Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Music Lounge
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Rod Argent in Yes?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedRod Argent in Yes?
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Steven in Atlanta View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 57 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rod Argent in Yes?
    Posted: October 09 2008 at 16:51
Reading a brief Argent bio somewhere, I noted a mention of Rod Argent being on the shortlist to join Yes in '75. Being a big fan of both, I find the proposed combination most intriguing as the differences between the two entities are actually quite profound. Imagine what Relayer might have sounded like - not that there was anything wrong with the way it did end up, of course! Anyone else's imagination captured here by this combination?
Back to Top
salmacis View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member

Content Addition

Joined: April 10 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 3928 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 17:00
Interesting, because Argent themselves were heading into an increasingly progressive direction around that time with the 'Nexus' album. Listen to that epic 'The Coming Of Kohoutek' which is pure ELP IMHO.
 
Rod Argent was a player with more grounding in R & B than Rick Wakeman or Patrick Moraz due to his years in The Zombies (who did rather unconvincing versions of 'Sticks And Stones' and 'Roadrunner', bless them!), most of Argent's own albums have a few numbers in that vein. A track like 'Tragedy' is quite a convincing funk number IMHO, 'Thunder And Lightning' from 'Nexus' isn't bad either. Perhaps it might have headed more in that direction, though I think Yes had certainly been listening to a lot of jazz rock/funk albums around the time of 'Relayer' anyway if the final outcome of that album is anything to go by.
Back to Top
Bitterblogger View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member


Joined: November 04 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1719 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 19:51
'I was disgusted...it was a dreadful, dreadful...dreadful record.'

Rick Wakeman on 'Union'
 
Perhaps you've heard this other quote Wakeman had about it: "I call it the 'Onion' album because every time I hear it, it brings tears to my eyes."
Back to Top
jammun View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 20:49
Funny, I just picked up Argent's first two albums (exercise in nostalgia or whatever).  Based on Rod Argent's playing on Lothlorien (from Ring of Hands) I think he would have made a very capable keyboard player for Yes, though perhaps a bit down-to-earth for them.
Back to Top
ClassicRocker View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 02 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 894 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 21:35
Interesting possibility... although I am quite fine with how Relayer and Going for the One turned out.Big%20smile
Maybe if he did become a member, though, he would have stuck around for a while, and Yes' history may have been totally different - maybe Jon Anderson would have never left and Drama never been made! And if Tormato was still made, the cover would've been much different, as Rick wouldn't have been around to throw that infamous tomato at the artwork! LOL

In any case, the potential combo that still interests me the most is that of HELP : Hendrix, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, that is! (It was a real possibility - look it up!)
Back to Top
tszirmay View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6673 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 22:01
Argent is a good choice, but how about Jobson, Van Der Linden, Greenslade, Premoli or the Nocenzi Brothers? any thoughts?
I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
Back to Top
febus View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam

Joined: January 23 2007
Location: Orlando-Usa
Status: Offline
Points: 4312 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 22:24
Whatever happened to Rod Argent anyway???Geek
Back to Top
jammun View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 22:58
Originally posted by febus febus wrote:

Whatever happened to Rod Argent anyway???Geek
 
Livin' the easy life from royalties for She's Not There?
Back to Top
soundsweird View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer


Joined: December 08 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 408 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2008 at 23:31
Argent and Colin Blunstone have been touring as The Zombies in recent years.
 
I bought Argent's "Nexus" LP when it came out. Certainly progressive, but I don't remember liking it much.
Back to Top
Easy Livin View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 15585 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2008 at 03:25
I believe Argent and Moraz had a similar style and approach anyway, both are much more jazz orientated than say Wakeman. Relayer would probably not have sounded too different with Argent in the band. Had either he or Moraz stayed, the course of Yes would have been very different though.
 
In my opinion, Argent always needed to work with a Ballard or a Blunstone like figure, someone who was able to balance his jazz leanings with rock. I think the post Ballard Argent albums showed what happened when he lost that balance.
Back to Top
Steven in Atlanta View Drop Down
Forum Groupie
Forum Groupie
Avatar

Joined: January 08 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 57 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2008 at 12:51
That "balance," though, was beginning to be read as "schizophrenic" - particularly apparent on Nexus with Argent's proggier compositions butting heads with Ballard's verse-chorus-middle eight/traditional song structures. Not that there was anything wrong with either, they were just beginning to make for some strange bedfellows. I've always thought that Argent's two post-Ballard LPs (Circus and Counterpoints) are subsequently the most focused of that band's entire output, even though they were among the least popular. Pity, as there's much wonderful stuff on both.
Back to Top
Cthulu View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: February 29 2008
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 37 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 15 2008 at 06:47
Rod Argent being in Yes is indeed an intriguing "what if?". I too, am a fan of both groups and I think he would have brought a heavier keyboard sound as in The Coming Of Kohoutek but also a little jazzier such as in Lothlorien.

Vangelis was also asked by Yes to join the band after Wakeman left. I think that "Relayer" would have actually sounded much the same with Vangelis, perhaps a bit more symphonic than with Patrick Moraz but with similar crashing, discordant sounds that he created on The Gates Of Delerium.
"The Box. You opened it. We came."
Back to Top
Jim Garten View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Retired Admin & Razor Guru

Joined: February 02 2004
Location: South England
Status: Offline
Points: 14693 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 15 2008 at 07:24
Originally posted by Easy Livin Easy Livin wrote:

In my opinion, Argent always needed to work with a Ballard or a Blunstone like figure, someone who was able to balance his jazz leanings with rock.


Agreed - the Argent/Ballard combination in particular is superbly documented on the live 'Encore' album (part of which was recorded at my favorite local venue, St Albans City Hall in 1974):



ProgArchives Reviews

Just a shame it was Ballard's last tour with the band.

Back on thread though, it would have been interesting had Rod Argent actually joined Yes instead of Moraz; the subsequent albums would certainly have been more Hammond heavy.

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
Back to Top
tuxon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 21 2004
Location: plugged-in
Status: Offline
Points: 5502 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 15 2008 at 13:13

Argent's music would fit better with Yes's earlier (69 - 71) period. would have liked to hear the result if he replaced Kaye instead of Wakeman at that time.

 
I don't think he would have really fitted on Relayer though, too much jazz influence, and he's not bombastic enough for Yes anyway.
I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.180 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.