Hold Your Head Up – Argent | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1972

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

One of the most haunting keyboard lines of the British Invasion was created by Rod Argent, as heard on the Zombies atmospheric hit, She’s Not There. The band formed in 1962, acquired a record deal in 1964 after winning a label audition as first prize in a newspaper-sponsored contest, notched up a couple of hits, and disbanded in 1967.

In 1968, People kept the Zombies alive via a cover of the band’s 1965 single, I Love You. Then, in 1969, a surprise release of a 1967 track from Odessey & Oracle, Time Of The Season, gave the defunct Zombies one more for the record books.

The original group refused to reunite, and Rod Argent resurfaced in 1970 with a new self-named band. Although Argent’s album debut went nowhere, the track Liar went to #7 in 1971 in a version by Three Dog Night.

Argent’s sophomore slab of progressive rock also sank. 1972’s All Together Now finally brought Argent its day in the sun, when Hold Your Head Up rose to #5.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

• Rod Argent
• Chris White

Lyrics Written by:

• Rod Argent
• Chris White

Awards:

• Chart Success: “Hold Your Head Up” peaked at No. 5 in both the US and UK in 1972.
• Gold Certification: The single sold over 1 million copies and received a gold disc.
• Greatest Hits Album: “Hold Your Head Up” is featured on the band’s Greatest: The Singles Collection album.