"I can't believe RICK WAKEMAN said this about my song!" Rod Argent

[@televinv8062]

Rick Wakeman is awesome and it really is a huge compliment coming from him. 🙏👍🙏👍

[@toddblanks]

Rick and rod are the same to me when they play their great music. There isn't much difference in the way of their style, pure precision magnification!

[@colinglass1342]

Where is PROG rock today was the sixtys the seventies the greatest decades for PROG rock maybe the eighties to

[@georgewodicka4839]

Rod is right there with the legendary Rick Wakeman, but Rick gets a slight edge to me, for what he could create with that unique Mini Moog with his right hand. Lightning, to this day.

[@petermills542]

Only Fluff would have played the long version! But thank goodness for the visit to Holland !! 😂

[@televinv8062]

I also think Matthew Fisher and Rick Wright were fantastic keys players. There are too many to list actually.

[@MrCherryJuice]

Rod Argent is a tremendously gifted keyboardist and composer as well as a fine vocalist. I have never understood why his name isn't included along with the likes of Wakeman, Emerson, Auger, Lord and those few others in that royal realm. His solos on 'She's Not There' and 'Time of the Season' are marvellous. And while I would have preferred a shorter solo on 'Hold Your Head Up', that is no reflection on his playing, only on my limited attention span. Those are three of pop-rock's most renowned and played hits - absolute classics. Also worth noting that Mr. Argent penned the first of those aforementioned tunes and co-penned the latter (with Zombies' bassist/Argent producer Chris White). He and former Argent bandmate Russ Ballard, whose composition credits include 'God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You' (KISS), 'You Can Do Magic' (America), 'New York Groove' (Ace Frehley), 'Liar' and 'Chained' (Three Dog Night), 'Since You've Been Gone' (Rainbow) and 'So You Win Again' (Hot Chocolate) have been mainstays in one capacity or another (Argent is also a producer) for decades yet for better or worse have remained for the most part off the radar of public recognition. Rick Wakeman's love of the 'Hold Your Head Up' solo says so much.

[@xray7908]

It made me chuckle to see God Gave Rock and Roll To You with (Kiss) after it. Argent was such a great band, and that song is still one of my favorites by them. Having Kiss cover it is like Van Halen covering You Really Got Me Now - two bands of lesser nuance paying tribute to their influences. I'm not hating on Kiss or Van Halen, I'm loving on Argent and the Kinks. No offense and no shade intended to anyone. When Hendrix covered All Along the Watchtower, he made it his own. Even Dylan said so. When Kiss covered God Gave Rock and Roll to You, it was still a cover. Nothing wrong with that, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.

[@MrCherryJuice]

@@xray7908 Understood. And your point about 'two bands of lesser nuance' is so apt. Yes, Argent was a great band, though I reckon that had George Martin and Glyn Johns (even just Johns) been providing guidance they would have been much greater, or at the very least more focused and consistent. Chris White did a fine job producing, but there were instances where I felt a more hard-nosed approach from the producer would have benefitted the end result. White, as you likely know, was with Rod in the Zombies and co-wrote 'Hold Your Head Up' with him. Even in retrospect I find that he was possibly too close to be as subjective as a producer should be.

[@mrnobody3161]

Finally someone with some factual knowledge about Rod Argent. On a side note, a song written by the bassist of Argent Jim Rodford, called Music of the Spheres, on the Nexus Album literally blew my mind an changed my life as a 15 year old musician in 1975.

[@MrCherryJuice]

'Nexus' is a great album, a real coming of age for the band (precipitated by the very fine 'In Deep'), though sadly the final one with Russ Ballard, probably because at that point three of the band were leaning more towards the Mahavishnu-style fusion whilst he was more into the concise tunes that made him one of rock's more successful tunesmiths. In fact, I always found it peculiar that he and Rod, another greater writer of catchy chart tunes, didn't collaborate; Rod's collaborations were with Chris White. Also FYI, 'Music From the Spheres', a tune I love (paticularly the piano solo) was penned by Argent & White, not Jim Rodford (what a great bassist he was), whose writing appeared on the albums 'Circus' and 'Counterpoints'. Because you like that tune, here is the live version from the 'Encore' album. I saw the band three times and they, as this track confirms, were great. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4C4m2WoZq-UnLM&ab_channel=Argent-Topic

[@tarponpoint6602]

@@MrCherryJuice Great conversation, guys, thanks. This inspired me to look a little deeper into songs written by Russ Ballard. I did not realize he wrote Winning, as covered by Santana. That along with Argent's God Gave Rock n Roll are two of my favorite songs. Since You've Been Gone is a strong selection... his credits run very long. But we've strayed from the topic of Rod Argent. He is indeed one of the largely overlooked masters of rock keyboards, as recognized by somebody with as much claim to that title as Rick Wakeman.

[@ralphferguson9717]

I was there when "hold your head up" came out on radio. It was instantly recognized as a classic anthem. Argent is great and so is Wakeman

[@weebermannsfolly2580]

I remember a criteria for a cool radio station was if they played the long version of Hold Your Head Up. Looking back 50 years, it seemed to be a song ahead of its time. Thanks Rod for a timeless classic. The Zombies were also very underrated, at least in the US, in my humble opinion. They were soo much better than most of their contemporaries .

[@VRPRocks]

Love that! Indeed, it's a sad tale of the early Zombies, they split up before Odessey and Oracle was able to get traction. They've got a lot more recognition in recent years though, which is great to see!

[@halweiss8671]

Back then when the song came on, we’d all wonder which version they’d play.

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

There were few that dared to be different and play any long version of any song! I mean how many stations played NSU, In a Gadda Da Vida, The End, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, The Gates of Delirium, and others over 10 minutes long? Shit, some wouldn't even play anything over 5 minutes long, and some even played mutilated cuts with the best jamming cut out!!😡 I'm with you! A good long song can convey a lot more and really showcase artists, and really what the F is the rush about? Oh, on that note: 2112 was like 20 minutes long, and only the long version of Suzie Q would do it for me with the wicked fuzzed out guitar leads!🤪🥳

[@colinglass1342]

@@Bob-of-Zoid and Rare Earths ,"get ready" over 20miniutes long album track

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

@@colinglass1342 Yeah, there were actually quite a few, back when some of us people had more patience and our brains process more than 256 characters!😜

[@joerobertson3478]

I was practically raised on AM Top 40 in the late 60s and early 70s. Kids at that age are always looking for guides, clues and indicators to help find themselves. Hold Your Head Up was such a guide for me. I've always considered it one of the greatest songs ever played on the radio. Thanks for the help along the way.

[@LewDanLascivious8276]

Rick Wakeman is a Freemason "Freemason Bavarian Illuminati" These guys➡️👁️on the dollar bill😂 ⚠️

[@nyobunknown6983]

Back then I listened to FM only where they played the long version.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

@@nyobunknown6983 I got my first radio in maybe 1968. I forced myself (something to do with wanting to be fashionable or peer pressure) to listen to the local rock top 40 stations KXOK and KIRL. Most of them time I could scarcely stand it-the loud obnoxious disc jockeys, the frequent obnoxious commercials, the mostly dismal songs. I had to work pretty hard to find anything I liked, but eventually a fair number of real gems turned up. Then in early 1971 my older sister saved up from babysitting enough to buy a portable FM radio, which I used freely (we were very close and shared a lot). That was a remarkable change (on KSHE and KDNA): much longer, much more adventurous and sophisticated music, soft-spoken disc jockeys, fewer and more palatable commercials (or, in the case of KDNA, none at all.) The Argent song in question appeared toward the end of that period. (I wasn’t in love with it, but it was okay, I suppose). By 1975 FM rock radio had become essentially indistinguishable from the former AM rock radio, and I stopped listening to it for good. (For a few years starting 1978 I did, however, listen to jazz and classical music on non-commercial college FM radio).

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

@@nyobunknown6983 Until just a minute ago on KZbin, I had never in my life heard the edited single version.

[@dirkderyckere6517]

Dear mr Rod , you re a keyboard player with a great music-heart . Thank you for all your wonderful music over a period of sixty years time .

[@goofe.washington953]

When I was in seventh grade, I first heard Rod Argent’s keyboard lead in “She’s Not There”, and I recognized immediately that the guy was thirty years ahead of his time. It is an absolute masterpiece, unlike anything heard elsewhere at the tIme. Magnificent.

[@skeezix64]

Rick is one of my all time heroes. Since I was 13 years old. Just a treasure.

[@jmad627]

Every time I hear this song it brings me right back to the summer it came out, and living in Newport News Virginia at that time.

[@thedebbieparrybandx4733]

The Alan Freeman show on Sat afternoons was a god send. Music was less accessible before the days of streaming, so unless you, or your mates bought something on spec, you might not ever hear the likes of Argent, Camel, Steve Hillage, Gentle Giant, Colosseum 2, Wakeman’s solo stuff, amongst many others, that I was introduced to by Fluff Freeman.

[@batphink2655]

Rick Wakeman may be a Freemason BUT he seems like a truly great guy with a great sense of humour for a keyboard genius! I very glad to hear this about Rod's cool song!

[@roystonmason9125]

but wut

[@stephencopps1561]

Rick is, and always has been,a great talker and very funny 😂

[@MichaelBradley1967]

@@stephencopps1561 Rick's HoF speech was something else.

[@philguitar1]

What a great band, loved their music, great memories as well. All accomplished musicians.

[@Dan-ez6dr]

What a great compliment from the guy who set the bar so high in the 70s and to this day is spectacular in concert. I just listened to Hold Your Head Up and was floored, again, by this great track.

[@petercullen1624]

Very happy to be reminded of this organ solo - went back and listened to it again. Wonderful!

[@alienteknology5390]

The whole song is masterful. Lyrics. Chord progression. Arrangement. And of course the spectacular 3 minute organ solo.

[@MaxPlaid]

What a lovely guy Rod is. Saw The Zombies a few years back supporting Uriah Heep, they were fabulous, brought tears to my eyes to hear them play She's Not There

[@JP-gi2pr]

Argent..the most underrated band of all time. Be proud of your catalogue Rod...there is no one to match your keyboard skills..as for Hold your Head Up...music lovers of many genres will always be in awe of this most perfect piece of rock history.

[@oneoldgit]

Saw Argent a couple of times in the early 70s. Always loved them

[@richardflinders3809]

I bought all the Argent albums back in the day because of the keyboard playing. I still play their music in my car on trips. I'd love to see more interviews with Rod.

[@williamgeorgefraser]

Alan Freeman was a remarkable advocate of prog rock. I remember one Saturday afternoon in my car listening to his programme and he played one side of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" by Yes. "Hold Your Head Up" is an amazing song. I haven't heard it for years but, having just discovered this video, I'm going to listen to it now.

[@lemming9984]

Yep. "Fluff" is responsible for 80% of my music collection! I first heard my all time favourite bands on his show - Genesis, VdGG, ELP, Renaissance, Camel etc etc.

[@colinglass1342]

Yes we all miss his greetings music lovers The Saturday rock show the hight light of the week.

[@colinglass1342]

@@lemming9984 same here Greetings music lovers

[@Mute_Nostril_Agony]

Freeman filled the void between the trendy stuff you heard on the radio late at night on Sound Of The Seventies (Peel, Jensen, Nightingale etc) and daytime Radio 1. Unless you were lucky with Johnnie Walker playing some good stuff in his afternoon show it was only pop stuff. Rosco and Edmond sometimes played some good and unusual stuff on Saturday mornings. Freeman was the only place you could hear groups like ELP and Rainbow. I wish there were more recordings of Freeman’s shows, and in particular the always hilarious trailers recorded by John Peel and John Waters for their programme

[@samansun]

The entire "All Together Now" album is surreal, incisive organ-guitar interplay, solid bass-drum patterns and creative melodies as "Tragedy", "I Am the Dance of Ages" .. Never get tired of listening on repeat.

[@marksky5326]

I'm a big fan of Rick Wakeman and Rod Argent. They're both fantastic keyboard players.

[@williamsporing1500]

Wakeman, Emerson, argent, Kaye, Lord….the best in my opinion.

[@christopherrafferty6164]

How good a story is that! Rick's been my absolute favorite composer, keyboard artist since the beginning, I'd have been so elated to have him "single" me out like that!

[@pat5882]

7 years old at the time of Hold Your Head Up, early in ‘72. FM radio was sort of in its infancy in the U.S. but would play the long version and not the AM single version. I remember b/c I couldn’t get enough of HYHU as a kid. I can recall hearing that song plenty straight through the summer of ‘72.

[@michaelbaxter3532]

IVE SEEN THE BAND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS STILL AMAZING GREAT GROUP

[@jimlassiter749]

Best music decade & one of the best songs...

[@SylentEcho]

Thank you for all the music, Rod Argent!

[@markmarsh27]

Rod Argent is WAY too humble. He is ABSOLUTELY one of the greatest Singer-Songwriters who ever lived! Every one of his hits is a CLASSIC!

[@universalassociates6857]

I remember a perfect sunny summer day with my buddy (trying to fish) from a pier with the smell and sound of the sea and another fisherman had the radio on with ‘Hold you head up’. Pretty much every time I hear that song I think back to that perfect sunny summer day from my youth.

[@trevorstephenson5766]

Thanks for the memories Rod-listen to you often-15 year old hiker and his mates listening to this in the north Pennines in about 1971/72-still love it to this day!!

[@dubchile]

Rod Argent..great visionary and this is such a fab track. Its that base line and key break that sends it galactic.. Sensational! ✌😎

[@nankypooh655]

I wonder what Rick Wakeman thought about Hocus Pocus by Focus? Still, getting a compliment like that from somebody who knows their way around a set of keyboards is high praise, in deed. Hold Your Head Up is a classic that, fifty years later, has stood the test of time, especially the album version.

[@gb5uq]

First album I ever bought was Argent Ring of Hands in 1971 after seeing them on Disco 2. Still my favorite band I have to confess. Amazing musicians.

[@MrSnout5]

I do remember Alan Freeman playing the short version week after week; my memory tells me it was on 'Pick Of The Pops,' which was on Sunday afternoon/evening in the early 1970s. In the first part of the show, he would play up and coming tracks which hadn't yet entered the charts, in the the second part he would play the top 20 and the show ended at 7pm. I really liked 'Hold Your Head Up,' right from the start; Freeman played it week after week but it didn't seem to make any headway into the charts - until finally it got there. It was simply Alan Freeman's belief that it was such a good song, that he stuck with it. I also thought that Argent's follow-up was great as well, a song called 'Tragedy.'

[@SketchesofChina]

As a kid I had the 45 of Hold Your Head Up. Always one of my favorite songs.

[@Gk2003m]

Argent is indeed held in that esteem by those of us who know. Man those were the days, when the giants of Hammond organ roamed the earth with their behemoth tonewheel instruments and whirling Leslies.

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

It really is one of the greatest organ solos! Hey, Rick Wakeman may be a jokester and likes fooling people, but he's not full of himself and tends toward blatant honesty. Both he and Rod Argent are class acts, and incredible musicians.

[@daviddefigueiredo6018]

" Hold your head up" is one of my favourite songs ever! I have both versions. It evokes so many fond, good feeling memories from when I was a kid!

[@bluenotesharp]

I just listened to this last week and what just popped into my mind immediately was how the solo reminded me of a Rick Wakeman solo. So no surprise RICK LOVED IT!!

[@randycollins7910]

What an excellent Christmas gift to receive from Rick Wakeman. He really made your Christmas that year Rod. Thanks for sharing your own musical gifts with all of us. Hold Your Head Up. Classic !!!

[@caryheuchert]

Argent were such a great band. “Rejoice” is my all time favourite song of theirs.

[@mikebro2557]

I was a teenager back in the early 70s, I used to be out late with my friends (it was safer back then) and then on my way back home (walking) in the early hours I would listen to Jensons Dimensions on radio Luxembourg on my trusty transistor radio, Kid Jenson ALWAYS played the full version of Hold Your Head Up, only problem with Luxembourg was the station kept fading in and out and you could guarantee it would fade out on the best bits…..ah, those good old days when there was so much good music around.

[@martincarden]

I recall seeing Argent play hold your head up on TotP as referenced here and went out the next day to buy it as my first ever (45 rpm) single. Great to hear that my most beloved keyboard player (Rick Wakeman) appreciates Rod Argent's also excellent keyboard playing.

[@gunnar7075]

Argents "Keeper of the flame" is still outstanding!

[@Slammo]

That song and solo are a timeless jewel.

[@williamsporing1500]

Rod is a wonderful keyboardist. And don’t forget ‘God gave rock and roll to you’. Great tune!

[@peternyc]

Great story! What fun. If we could all magically become teenagers again and ride horses and surf all day with tunes like this in our heads.

[@billhart9832]

I'm so happy for Rod to hear direct from Rick Wakeman how important "Hold Your Head Up" was to himi. Hi praise indeed, and rightfully deserved! I was 13 when HYHU hit the airwaves and was instantly in love with that epic organ riff. To my great surprise when I found the long, non-radio version on the LP I was even more taken with the song, annoying my parents to no end as the only phonograph in the house was the family console "stereo". 50 years later seeing this interview and hearing Rod chuffed by Rick's acclaim actually gave me chills. Just the medicine I needed. Time to cue it up and put on the headphones!! HYHU!

[@tonylocke1214]

I used to listen to Fluff Freeman’s show religiously. I definitely bought this record because of him. And it was/is a great record.

[@oclot7177]

High praise indeed. Rick is a legend.

[@Mute_Nostril_Agony]

I remember Argent managed to get on a lot of mainstream Saturday night TV shows, wowing a huge audience with HYHU, Tragedy and GGR&RTY

[@markvenables7370]

First time I’ve ever heard the long version, and it’s true. What a stonking great Hammond solo!

[@Richcanvas]

I've always had a soft spot for 'losing hold' off, In Deep.

[@duncan-rmi]

thank you for the shop too, mr argent. got some cool gear from there back in the day. hello tim wallhead!

[@mlbellino]

I remember seeing Argent in concert with 10 Years After in St.Petersburg around the early 70”s. “Hold your head up” is one of my favorite songs.

[@TampaDave]

I assume you refer to St. Pete, FL. One of the great places for music.

[@mlbellino]

@@TampaDave Thats right, never been to St. Petersburg Russia. Thats when music was good and concerts were cheap, relatively speaking.

[@teleteg787]

Rod Argent, along with Jon Lord and Jimmy Smith, were my inspirations to learn to play keyboards, many decades ago. He will always be a hero to me.

[@written12]

It’s such a shapely, melodic solo, nicely dramatic.

[@eternalcolonel]

Argent is in my keyboard elite along with Emerson, Auger, Hammer, Corea, Moraz. Hiromi and others. The one conversation I had with him, I shared that I had become smitten with improvisation after hearing "She's Not There" as a 14 year old. He seemed to appreciate it; very nice man.

[@betterthandeadohyea4500]

Saw you guys at a bar in Lansing Michigan way back in the 70's great show.

[@shynickel8239]

Was a young teenie bopper when I saw these guys perform on midnight pecial, never seen or heard anything like them, was hooked .

[@icord50]

I was fortunate to see him and the Zombies in concert in 1965 or ‘66 at the Montreal Forum……they were my favourite band!

[@raycope2086]

Good man, Rod! I wish you rainbows.

[@soldatwitt6400]

J'écoute toujours close to the edge et son fabuleux solo au clavier... et le re-découvre a chaque fois avec magie !

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

That is awesome. I thought he was going to say Wakeman dissed the song. One of the all-time classic tunes, no doubt. Great compliment from one legend to another. I love it.

[@ralphwhittemore5041]

Rod Argents solo on time of the season is way ahead of its time. Been one of my favorite keyboardists right up there with Keith Emerson, Wakeman, and Jon Lord, Absolute Greatness 💯 👌

[@simonburrett]

Another great solo Rod!

[@mikeloper100]

Saw Argent in Jonesboro Ga. along with several others. They were Great and had Power cut to end Show by Sundown! love those Days

[@haxan6663]

I have very fond memories of this track from the early 80s, in a rock club, on mushrooms. Amazing.

[@Mr.S369]

Great story from truly remarkable times!

[@billsmith2212]

I was lucky to see Argent at The Fillmore East . Then later with The Zombies . ALL great shows !

[@karlmahlmann]

I remember buying the 45 of She's Not There and being blown away by the keyboard solo. It was the gold-standard. - and he's done so much great work since.

[@markwhitely4021]

God Bless Argent and Wakeman!!!!!!!!

[@robertmuckle2985]

Sometimes we get our due in the most obscure and unusual ways! I was a teen when that song blew up, and Thank-you Rod for the soundtrack to my life. It may not be the only reason I became a recording engineer...but it helped develop my ear, no doubt!✌🏻

[@coryallen6980]

As a 13 year old kid back in the 70's it was one of my favorite tunes on AM radio and years later when I heard the the complete song on WDVE Pittsburgh it was like somebody had cut out the most excellent part of a great movie.

[@Dolores5000]

Love you Rod! Wakey too!

[@lpowers]

What a great decent down-to-earth rock star!

[@1234567marks]

Hold your head up was the first rock track I remember hearing as a kid, I was transfixed, never heard anything like it before, I still think it’s one of the greatest tracks of all time 👍👍

[@pschroeter1]

He talks about Singles and LP bands. I remember it more as AM and FM radio bands.

[@danhammer78]

Amazing musician is Rod Argent

[@andrewclayton4181]

I remember the single it was a great rock track, then I bought the album and found the full version. 7th heaven!. I agree with Rick it's up there with other keyboard solos.

[@raymondrochajr9621]

I grew up listening to Hold your head up! A great classic!

[@vernhoke7730]

I'm old enough to remember hearing "Hold Your Head Up" on the radio back then.

[@johnmoog]

Never my favorite song but if the keyboardist on Close to the Edge & 6 Wives likes it I better listen again

[@Geoduck.]

Loved Hold Your Head Up back when it first came out and just as much today.

[@RaysTrack]

Rod's a tremendously tasteful composer/musician who I was lucky to see live some years back. He signed my CD, which I loaned to someone and never got back.

[@ELPCOTILLION-SD1970]

Sir Rick Wakeman Knows His Music...He's A Bloody Good Keyboardist Himself...One Of My Top 3 Favorite Progressive Rock Keyboardist...A Most Splendid Christmas Card Or Gift~If U Like~From Rick Wakeman To Rod Argent...

[@geoffhurrell8478]

I was lucky enough to catch one of Argent's pre-album release gigs in Rome. I met them and they were all lovely guys. The downside was that I was the keyboard player in the band booked to replace them at the club - I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me!

[@rossanomacchioni7746]

Great , Great keyboard and piano players..Yes the story of British Prog Rock. Years ago playing With piano in Italy ,in Vicenza Teatro Olimpico , the palladio masterpiece...

[@michaelmamp9096]

Rick Wakeman is the coolest YES member!!👍

[@keithf_]

Rod probably doesn't remember this but a few years ago Rick Wakeman interviewed Rod on TV and I definitely remember Rick saying to Rod that he was a very good keyboard player, which indeed he is. Also , I too remember Alan Freeman's Saturday afternoon rock show on BBC radio 1. Fantastic albums played week after week. Alan's show introduced me to so many bands back in the 1970s

[@fueledbylove]

That was awesome - Now, anyone who has only heard Zombies songs like "Time of the Season" or "She's Not There" and hasn't explored their entire catalog needs to do so, because the few singles that got airplay in the US are hardly indicative of The Zombies genius in the early years. You will be hooked!

[@briano.1503]

Hold your head up , was the first song I learned on bass in about 1975. It started my lifelong affair with music and guitar. ✌💀👍🎸🎼🎵🎶⚡

[@mgtowvalues]

Indeed, great solo.

[@77barrymac]

I still recall "Hold Your Head Up" being featured on American Bandstand's "Rate-a-Record" segment, where Dick Clark would preview a song from a (usually) mostly unknown and or singer. Late spring/early summer of '72. And it was all over the radio by late that summer. And yes, of COURSE I bought the 45!

[@mygreatbigfoot1679]

That split between lp bands and singles bands was the start of the end for what was collectively known then as pop music.

[@theprofessor3917]

I remember buying the original long version of Hold Your Head Up; it was a great moment in my musical journey. The edited version never seemed right when I heard it on the radio. I still have the original single to this day although hasn't been played in decades.

[@PeterJVogel]

Great tune. Our cover band used to play this tune to great appreciation from our audience.

[@dorjon6121]

You OWNED that Hammond B3 !👏👏😎

[@totallycv2388]

Great song. Great story

[@javiergrima52]

Gran teclista Rod Argent!!