jrusswilloughby.com/
That’s right! For the first time since May of last year I’m finally getting around to posting a new video. The last 16 months have been busy. Not only did I write and record a new album of original tunes, I’ve also been playing a lot with Under the Sun and Closer to 9, the two bands I’m in. I also took a few months to finish off the studio.
Anyway…..
“Hold Your Head Up” came to be because the members of The Zombies weren’t happy with what they thought was a lack of success. The first two singles from the band’s last album, Odessey and Oracle (released in the UK in 1967) failed to chart, and so the band decided to split up. After the album was released in the U.S. the following year, “Time of the Season” started getting noticed, and finally became a hit in 1969. Even though they were floored by the tune’s success, they had already gone their separate ways, and so keyboardist Rod Argent formed his new Progressive Rock band, Argent. The Zombies did, however, get back together a few times to play “Time of the Season”, but there was no tour. The band’s 2019 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame only solidifies their everlasting impact. And to think, they thought they weren’t a success.
Between 1970 and 1975, Argent released seven albums. The 1972 album, All Together Now, spawned the band’s biggest hit,”Hold Your Head Up”. It was written by Rod Argent and Chris White (previous bassist for The Zombies). White wasn’t a member of the band, but rather a producer and co-songwriter who worked with Rod Argent.
The song wasn’t supposed to be a single, but the record company decided to push it. The band played it on the UK’s Top of the Pops TV show, which helped move it up the charts. The song was a Top 5 hit in the U.S., the UK, and on the Canadian charts, peaking at No. 5 in all three countries. It was the band's only song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
In addition to Rod Argent, the band included Russ Ballard, who sang lead on the song. Ballard became a prolific songwriter and producer by the late 1970s. His compositions "New York Groove", "You Can Do Magic", "Since You Been Gone", "I Surrender", "Liar", "Winning", "I Know There's Something Going On", "Can't Shake Loose", "So You Win Again" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" became hits for other artists during the 1970s and 1980s. Ballard left Argent in 1974, after the release of the band’s fifth album, Nexus.
As far as my cover, I decided to do the shorter, more radio-friendly version. I am far from an accomplished keyboard player, and the longer six minute-plus version contains what Rick Wakeman called “The greatest organ solo, ever”. I’m sure purist might take issue with the fact that I went that route, but it’s a cover, not a copy. Structurally, my version is a little different than the radio version, but it is what it is.
For those interest, CD copies of my album, Back to Basics are still available, and can be purchased at my website, jrusswilloughby.com