Happy anniversary “Argus”, 50 today. A thrilling mixture of rock, folk and a tinge of prog it was compulsory listening in our 6th form common room. It still still stands up remarkably well, especially when played loud. My crackling vinyl will be spinning with the evening gin and tonic.
Happy anniversary “Argus”
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Spinning with G and T? Make sure it doesn’t damage the record (or the label)…
A truly remarkable album. One of the few from ‘72 that still gets a regular spin at attackdog kennels. The melodies are timeless.
Great album cover, too.
That helmet. That spear thing. That red cloak. Magnificent.
When did I buy “Argus”?
You’re probably expecting me to say “1972” or “1973”.
But no.
I actually bought it about three months ago!
Best helmet-work this side of Daft Punk …or Second Coming
Jessie Rae caps the lot of them
“No madam, everything’s in perrrfect wurrking orrder” etc
“Helmet”. Hurr, fnarr, fizzipt…
Well worth getting the vinyl just for the cover!
Roxy Music “channelled” the cover for Avalon.
Indeed. Was one of the albums to be seen carrying when I was in the lower sixth.
Still listen to it today
I think there’s a scene in one of the three original Star Wars films that echoes the Argus artwork.
at 1:18…?
Yes!
A masterpiece which will forever figure in my top albums of all time. I saw them the week it came out and I’ll be at The Stables, as usual, this winter.
Wishbone Ash.
My second ever gig as a punter at Tiffanys in Great Yarmouth.
Trevor Bolder was on bass so that is my closest connection to Bowie!
I was at that! A Sunday night I think, so I had to be home early. Or was that the Eurythmics?
Do people still pinch those little pens?
Wey no, man. It’s aal touch screen keyboards and that noo.
839 space 4687. That was my favourite,
What an album. After ‘Pilgrimage’ the expectations were sky-high amongst those of us who had worn our copies of the previous LP out, so ‘Argus’ just blew us away when it arrived (I think ‘dropped’ is the mot du jour? Or was that last year or the one before?).
And that offbeat intro to The King…. rock reggae a good 6 years before Stung and the others. Hah!
It’s the harmonies that get me, vocal and lead guitar, and the bass is super melodic too. So musical.
I played this all the way through the other day in celebration of the 50th anniversary. Still sounds terrific – yeah the lyrics are a bit twee but so what. I think it’s the greatest rock guitar album ever. Sometime World is probably my favourite track with that fabulous bassline and the emotive twin guitar solo at the end of Throw Down the Sword still brings a lump to my throat.
Interesting story there is people assumed it’s Andy and Ted duelling, but in fact it’s two Andy takes which were accidentally both left up on the playback and everyone thought it sounded great. Which of course it does. The identical tone of both solos should give it away of course.