Argent – In Deep

Argent are a prog rock band best known for ‘Hold Your Head Up’ and ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to you’, the latter featuring as the opening track on this album In Deep.

As the fourth studio album released by Argent, I feel this album is massively under-rated. Each band member recalls the album being the shortest one to make (just 2 months) yet the most fun to record and I can see why. By far my favorite side of the album is Side B! It features the epic prog rock track ‘Be Glad’ and then slips into a beautiful ballad ‘Christmas for the Free’ with a slow bluesy feel! This track is one of my favorites, perhaps due to me love of Christmas time but also how cool the track is.

‘Candles on the River’ is about over-population and features a really cool organ keyboard solo, that in true Argent fashion, plays out for several minutes. The last track on Side B – ‘Rosie’ is more of a classic blues rock feel that some people have claimed to be a ‘pitiful ending to an otherwise okay album’. I completely disagree! it is a fun track that shows the diversity of playing style and musical influences the band is capable of.

My copy of In Deep is the 1973 US release by Epic. I picked it up at the Box Hill Record fair a few years ago for $20. I became obsessed with the album one night while I was studying and played it on repeat for about a week!

Overall this is an album of textures and contrasts that blend together beautifully, and while it is not easy listening (lets remember they are a PROG ROCK band!) It is a cool album and one I will continue to pull out in future.

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