Search - Argent :: Original Album Classics

"...There's A Man Who's Lost...He's Alone...He Bears The Cos

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 12/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Original ALBUM Classics" was released as a 5CD mini box set in March 2009 on Epic/Legacy 88697445472 and it breaks down as follows...



Disc 1 is "Argent" (40:39 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are their debut album issued in 1970 in the UK on CBS S 63781 and in the USA on Epic BN 26525



Disc 2 is "Ring Of Hands" (42:52 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 2nd album issued in 1971 in the UK on Epic S 64190 and on Epic KE 30128



Disc 3 is "All Together Now" (41:42 minutes)"

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 3rd album issued in April 1972 in the UK on Epic S EPC 64962 and in the USA on Epic KE 31556



Disc 4 is "In Deep" (45:24 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th album issued in 1973 in the UK on Epic S EPC 65475 and in the USA on Epic KE 32195



Disc 5 is "Nexus" (42:10 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 5th album issued in 1974 in the UK on Epic S EPC 65924 and in the USA on Epic KE 32573



Each card repro is a single sleeve - the UK gatefold artwork for "Argent", "Ring Of Hands" and "All Together Now" (including its 4-page insert) is NOT reproduced on these issues; while the "Nexus" title uses the 'US' artwork, which is different to the UK issue. However, Sony/Legacy have the full details and booklets for each title downloadable from www.musicmadesimple.info



As you can see from the song numbers listed above, none of the CDs contain extra tracks - in particular the 7" single edits of "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" or the unique US mixes of their first 2 singles "Liar" and "Rejoice". You have to buy those separately and they're all available on a USA 2008 18-track Epic CD compilation called ""Greatest - The Singles Collection" (it's also available via an iTunes download).



It doesn't say who's remastered what or where, but the sound is good overall - superb in some places ("All Together Now") - but unfortunately only mediocre in others. For instance, "In Deep" and "Nexus" got lumped together as 2 albums on one CD a few years ago which received bad reviews - in particular to do with its mastering (some even suggesting that vinyl was used). That's not the case on these versions of those two albums - tracks like "Losing You" from "In Deep" and "Once Around The Sun" and "Man For All Reasons" from "Nexus" (lyrics above) all have quite patches in them - but there's no clicking or popping here. What there is a certain kind of top-end muddiness - I think it's inherent to the way they were recorded. I'm afraid I've found a lot of Legacy issues like this (not all of course) - they're good - but hardly great.



And in that Seventies progressive kind of a way, some of the music is of course horribly dated too, but other portions of it (especially the excellent first 2 albums) is truly superb 70's rock well worth re-discovering.



Overall - a fairly good way of acquiring now quite pricey albums on original vinyl - and a revelatory jaunt down a not-so-familiar rock path.



Recommended."

Great Bargain Package For Remastered Reissues Of The Former

David Lord | Clemons, Iowa United States | 06/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."