'I can't believe RICK WAKEMAN said this about my song!' Rod Argent

Rick Wakeman is regarded as one of the greatest prog rock keyboard players of all time! He's created some of the most memorable keyboard lines ever recorded during his solo career and as part of the band Yes! Fellow keyboard player, Rod Argent, who achieved great success himself in the bands The Zombies and Argent, was listening to BBC Radio 2 one day when he heard Rick Wakeman say something about one of his songs that he simply couldn't believe! Find out what that was in this short video...

[televinv]

Rick Wakeman is awesome and it really is a huge compliment coming from him.
🙏👍🙏👍

[ralphferguson]

I was there when "hold your head up" came out on radio. It was instantly recognized as a classic anthem. Argent is great and so is Wakeman

[joerobertson]

I was practically raised on AM Top 40 in the late 60s and early 70s. Kids at that age are always looking for guides, clues and indicators to help find themselves. Hold Your Head Up was such a guide for me. I've always considered it one of the greatest songs ever played on the radio. Thanks for the help along the way.

[goofe.washington]

When I was in seventh grade, I first heard Rod Argent’s keyboard lead in “She’s Not There”, and I recognized immediately that the guy was thirty years ahead of his time. It is an absolute masterpiece, unlike anything heard elsewhere at the tIme. Magnificent.

[dirkderyckere]

Dear mr Rod, you re a keyboard player with a great music-heart . Thank you for all your wonderful music over a period of sixty years time .

[weebermannsfolly]

I remember a criteria for a cool radio station was if they played the long version of Hold Your Head Up. Looking back 50 years, it seemed to be a song ahead of its time. Thanks Rod for a timeless classic. The Zombies were also very underrated, at least in the US, in my humble opinion. They were soo much better than most of their contemporaries .

[thedebbieparrybandx]

The Alan Freeman show on Sat afternoons was a god send. Music was less accessible before the days of streaming, so unless you, or your mates bought something on spec, you might not ever hear the likes of Argent, Camel, Steve Hillage, Gentle Giant, Colosseum 2, Wakeman’s solo stuff, amongst many others, that I was introduced to by Fluff Freeman.

[MrCherryJuice]

Rod Argent is a tremendously gifted keyboardist and composer as well as a fine vocalist. I have never understood why his name isn't included along with the likes of Wakeman, Emerson, Auger, Lord and those few others in that royal realm. His solos on 'She's Not There' and 'Time of the Season' are marvellous. And while I would have preferred a shorter solo on 'Hold Your Head Up', that is no reflection on his playing, only on my limited attention span. Those are three of pop-rock's most renowned and played hits - absolute classics.
Also worth noting that Mr. Argent penned the first of those aforementioned tunes and co-penned the latter (with Zombies' bassist/Argent producer Chris White). He and former Argent bandmate Russ Ballard, whose composition credits include 'God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You' (KISS), 'You Can Do Magic' (America), 'New York Groove' (Ace Frehley), 'Liar' and 'Chained' (Three Dog Night), 'Since You've Been Gone' (Rainbow) and 'So You Win Again' (Hot Chocolate) have been mainstays in one capacity or another (Argent is also a producer) for decades yet for better or worse have remained for the most part off the radar of public recognition. Rick Wakeman's love of the 'Hold Your Head Up' solo says so much.

[skeezix]

Rick is one of my all time heroes. Since I was 13 years old. Just a treasure.

[MaxPlaid]

What a lovely guy Rod is. Saw The Zombies a few years back supporting Uriah Heep, they were fabulous, brought tears to my eyes to hear them play She's Not There

[jmad]

Every time I hear this song it brings me right back to the summer it came out, and living in Newport News Virginia at that time.

[JP-gipr]

Argent..the most underrated band of all time. Be proud of your catalogue Rod...there is no one to match your keyboard skills..as for Hold your Head Up...music lovers of many genres will always be in awe of this most perfect piece of rock history.

[marksky]

I'm a big fan of Rick Wakeman and Rod Argent. They're both fantastic keyboard players.

[alienteknology]

The whole song is masterful. Lyrics. Chord progression. Arrangement. And of course the spectacular 3 minute organ solo.

[philguitar]

What a great band, loved their music, great memories as well. All accomplished musicians.

[Dan-ezdr]

What a great compliment from the guy who set the bar so high in the 70s and to this day is spectacular in concert. I just listened to Hold Your Head Up and was floored, again, by this great track.

[batphink]

Rick Wakeman may be a Freemason BUT he seems like a truly great guy with a great sense of humour for a keyboard genius! I very glad to hear this about Rod's cool song!

[christopherrafferty]

How good a story is that! Rick's been my absolute favorite composer, keyboard artist since the beginning, I'd have been so elated to have him "single" me out like that!

[williamgeorgefraser]

Alan Freeman was a remarkable advocate of prog rock. I remember one Saturday afternoon in my car listening to his programme and he played one side of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" by Yes. "Hold Your Head Up" is an amazing song. I haven't heard it for years but, having just discovered this video, I'm going to listen to it now.

[oneoldgit]

Saw Argent a couple of times in the early 70s. Always loved them