Argosy: The Forgotten Link Between Elton John and Roger Hodgson

Argosy: The Forgotten Link Between Elton John and Roger Hodgson

In the late 1960s, Roger Hodgson was just 19 years old when he left boarding school determined to pursue a career in music. His first step came with the band People Like Us, with whom he recorded a single that was never released. Shortly afterward, through studio connections, Hodgson was given the opportunity to record some of his own songs with top session musicians tied to DJM Records.

This one-off project became known as Argosy, formed in 1969. It brought together Hodgson and three other aspiring musicians: Reg Dwight, a young pianist soon to be known as Elton John, guitarist Caleb Quaye, and drummer Nigel Olsson. The group recorded two Hodgson compositions: “Mr. Boyd” and “Imagine.”

The tracks, firmly in the vein of orchestrated British pop of the late ’60s, carried light psychedelic touches and a Beatles-inspired feel. Commercially, however, the single went largely unnoticed, selling poorly at the time. Today it is regarded as a rare collector’s item. For Hodgson, the session proved to be a stepping stone, as shortly afterward he would meet Rick Davies and lay the foundations of Supertramp.





The meeting with Elton John remains one of the most fascinating “what if” moments in rock history. Had Argosy developed into a full-fledged band, Elton might well have followed a different path — perhaps even aligning with Hodgson in a group setting rather than embarking on his now-legendary solo career. It’s worth noting that at the time, Elton himself was reluctant to be a solo artist. He didn’t want to go on tour alone and felt more comfortable as part of a band or working behind the scenes. It was Bernie Taupin and his close circle who encouraged him to embrace the spotlight.

Argosy, therefore, stands as a brief but meaningful chapter — a crossroads where two future giants of music briefly intersected, leaving behind a rare single and the tantalizing possibility of an alternate history where Elton John and Roger Hodgson might have shared the same stage as bandmates.

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