Original Album Classics

This is a wonderful Argent 5-LP collection primarily because Argent reissues (not counting an issue of All Together released apart from this package) don't include bonus tracks so I don't need the missing liner notes that (I presume) come with the single disc remastered reissues. No matter how well I cared for the original Argent albums those soft keyboard and sparse vocal passages were starting to sound a bit rough on my vinyl and I loved the opportunity of replacing them at a great price.For the completist one can get the version of All Together Now with 3 additional single versions (one of which is on the Argent singles collection) independently in conjunction with this set.Each disc is contained in a cardboard sleeve 'replica' of the original album cover. I say 'replica' in quotes because the catalog number is new and the beautiful gatefold sleeves of the albums are not included so some artwork and interior copy is lost. I presume these interiors are available on the single disc CD reissues . . . ? Then the sleeves are inside one larger heavy-duty cardboard box with the tracks of all 5 CDs listed on the back.If you aren't familiar with Argent, the first album especially sounds like The Zombies, and smokes in my opinion. A masterpiece of tasteful melancholy soft rock including Liar, which Three Dog Night would cover. The second gets a little more free formish and the band gradually moves more towards prog - though it can't decide whether to get more jazzy or heavy at times. Heavier choices would be their hit Hold Your Head Up and the song Kiss would make famous, God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You. A highly recommended set.

Yes, I am one of those that has these albums on vinyl but it's rather hard to listen to them in a Ford Ranger. So I saw this set and love a bargain. And what a great set it is! It has been years since I've listened to the vinyls so I've forgotten how good this band was.A combination of Rod Argent's classical keyboards and rocking guitars from Russ Ballard with one of the most neglected bassists ( Jim Rodford) and a superb drummer ( Robert Henrit).And the vocal harmonies!! Wow!! Sounds very much like a lot of thought went behind these tunes rather than just bashing out whatever comes to mind. Sort of like they made music that did not insult my intelligence, but enhanced my appreciation of great musicianship ( OMG, where did line come from?!?) In other words, I love this 5 CD set ( at such a great price) and if you're sick of a lot of the junk that comes out today,then take a trip to over 40 years back and refresh your ears to REAL music. Stuff that won't qualify Argent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because it's too good and it makes sense.( Which also means we'll never see YES in there, either!!)

All of Argent's first 5 studio releases on Epic are here, with mini-LP sleeves. There's no new recording info, and this is not a enhanced remastering, but the sound is decent and it's all here for you to enjoy. They had the formula down on the first album - mid-tempo rock guitar, bluesy piano, with flourishes of classical-inspired organ, two great lead vocalists and excellent songwriting. As the albums progressed, Rod Argent's prog and jazz-fusion leanings grew further away from Russ Ballard's mainstream rock approach. Too bad - they were great together. Each album has its moments, and you are shorting yourself if you go the Greatest hits or Anthology route. Album tracks, such as "Lothlorien" and "Candles on the River" are the equal of any band of the era (they were a great live band, too). A new 24-bit remastering would be awesome, but until then, get this!

A little high priced but hard to find. Great band from the late sixties and early seventies!

A great little box that gathers the band’s first five albums, this could only be improved if they threw in the live album and a collection of outtakes.Speaking of bands without a comprehensive box set, Argent would benefit from one. This set will have to do in the meantime.Strangely enough the cover features a photo of the five piece which doesn’t appear on any of these albums; John Verity and the late John Grimaldi appeared on the band’s last two studio albums Not included here. This photo is from around the time of their concept album “Circus”.The mastering is quite good here and the sources all appear to be low generations tapes nicely transfer but sadly without any bonus tracks.Altogether this is a nice set.

The no-frills packaging of Sony's Original Album Classics may not be to everybody's taste, but five albums for a relatively low price is great value if you don't have any (or most) of the albums on offer. I bought this around five years ago and, for cardboard packaging, it has aged well, although I'm not sure why the picture of Argent on the cover isn't the "Mark I" version of Argent who made these, their first five albums. Bit of a mishap there from somebody unfamiliar with the band, I'd imagine.I've written individual reviews for each of these albums on the product pages, if anyone is interested in a more in-depth discovery of the first five studio albums from Argent, so this is a brief summary.Argent (1970) - Creative, trying to find their own sound (8/10)Ring Of Hands (1971) - Bit of a mixed bag (6/10)All Together Now (1972) - Probably the best Argent album of the first five (8/10)In Deep (1973) - Despite God Gave Rock And Roll To You's presence, probably the most disappointing of the five (5/10)Nexus (1974) - The most 'prog' of the five, with a regained creativity and intensity (7/10)I'd say this five disc box set was well worth owning for any fan of The Zombies wanting to know what Rod's post-Zombies work was like, anyone who likes Russ Ballard's writing or, simply, anyone who has a penchant for classic and prog rock. It's not all brilliant, but there are definitely more than a few brilliant moments.

I was never a big fan of Argent, having been originally unimpressed by my solitary hearing of their debut album on vinyl. I love The Zombies'  Odessey and Oracle , however, and for the price offered thought it was worth paying to hear more of Rod Argent's work. My view of their debut album has, as a result, now changed. You can tell that it's just pre-1970s by the lighter sound and harmonies. The first seven tracks won me over, especially 'Be Free' and the playing on 'Dance In The Smoke'. 'Schoolgirl' meanwhile is an obvious retread of The Zombies' last hit, 'Time Of The Season'.Of the other albums my favourite is probably 'Nexus', which I didn't expect. As the track titles suggest this leans more toward a prog style than the others. The last two tracks on this nail it perfectly. 'Ring Of Hands' is my least favourite. I don't feel the content is good enough, but, as on all of the albums, its main strength is the musicianship on display. Argent didn't noodle as much as the likes of Yes or even Genesis, but they were clearly a formidable unit, whatever style they played. Most of the showmanship comes from Rod Argent himself.I expected 'All Together Now' and 'In Deep' to be their strongest efforts, not least because the first was their breakthrough album and because both feature their biggest hits. There is a dilemma here, however, as two approaches sit uneasily together. The extended 'Hold Your Head Up', with its twinkling atmosphere, has a prog feel to it, but is then followed by a series of driving, barroom r&b songs. On 'Keep On Rollin'' and 'He's A Dynamo' in particular, the band are hot, but the songs themselves are nothing special. The album then finishes with the twelve minute, ultra-prog 'Pure Love' which jars against the other tracks. Though well-executed as usual, it again is nothing special. 'In Deep' is perhaps more consistent in style, but the same applies: great playing, so-so material.I'm glad I bought this collection. Argent, like many artists of the era, put the vast majority of later bands firmly in the shade, but I'll be extremely selective with which of the discs I'll listen to. Odessey and Oracle

This excellent value mini-box set enshrines the classy musicianship and song craft of Argent, one of the Uk's most underrated Prog Rock bands. When Russ Ballard was with them, he brought not only a strong sense of the melodic in his guitar work (never overly flash, always about playing the right notes, and not too many of 'em, either), but also a sense of economy in the songs. Sure, prog was always about musical virtuosity, but Ballard and Rod Argent, both having been with 60s Pop acts (The Unit 4 + 2 and The Zombies respectively), still had more than vestigial traces of Pop in there. Ballard was also a great, soulful singer, and he's in top form throughout. 'In Deep' is an underrated Brit Prog classic, although there's good stuff all over these five albums - even if the slip case photo features their post-Ballard line-up.

So, there I was perusing my record collection, well CD collection, but old habits die hard, and I realised that the As were missing some Argent, so I Argently (ouch - ed) made my way over to Amazon and found this little collection, a few clicks and an order was placed.What arrived was a little cardboard box containing five CDs. Just what I ordered.For the money it's very good value. Whilst Argent weren't a premier league band they were a good lower league keyboard driven semi PROG band, showing that there is life after Zombiedom.So BUY! It doesn't cost a lot and doesn't take up a lot of room, what have you got to lose?

The only complaint I have is that my copy has a different cover shot than the thumbnail image Amazon features - but it's a minor quibble, as it seems to feature the original lineup (which the other photo does not) who were present for most of these albums. As these albums are difficult to find in the States, this is a great way to get them; there are no bonus tracks, just the 5 original albums in mini-LP covers in this cardboard sleeve, no notes, and really not much info beyond what was printed on the album covers. But it's reasonably priced, and really, what more do you need? A fine introduction to Argent.