Russ Ballard

He also scored several minor hits under his own name in the early and mid-1980s.

• Landscape — yes • Birth Name — Russell Glyn Ballard • Born — 31 October 1945 • Birthplace — Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England • Instrument — * Guitar • vocals • piano • keyboards • harmonica • Genre — * Rock • pop • hard rock • Occupation — * Musician • songwriter • record producer • Years Active — 1960–present • Label — EMI • Website — russballardmusic.com

Ballard was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire in 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 joined Unit 4 + 2 in 1967, before becoming 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 later was 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 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 hits "Since You Been Gone" (UK number 6 in 1979) and "I Surrender" (UK number 3 in 1981). Head East had recorded Since You Been Gone in 1978 for their self-titled album, and before that it was included on Ballard's 1976 solo album Winning. Ballard 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 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 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 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 was produced by Phil Collins, and also featured Collins on drums). The track reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 in Germany. 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, which reached number five in the UK chart in 1987. Returning to a harder rock vein, he 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 in 2005, acting as a talent scout, "discovered" Lauren Harris.

In addition to Kiss covering "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", it was retitled as "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II." • Kiss drummer Peter Criss recorded Ballard's "Let Me Rock You" and "Some Kinda Hurricane" on his 1982 Let Me Rock You album. • Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley covered "New York Groove" on his self-titled solo album in 1978. Frehley's version reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been a regular staple of Kiss live performances during tours in which Frehley has taken part. • During the time he was not with Kiss, Frehley also recorded a cover of the Ballard song "Into the Night" for his 1987 Frehley's Comet album.

• "Can't Shake Loose", recorded by Agnetha Fältskog • "Can't We Talk It Over", recorded by Les McKeown (1981/1982) • "Cast The Spirit", recorded by America (1983) • "Cuckoo" (As "Are You Cuckoo?"), recorded by Bay City Rollers • "Dancer", recorded by Rare Earth (A Brand New World - 2008) • "Dream On", recorded by King Kobra (Thrill of a Lifetime - 1986) • "Feels Like the Real Thing", recorded by Stormbringer (Stormbringer - 1983) • "First Heartbreak", recorded by Ian Lloyd (Love Stealer - 1979) • "Free Me", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980) • "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You", recorded by Argent, Petra, and Kiss • "Heartbreaker", recorded by Olivia Newton-John (‘’Let Me Be There (Non-American Pressing)’’ - 1973) • "Hearts of Fire", recorded by Roger Daltrey (on his album Can't Wait to See the Movie) • "I Did It For Love", recorded by Night Ranger (Man In Motion - 1988) • "I Don't Believe in Miracles", recorded by Colin Blunstone • "I Know There's Something Going On", recorded by Frida • "I Surrender", recorded by Head East, Rainbow, Cherie & Marie Currie, At Vance, Stratovarius and Praying Mantis • "I Will Be There", recorded by Gogmagog • "I'm Confessing", recorded by Alan Longmuir (Single A-side, 1977) • "I'm the One Who Loves You", recorded by A II Z (Single A-side, 1981) • "Into the Night", recorded by Frehley's Comet. (Frehley's Comet - 1987) • "Is Anybody There", recorded by E. F. Band (Deep Cut – 1982) • "Is My Love In Vain", recorded by Nick Simper's Fandango (Future Times - 1980) • "Jody", recorded by America • "Juliet", recorded by Girl (Killing Time – 1997) • "Just a Dream Away", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980) • "Just Another Day", recorded by Phoenix, Nick Simper's Fandango(Slipstreaming - 1979) • "Let It Rock", recorded by Hello (1977) • "Let Me Rock You", recorded by Peter Criss (Let Me Rock You - 1982) • "Liar", recorded by Argent, Three Dog Night, Graham Bonnet and Rick Medlocke & Blackfoot • "Livin' in Suspicion", recorded by the Graham Bonnet Band (Meanwhile, Back in the Garage – 2018) • "Lost City", recorded by The Shadows (Sound of the Shadows – 1965) • "Love Is a Game", recorded by Girl and E. F. Band • "My Time Is Gonna Come", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980) • "New York Groove", recorded by Hello, Ace Frehley and Sweet • "No More the Fool", recorded by Elkie Brooks • "Nowhere to Run", recorded by Santana • "On the Rebound", recorded by Uriah Heep (Abominog – 1982) • "Panic Attack", recorded by Bert Heerink (Better Yet – 2009). • "Prove It", recorded by Rare Earth (A Brand New World - 2008) • "Riding with the Angels", recorded by Samson, Heretic, and Bruce Dickinson • "S.O.S.", recorded by Graham Bonnet (Line-Up - 1981) • "She's so in love", recorded by The Cats (1985) • "Since You Been Gone", recorded by Clout, Cherie & Marie Currie, Head East, Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri, Crash Kelly, and Brian May • "So You Win Again", recorded by Hot Chocolate and South African band Copperfield • "Some Kinda Hurricane", recorded by Peter Criss (Let Me Rock You - 1982) • "Someday We'll Be Together", recorded by The Pointer Sisters (1981) • "Star Studded Sham", recorded by Hello (1976) • "The Border", recorded by America (1983) • "The Mirror Lies", recorded by Graham Bonnet (My Kingdom Come double single - 2015) • "Tonight", recorded by Tokyo Blade (Tokyo Blade - 1983) • "Voices", recorded by Karen Kamon (1987) • "Winning", recorded by Michael Quatro, Nona Hendryx and later Santana. • "You Can Do Magic", recorded by America.

• Year — Album details — Peak chart positions — Notes • US — AUS • 1974 — Russ Ballard *Released: September 1974 *Label: Epic *Format: LP — – — – — *Includes "I Don't Believe in Miracles" • 1976 — Winning *Released: 1976 *Labels: Epic *Format: LP, CD — – — – — * Includes "Winning", "Since You Been Gone", and "Just a Dream Away" • 1978 — At the Third Stroke *Released: 1978 *Label: Epic *Format: LP — – — – — *Includes "Treat Her Right" • 1980 — Barnet Dogs *Released: 1980 *Labels: Epic *Format: LP, CD — 187 — – — * Includes "On the Rebound" and "Riding with the Angels" • 1981 — Into the Fire *Released: 1981 *Label: Epic *Format: LP — – — – • 1984 — Russ Ballard *Released: 1984 *Labels: EMI *Format: LP, CD — 147 — 70 — * Includes "Voices" and "In the Night" • 1985 — The Fire Still Burns *Released: 1985 *Label: EMI *Format: LP — 166 — – — *Includes "The Fire Still Burns" and "Dream On" • 1993 — The Seer *Released: 1993 *Labels: Intercord *Format: LP, CD — – — – • 2006 — Book of Love *Released: 20 October 2006 *Labels: Phoenix Music Group Format: CD — – — – • 2015 — It's Good to Be Here *Released: 27 March 2015 *Labels: UMU Music Group *Format: Download * Label: BMG Rights Management * Format: CD, LP, digital — – — – — * First available in 2015 only as digital download via UMU Music Group, Ballard worked on the tracks over many years before its release. * After signing a contract with BMG Rights Management UK Ltd, the album is available as CD, LP, digital * First single (available on major streaming services since 9 December 2019) is "Kicking' the Can" • 2025 — Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Re:Wired *Released: 25 April 2025 *Labels: Frontiers Records SRL Format: CD, LP, digital — – — – — *Songs From The Warehouse: New material recorded between 2020 and 2025 * The Hits Re:Wired: Ballards version of songs he wrote for others

• Book of Love Tour Live 2007 (CD) (10 April 2020), Russell Ballard Ltd.

All songs written by Ballard. • Year — A-Side — Length — B-Side — Length — Other • 1974 — "Fly Away" — 3:20 — | "Danger Zone - Part II" — 3:06 • 1975 — "Loose Women" — 2:27 — | "Danger Zone—Part 1" — 2:38 • 1976 — "Since You Been Gone" — 2:50 — | "Venus (Shine Your Light)" — 4:41 • 1976 — "The Russ Ballard Story Part 1" — 7:50 — | "The Russ Ballard Story Part 2" — 7:41 — US only, promo • 1977 — "Some Kinda Hurricane" — 3:27 — | "You Can Do Voodoo" — 3:32 • 1978 — "Dancer" — 4:02 — | "Treat Her Right" — 2:29 — New Zealand only • 1978 — "Treat Her Right" — 2:55 — | "What Does It Take" — 3:09 • 1978 — "I'm a Scorpio" — 3:38 — | "Expressway to Your Heart" — 2:53 • 1980 — "Rene Didn't Do It" — 3:20 — "Feels Like the Real Thing" — 3:58 — Australia only • 1980 — "On the Rebound" — 3:28 — "Riding with the Angels" — 4:06 • 1981 — "Rock & Roll Lover" — 3:31 — | "Breakdown" — 3:16 — US only • 1981 — "Here Comes the Hurt" — 3:56 — "Breakdown" — 3:16 • 1981 — "I Will Be There" — 3:57 — "Madman" — 5:04 • 1984 — "Two Silhouettes" — 4:17 — "Living Without You" — 4:24 • 1984 — "I Can't Hear You No More" — 4:09 — | "The Last Time" — 5:25 — Germany only • 1985 — "Voices" — 5:33 — "Living Without You" — 4:24 • 1985 — "The Fire Still Burns" — 4:12 — "Hold On" — 4:17 • 1985 — "Dream On" — 4:15 — | "The Omen" — 4:27 — Germany only

• "On the Rebound" (1980) - No. 58 on Billboard Hot 100 • "Voices" (1984) - No. 110 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles / No. 15 Top Tracks (Mainstream Rock Tracks) • "The Fire Still Burns" (1985) - No. 105 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles / No. 15 Top Rock Tracks (Mainstream Rock Tracks)

In 1984, Mary Turner produced a 15-minute portrait of Russ Ballard as a record with the title "A Portrait Of An Artist By Mary Turner".

Russ Ballard was recorded at birth as Russell Glyn Ballard. The authorities additionally record the heading Russell Glyn Ballard. His recorded language was English.

Russ Ballard is recorded as singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, composer and musician.