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36-598: Russell Glyn Ballard (born 31 October 1945) is an English rock singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer. Originally rising to prominence as the lead singer and guitarist of the band Argent , 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

72-569: A Contemporary Christian rock anthem and was twice covered by the Christian Rock band Petra , in 1977 (on the album Come and Join Us ) and again in 1984 (on the album Beat the System ), with new verses. Some of Ballard's compositions became hits when they were covered by other artists, including Rainbow (" Since You Been Gone ", from the album Down to Earth , and "I Surrender", from

108-468: A cover of "Hold Your Head Up" in 1989. Their version was released on a promotional only 7" vinyl in 1989. It was reissued on 7" vinyl in 2014 as a limited edition Black Friday Record Store Day release on Stardog/Republic Records. The band Jellyfish opened most of their shows with an abbreviated version of "Hold Your Head Up". The Bottom Line (venue) The Bottom Line was a music venue at 15 West 4th Street between Mercer Street and Greene Street in

144-716: A five-show tour from January to February 2012, before performing one last show at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury as part of a benefit concert, on 2 June 2013, supporting the Zombies , on a bill that also included Marillion members Steve Hogarth and Steve Rothery . Rodford died after a fall on 20 January 2018, at age 76. Argent's biggest hit was the Rod Argent and Chris White composition " Hold Your Head Up ", featuring lead vocals by Russ Ballard, from

180-633: A given time period. That show presented performers including Fountains of Wayne , Richard Lloyd and Hedwig and the Angry Inch 's John Cameron Mitchell . The Bottom Line was also the site, in April 1995, of four concerts by Joan Baez , in which she collaborated with a number of female performers, including Dar Williams , Janis Ian , Mary Chapin Carpenter , the Indigo Girls and Mary Black ,

216-495: A harder rock vein, Ballard wrote "I Did It For Love," which became the last Billboard Hot 100 hit for Night Ranger , appearing on their 1988 Man in Motion album. In 1991 the song he co-wrote with John Waite and Jonathan Cain, "So This Is Eden", appeared on Bad English 's album, Backlash . Ballard has also written and produced for Elkie Brooks , and in 2005 acting as a talent scout , he "discovered" Lauren Harris . As

252-464: A new record label ( RCA ) for the final 1975 album Counterpoints . By 2005, all albums, including compilations, have been re-released on CD, except Counterpoints . Argent recorded the original version of " God Gave Rock and Roll to You ", written by Russ Ballard, which was covered by Kiss in 1991 under the name " God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II ", and featured prominently at the end of the film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey . The song also became

288-599: A solo artist, Ballard charted once on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart , when "On the Rebound" reached No. 58 in 1980. The song was featured on his solo album for Epic, entitled Barnet Dogs , which reached number 187 on the Billboard 200 . English rock band Uriah Heep covered "On the Rebound" in 1982 on their album Abominog . Another notable solo hit, "Voices" – from his second self-titled album (1984) –

324-557: A spoken-word and music comedy album recorded by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in late 1973 under their guises of Derek and Clive , were recorded at The Bottom Line. The club seated 400 people and had a no-smoking policy long before that restriction became New York City law. In later years the club hosted In Their Own Words: A Bunch Of Songwriters Sittin' Around Singing , a series of performances with commentary organized and initially hosted by radio personality Vin Scelsa . Another staple

360-531: A vehicle for his prodigious songwriting, Ballard left after the album's release to pursue a successful career as a solo artist. Ballard's departure was followed by the release of the live album Encore . The band regrouped as a quintet with the addition of young virtuoso guitarist John Grimaldi and guitarist/vocalist John Verity . Both of their final albums, Circus and 1975's Counterpoints , were poorly received and failed to sell, though their final concert tours were well attended. In 1975, John Grimaldi left

396-529: A version of "Hold Your Head Up" for his 1993 album Songs from the Mirror , a selection of his favourite songs. The American band Phish play an instrumental version of "Hold Your Head Up", usually as a transition into a "joke song" by drummer Jon Fishman . "Hold Your Head Up" was covered in 1987 by the band 20/Twenty and (in the same year) by Australian group the Party Boys . Mother Love Bone recorded

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432-616: The All Together Now album, which, in a heavily edited single form, reached No. 5 in the US. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc . The sound of the band was a mix of rock and pop, but also covered more progressive rock territory in songs like "The Coming of Kohoutek", an instrumental from their Nexus album. When Ballard left the band after Encore , they took an even more progressive/fusion turn with their final Epic album Circus and then signed to

468-476: The Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan , New York City . During the 1970s and 1980s the club was a major space for small-scale popular music performances. It opened on February 11, 1974. For three decades the two club owners, Allan Pepper and Stanley Snadowsky, presented major musical acts and premiered new talent. Bruce Springsteen played showcase gigs at the club and Lou Reed recorded

504-831: The Winning album he toured Europe and the US in October and November 1976, working with the John Stanley Media Management Company and a four-piece band, performing at large theatre venues in Europe and medium-sized clubs such as The Bottom Line in New York and the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. Ballard wrote and produced " You Can Do Magic " for the group America on its 1982 album View from

540-568: The 1970s and 1980s. He also scored several minor hits under his own name in the early and mid-1980s. Ballard was born in Waltham Cross , Hertfordshire , England. Ballard was initially a guitarist, joining Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961 together with his older brother Roy and their friend the drummer Bob Henrit . After a stint with The Roulettes , backing Adam Faith , he then went on to join Unit 4 + 2 in 1967, before becoming

576-867: The Bottom Line and Live: The Loom's Desire ), Cheap Trick , Rory Gallagher , Chuck Mangione , Carl Hancock Rux , Emmylou Harris , Neil Young , Leo Kottke , Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes , Doc Watson , Barry Manilow , Dire Straits , Son Volt , Grayson Hugh , Dolly Parton , George Jones , The Pointer Sisters , Ravi Shankar , Ramones , The Brecker Brothers , Allan Holdsworth , Gato Barbieri , Bryan Ferry , Billy Joel , Yellow Magic Orchestra , David Bromberg , Fairport Convention , Steeleye Span , Gil Scott-Heron together with Brian Jackson (documented on Live in New York), and Van Morrison . The live parts of Derek and Clive (Live) ,

612-449: The Bottom Line name. The club continued to maintain a website with its official history. From 2005 through 2013, the site was updated annually on February 12 (the anniversary of the club's opening), with a letter detailing their current progress. In February 2007 they announced plans to release a box set of archival recordings on Koch Records . In 2011 they announced the box set was in "limbo" pending settling of performance rights issues, and

648-633: The Ground . The single climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, and helped resurrect the band's career. The following year, America brought in Ballard to produce their follow-up album, Your Move . One of its tracks, " The Border ", which was co-written by Ballard with Dewey Bunnell , reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ballard wrote ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad 's 1982 solo hit: " I Know There's Something Going On " (which

684-779: The Movie . Ballard undertook a tour with Roger Daltrey in 1985, playing guitar and singing one of his own songs. British pop band Hello recorded Ballard's " New York Groove " in 1975, reaching No. 7 in Germany and No. 9 in the UK. "New York Groove" would also be recorded three years later by Ace Frehley , who turned the tune into a stateside hit. Ballard also wrote the No. 17, 1981 hit for Santana , called " Winning ", which appeared on their album entitled Zebop! and had previously been released by Ballard himself on his second solo album. To promote

720-602: The Season " was becoming a worldwide hit in 1969. His new band employed much heavier rhythms and a generally weightier sound, but also continued the minor keys and complex lyrics of The Zombies, often by Argent's writing with former Zombies bassist Chris White . Guitarist and vocalist Russ Ballard also developed strong melodies and hit singles, writing a string of FM staples. The band was completed by bassist Jim Rodford and drummer Bob Henrit . Lead vocal duties were shared between Ballard and Argent. Their first album, Argent ,

756-405: The US charts. Their next album, In Deep , contained two more hits in " God Gave Rock and Roll to You " and "It's Only Money". 1974's Nexus was dominated by Rod Argent's writing, with Ballard only contributing 3 of the album's 9 songs. The album's centrepiece, "The Coming of Kohoutek", was inspired by that year's appearance of the comet of the same name. Uninspired by this change and seeking

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792-522: The album Difficult to Cure ), Kiss , Petra , Hello , Santana , and more recently the Brazilian metal band Oficina G3 . The Russ Ballard song " Liar ", on Argent's first album, became a hit for Three Dog Night in 1971 and was also released as a single, ten years later, by Graham Bonnet (former Rainbow vocalist, who sang the vocal on "Since You Been Gone"), taken from his debut album Line-Up . Fish (former lead singer of Marillion ) recorded

828-639: The album Live: Take No Prisoners there. Harry Chapin held his 2000th concert at the Bottom Line in January 1981. The Bottom Line hosted an extremely wide variety of music and musicians. Among the thousands who performed on its stage were Eric Clapton , João Gilberto , Carl Perkins , Linda Ronstadt , The Manhattan Transfer , Patti Smith , Ringo Starr (documented on VH1 Storytellers (Ringo Starr album) ), The Police , Rockapella , Adrian Belew , Prince , Pat Benatar , Daryl Hall & John Oates , Miles Davis , Laura Nyro (documented on Laura: Live at

864-654: The band. While Rod Argent considered whether to continue Argent, the remaining members (Henrit, Rodford and Verity) became Phoenix. The original Argent lineup reunited at the High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London on 25 July 2010, and undertook a short five-date concert tour in December 2010, with gigs in Frome, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leamington Spa, and London. Argent also reunited for

900-410: The club's back rent if NYU and the owners could settle on a lease. Sirius Satellite Radio offered the same, but rather than risk a takeover, Pepper and Snadowsky closed the club before they could be kicked out. The last Bottom Line show was on January 22, 2004, just shy of the club's 30th anniversary. The building now houses NYU classrooms. Pepper and Snadowsky attempted to find another venue to carry

936-492: The hit single "I Don't Believe in Miracles", which featured on that album. Ballard left Argent in 1974 and pursued a solo and songwriting career. He wrote such hits as Three Dog Night 's "Liar" (originally recorded by Argent), Hot Chocolate 's 1977 UK chart topper " So You Win Again ", and Rainbow 's 1979 hit " Since You Been Gone ". Head East had also recorded the song in 1978 for its self-titled album, and before that it

972-469: The lead singer and guitarist of Argent (along with Henrit, who joined as drummer), writing their hit " God Gave Rock and Roll to You ", which would later be covered by both Petra and KISS . Ballard is most well known as the vocalist on Argent's smash "Hold Your Head Up" . In 1972, Ballard performed on Colin Blunstone 's album Ennismore , which was produced by Chris White . Ballard also wrote

1008-452: The results of which were recorded and released as the album Ring Them Bells . In 2003, due to rent increases from its landlord New York University , the club owed $ 190,000 in back rent, plus several hundred thousand dollars in other expenses, and was threatened with eviction. Fans started a petition on a "Save the Bottom" website in support of the club. Bruce Springsteen offered to pay

1044-843: The search was continuing for a new location. Snadowsky died in February 2013 from complications of diabetes . The website was last updated in February 2013 and was no longer up by February 2020. In 2015 Pepper began to release a series of albums from his recordings, which included more than 1,000 shows, on The Bottom Line Record Company along with starting a new website – The Bottom Line Archive. In March 2015, Pepper released Kenny Rankin Plays The Beatles & More (1990); The Brecker Brothers (1976); and Willie Nile (1980 & 2000). In June 2015, The Bottom Line Archive released more titles: Harry Chapin (1981), Janis Ian (1980) Jack Bruce , Ralph Stanley , Doc Watson , Tony Orlando and

1080-697: The title "A Portrait Of An Artist By Mary Turner". Argent (band) Argent were an English rock band formed in 1969 by former Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent . They had three UK Top 40 singles: " Hold Your Head Up ", which reached No. 5 and spent 12 weeks on the chart, "Tragedy" (No. 34), and " God Gave Rock and Roll to You " (No. 18). Two of their albums charted in the UK: All Together Now , which peaked at No. 13 in 1972, and In Deep , which spent one week at No. 49 in 1973. Rod Argent put together his eponymous-named band just as his former band The Zombies ' post-breakup single " Time of

1116-482: The title track of his 1985 album matched the placement of the previous year's "Voices", peaking at No. 15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In addition to Kiss covering " God Gave Rock and Roll to You ", retitled as " God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II ": Format: CD All songs written by Ballard. In 1984, Mary Turner produced a 15-minute portrait of Russ Ballard as a record with

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1152-422: Was critically acclaimed, if not a massive seller. It was a solid start and contained the song " Liar ", which was subsequently covered by Three Dog Night . 1971's Ring of Hands was their second album and featured the minor hit "Sweet Mary". All Together Now was their third album, released in 1972. It featured the song that they are best remembered for: "Hold Your Head Up", which was a Top 5 hit in both UK and

1188-652: Was featured in the Miami Vice episode " Calderone's Return: Part 2 – Calderone's Demise ", which aired on 26 October 1984. The song was a brief hit on rock radio stations , peaking at No. 15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, "Voices" stalled below the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 110. Another song from the same album, "In the Night" was featured in the episode " Calderone's Return: Part 1 – The Hit List ". The show also featured "Your Time Is Gonna Come" by Ballard later in its run. "The Fire Still Burns",

1224-423: Was included in Ballard's 1976 solo album Winning . Ballard also wrote Rainbow's 1981 song " I Surrender ", which charted at number 3 in the UK. Ballard also wrote and performed on Roger Daltrey 's first two solo albums, Daltrey (1973) and Ride a Rock Horse (1975). Daltrey recorded some other Russ Ballard originals for his McVicar soundtrack, and his albums Under a Raging Moon and Can't Wait to See

1260-457: Was produced by Phil Collins , and also featured Collins on drums). The track reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also penned " Can't Shake Loose " for fellow ABBA former member Agnetha Fältskog , which peaked at No. 29 in the same listings. Ballard wrote " No More the Fool " recorded by Elkie Brooks, aka British Queen of Blues. It reached number five in the UK charts in 1987. Returning to

1296-441: Was the annual Downtown Messiah , a reworking of Handel directed by Richard Barone . At Christmastime, musicians like Vernon Reid and David Johansen made The Messiah their own. The venue also held annual New Year's Eve shows by The Turtles (often performing as Flo & Eddie ). Another recurring event was The Beat Goes On , a show in which performers covered pop songs around a theme, such as Christmas songs, or songs from

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