ARGENT - ALL TOGETHER NOW - 1972

Argent came of age with this album, thanks in no small part to the huge hit single "Hold your head up". The version on the album differs from the single edit by including a fine organ solo by Rod Argent

The band had decided to give this album more of a rock feel than previous more eclectic outings, and many of the tracks have a solid beat behind them. Russ Ballard contributes some of his finest songs, the best of which are "Tragedy" and "He's a dynamo", the latter being a tribute to Rod Argent. "I am the dance of ages" is a slower but very powerful song, with soaring choruses and a heavy plodding backbeat. The song was destined to become a great live track, as witnessed by the band's "Encore" album.

The closing track "Pure love" is in four parts, and lasts over 10 minutes. It's very much a Rod Argent suite, being heavy on the keyboards and with Argent taking the lead vocal. I find it to be something of a disappointment for a feature track, the four sections not really flowing well together, and the long third section (the only one with vocals) meandering and appearing unfocussed. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad track, but it not up to the standard of the rest of the album.

"Pure love" aside though, an excellent album with a relentless pace, which sees the band taking a major stride forward from their previous albums.
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