line up 1 (1978)

- Rod Argent -- vocals, keyboards

  supporting musicians (1978)

- Clive Chapman -- bass

- Phil Collins -- drums

- Alphonso Johnson -- bass

- Jack Lancaster -- sax, flute

- Gary Moore -- guitar

- Morris Pert -- percussion

- Argent

- The Zombies

Genre: progressive

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Moving Home

Company: MCA

Catalog: MCF 2854
Year: 1978

Country/State: Saint Albans, Hertfordshire, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: UK pressing; original custom inner sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 2110

Price: $20.00

The band Argent called it quits in 1976 and after a two year hiatus namesake Rod Argent released his solo debut in 1978.   

Produced by Robin Lumley, to my ears "Moving Home" didn't sound all that different from late inning Argent releases.   In terms of personnel Russ Ballard and the rest of the Argent crew may have been jettisoned, but Argent was backed by an impressive collection of friends and associates including Phil Collins, bassist Johnson, and guitarist Gary Moore.  Musically depending on how you felt about albums like "Circus" and "Counterpart" that may not have been a source of comfort.  Like those latter-stage Argent albums his solo debut continued to mine a pseudo-jazz/new age mash-up that occasion reminded me of acts ranging from Vangelis to Yes. Synthesizer heavy and somewhat occasionally melodic deficient, tunes like 'Summer' and 'Tenderness' were kind of plodding and simply haven't aged all that well.   Elsewhere the collection didn't have a great deal of old fashioned rock and roll going for it - actually there wasn't anything even close.   So did the album have anything going for it?  Curiously my ears were attracted to the collection's more jazz-influences efforts.  The breezy 'I'm In the Mood' was one of the most energetic tracks on the album.  The deliberate opening to the closing instrumental 'Recollection' was engaging, while Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson saved the whispy ballad 'Pastorius Mentioned' from oblivion.  

So in summary I can't say the album was bad, but it wasn't all that exciting, or inspirational either...  just kind of humdrum for me.

"Moving Home" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Home   (Rod Argent) - 4:18

The first time I put 'Home' on I wondered if I'd mistakenly put a Vangelis album on.  When Argent's strained vocals kicked in I knew if wasn't an Vangelis LP, but I still wasn't sure what I'd stumbled into.  A synthesizer heavy ballad, 'Home' was mildly melodic, but probably too new age-ish for fans of his earlier catalog.   rating: *** stars

2.) Silence   (Rod Argent) - 3:41

Imagine The Zombies having updated their sound to meet mid-'70s audience demands for a synthesizer dominated tune that borrowed heavily from a mixture of Yes and other progressive outfits.  Not the most impressive song, but  I've always loved cheesy '70s synthesizer solos and this one had a humdinger of a cheesy solo.   rating: *** stars

3.) I'm In the Mood    (Rod Argent)- 4:24

One of the album's more jazz-oriented numbers, I've always been surprised by how much I like the breezy 'I'm In the Mood'.  Not a shred of rock and roll in this one, but propelled by Alphonso Johnson's stunning bass work, Argent actually managed to generate some energy on this one.  Shame it faded out when the band was starting to get into a groove.    rating: **** stars

4.) Summer   (Rod Argent) - 4:05

'Summer' was a pretty, if rather stark ballad featuring Argent on lead and backing vocals, as well as keyboards and cheesy '70s synthesizers.  Kind of an unexpected lite-jazzy/new age feel  that was liable to leave many Argent fans wondering if they'd slapped a Starcastle, or Yes album on the turntable by mistake.  rating: ** stars

5.) No. 1 (instrumental)   (Rod Argent) - 6:30

The synthesizer dominated opening sounded like something lifted from a Starcastle, or Vangelis album.  Things improved a little when the rhythm section kicked in giving the song a bit of energy (and a nice change of pace give the earlier balladry).  Having Gary Moore go apesh*t on acoustic guitar didn't hurt either.  Unfortunately the song then went off into television game show theme direction and never recovered from that death blow.  rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) Tenderness   (Rod Argent) - 6:09

It almost sounded like a slice of synthesizer-powered bossa nova ...  strange ballad with an odd, brittle vocal.   The tune actually got better towards the second half where it shifted into more of an extended keyboard-propelled jazz vamp.    rating: *** stars

2.) Pastorius Mentioned   (Rod Argent) - 4:34

Sweet ballad (with some glorious harmony vocals), obviously dedicated to the late bassist Jacob Pastorius.  Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson provided the lead bass.   rating: *** stars

3.) Well, Well, Well !   (Rod Argent) - 5:14

Rod gets funky ...   well, funky in a jazzy kind of way.  Guess he wasn't all that enthralled with music critics.   rating: *** stars

4.) Smiling   (Rod Argent) - 4:52

Hum, when did we stumble into the Rio Carnival parade ?   Must be my ears going bad.  I really couldn't be hearing a calypso-tinged Rod Argent number?    rating: ** stars

5.) Recollection (instrumental)   (Rod Argent) - 4:32

'Recollection' ended the set with a jazz-rock fusion instrumental.  The song was certainly more melodic than most of Argent's fusion contemporaries - I actually really liked the opening section.  It just didn't go anywhere.   rating: *** stars