Take Five: Great Guest Spots featuring Rod Argent

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Argent is one of the most versatile and creative musicians in rock. As a founding member of The Zombies, he was responsible for memorable hits like “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No” and the belatedly-recognized-as-monumental 1967 album Odessey and Oracle. After The Zombies ended their original run, he launched a new, namesake group in a more progressive vein. That group, Argent, scored hits with “Hold Your Head Up” and “God Gave Rock and Roll To You.”

Beyond those two landmark projects, Rod Argent has enjoyed a creatively fertile solo career. His talents have led him to be enlisted in many other artists’ projects as well, from Duffy Power’s early bluesy work to decidedly non-rock sessions with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Argent sustained a stroke last year and has retired from live performance with The Zombies, though reports say he’s recovering nicely. On the occasion of Rod Argent’s 80th birthday this month, here are five notable and varied guest spots featuring his keyboard artistry.

“Coast to Coast” from Trapeze’s You Are the Music… We’re Just the Band (1972)
From Cannock, England, hard rockers Trapeze got their start on The Moody Blues’ Threshold Records; Moodys’ bassist John Lodge produced their first two albums. The band headed in a more mainstream direction for their well-received third LP, which featured guest spots from steel guitarist B.J. Cole and Rod Argent on electric piano. Written by band member (and future vocalist for Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) Glenn Hughes, “Coast to Coast” explored the band’s subtler, more melodic side.

“Touch My Soul” from Michael Fennelly’s Lane Changer (1974)
Michael Fennelly is one of those musicians who – while perhaps not a household name – is highly respected among those in the know. He was a key player in two critically-lauded (if commercially overlooked) bands, The Millennium and Crabby Appleton. After the latter group broke up, Fennelly worked with producer Chris White to create his solo debut, Lane Changer. White called up his old Zombies band mate Rod Argent, who played on “Touch My Soul,” a track also released as a single.

“Who Are You” from The Who’s Who Are You (1978)
By the time The Who were working on their eighth studio album – and last before drummer Keith Moon’s death – guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend was using longtime auxiliary member John “Rabbit” Bundrick as keyboardist for live and studio work. But when Bundrick broke his arm, Townshend called old friend Rod Argent in for work on the four unfinished songs. One of them, the album’s title track, features Argent’s intricate and inventive piano work. Released as a single, “Who Are You” climbed to #14 on the U.S. singles chart; it found new life decades later when used in the title sequence for early 2000s TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

“Riders on the Storm” from Nektar’s A Spoonful of Time (2012)
A group of British expats based in Germany, Nektar came around in the late ‘60s with a winning mix of psychedelia and progressive rock. By 2012, two founding members of the group – guitarist/vocalist Roye Albrighton and drummer Ron Howden – teamed up with a Who’s Who of rock and prog heroes. Using the Nektar name, they made an album of cover tunes. Some choices were inspired (Roxy Music’s “Out of the Blue,” The Rolling Stones’ “2000 Light Years From Home”) while others – like Toto’s “Africa” – were questionable. Bassist Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big joined Rod Argent, Yes utility man Billy Sherwood and the Nektar duo for a credible reading of the Doors classic. It’s a highlight of the album.

“Haunted” from Matthew Sweet’s Tomorrow Forever (2017)
Nebraska-born Matthew Sweet immersed himself in the Athens, Georgia alternative rock scene before charting his own path in the ‘90s and beyond as a master of melodic power pop with muscle. A superb songwriter and musician, Sweet has long surrounded himself with other excellent musicians – Richard Lloyd and Susannah Hoffs among them – to help realize his artistic visions. Sweet’s highly regarded 2017 release Tomorrow Forever was financed through a remarkably successful fan-funded effort. In addition to his core ensemble of Ric Menck and Paul Chastain (both of Velvet Crush), Gary Louris and John Moremen, the album featured Rod Argent on piano.