All Together Now (Argent album)

All Together Now
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1972 (UK)
Recorded1971
StudioAbbey Road, London
Genre
Length41:42
71:18 (CD re-release)
LabelEpic
ProducerChris White, Rod Argent
Argent chronology
Ring of Hands
(1971)
All Together Now
(1972)
In Deep
(1973)

All Together Now is the third album by British rock band Argent, released in April 1972. It was originally released on Epic Records, KE 31556. It was Argent's first hit album; it features "Hold Your Head Up", their most successful single, which reached #5 in the UK, Canadian, and U.S. singles charts. Other featured songs include "Tragedy" which reached #34 in the UK, "I Am the Dance of Ages" and "He's a Dynamo". The album reached #14 in Canada.[2]

The 1997 compact disc re-release of All Together Now by Koch Records features an additional seven tracks not included on the original seven-track vinyl record. The bonus tracks include "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", which, owing to the popular cover/remake by Kiss, is one of Argent's best-known songs.

In 2009, for their reunion, Mr. Big recorded a cover of "Hold Your Head Up" and played it throughout the tour. Australian rock supergroup The Party Boys covered "Hold Your Head Up" in 1987 on their only studio album, The Party Boys. Uriah Heep also covered the song on their 1989 album Raging Silence. All bonus tracks were previously released on albums, except "Kingdom", which was the flip side of the "Celebration" single, and "Closer to Heaven" which was the B-side of the single "Hold Your Head Up".

Steppenwolf covered "Hold Your Head Up" on their 1982 album Wolftracks.

In 2012, Esoteric Recordings of Europe released the album (ECLEC 2321) with "Closer to Heaven" as a bonus track.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Record Guide[3]

In the Q and Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & the Story of Prog Rock, the album ranked 33rd in the list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".[4]

Track listing

[edit]

Songs written by Rod Argent and Chris White except as noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hold Your Head Up" 6:18
2."Keep On Rollin'" 4:32
3."Tragedy"Russ Ballard4:50
4."I Am the Dance of Ages" 3:46
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Be My Lover, Be My Friend" 5:21
6."He's a Dynamo"Ballard3:48
7."Pure Love"
a. "Fantasia"
b. "Prelude"
c. "Pure Love"
d. "Finale"
 13:07

The UK release had a red hype sticker on the cover, reading “Includes the hit singles "Hold Your Head Up" and "Tragedy"”. It was a gatefold album with a four-page booklet, each page featuring a band member, with many photos.

1997 KOCH Records CD re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Celebration"Argent, White2:54
9."Kingdom"Argent, White3:09
10."Closer to Heaven"Ballard3:31
11."Rejoice"Argent, White3:47
12."God Gave Rock and Roll to You"Ballard6:45
13."Christmas for the Free"Argent, White4:16
14."It's Only Money (Part 2)"Ballard5:15

"Celebration" and "Rejoice" are from the 1971 album Ring of Hands. "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", "It's Only Money (Part 2)" and "Christmas for the Free" are from the 1973 album In Deep. "Kingdom" is the B-side of the 1971 single "Celebration"; "Closer to Heaven" is the B-side of the 1972 single "Hold Your Head Up".

2012 release with 1 bonus track:
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Closer to Heaven"Ballard3:31

Personnel

[edit]
Argent

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1972) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 14
UK Albums (OCC)[6] 13
US Billboard 200[7] 23

Releases

[edit]
  • CD All Together Now Sony Music Distribution 1994
  • CD All Together Now Koch / eOne / Koch International 1997
  • CD All Together Now Acadia 2006
  • CD All Together Now [Bonus Tracks] Acadia 2007
  • CD All Together Now Sony Music Distribution 2008
  • CD All Together Now [Bonus Track] Esoteric Records 2012

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c AllMusic review
  2. ^ "RPM Magazine - September 30, 1972 - page 12" (PDF).
  3. ^ The Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1979. p. 11.
  4. ^ Q Classic: Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, 2005.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4195". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Argent Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2024.