 100 Charts.
The album artwork was designed by Hipgonis, which also did the Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Flyod) and Difficult To Cure (Rainbow) artwork, just name two.
Russ Ballard on Elton John in Russ’ podcast: “He told us that “In Deep” was his favourite album”
ARGENT
Like Honey | Liar | Be Free | Schoolgirl | Dance In The Smoke | Lonely Hard Road | The Feelings Inside | Freefall | Stepping Stone | Bring You Joy
1/3/5/7/8/9/10 written by Rod Argent/Chris White | 2/4/6 written by Russ Ballard
Singles: Liar/School Girl (released in US) | Schoolgirl/Like Honey
Facts:
Liar did not chart, but in 1971 american rock nand Three Dog Night recorded the song and had reached #7 in the US Billboard Chart. The song made it up to #4 in Canada. Other cover-version came from Capability Brown, The Meters and Graham Bonnet.
“All I wanted to do in Argent was to write, to tour and see how far we could go. It was a spectacular time”
