Archive for the ‘Jon-Mark’ Category

Marianne Faithfull

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

Listen: Go Away From My World / Marianne Faithfull
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If you watch early Marianne Faithfull clips on SHINDIG or HULLABALOO, there’s often a sole, seated acoustic guitarist accompanying her. That’s Jon Mark, or Jon-Mark as the name appeared on his solo single, later of The Mark – Almond Band, one of the highest calibre musicianship outfits of their day.

Despite the label misspelling, ‘Go Away From My World’ was his composition, and indeed seems tailor written for her, it’s doom ridden mood unknowingly predicating a fifteen year marketing treadmill for both her personal and musical direction. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

This US only single, in it’s seldom seen picture sleeve above, was her last to ever chart on the BILLBOARD Top 100 in late ’65 at #89.

With thankfully another birthday a few days away, I’m always reminded of my 37th, when Marianne organized an Indian dinner for Corinne and I and some friends, then while cutting the cake, sang me a bit of ‘The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan’, adapting the “at the age of thirty seven….” lyrical line to the occasion. How’s that for a birthday present?

Mark – Almond / Johnny Almond Music Machine / Jon-Mark

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

markalmondwhat,Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon - Mark

Listen: What Am I Living For / Mark – Almond MarkAlmondWhatAmILiving.mp3

markalmondcityusa, Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon-Mark

Listen: The City / Mark – Almond MarkAlmondTheCity.mp3

I was lucky enough to see one of the early shows John Mayall did in support of his then brand new album TURNING POINT, basically himself, Jon Mark, Johnny Almond and Steven Thompson. A fantastic drumless lineup – so different at the time. If you have the album, well the live show was exactly the same. A perfect evening.

Always on the move musically, John Mayall soon reinvented himself, possibly due to the formation of Mark – Almond. They too, were a super good act live. Several of the songs from their first two albums on Bob Krasnow’s Blue Thumb label were progressive radio staples, including ‘The City’. It was frankly shocking to hear it on a JetBlue flight recently via their Sirius radio feed. It had been years since that came out of any radio. Got to hand it to Sirius, they play a lot of great stuff.

Learn something everyday: I was completely sure ‘What Am I Living For’ had charted, even peaking in 30′s/40′s on Billboard’s Top 100. Not so. Never even entered. I heard it often as a current during the summer of ’72. It was a high point of the live show as well.

Mark – Almond double billed often with plain and simple guitar bands during their 4-5 year run. Despite the company, every audience listened and appreciated their undeniable musical superiority. Jon Mark, the consummate acoustic, 12 string player, with Johnny Almond at his side, swaying to the music, eyes closed. His seemingly euphoric state took up almost as much stage time as his playing, which by the way, was superb.

jalmonduka, Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon-Mark

jalmondusa, Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon-Mark

Listen: Solar Level / Johnny Almond Music Machine JohnnyAlmond.mp3

Prior to the John Mayall association and subsequent Mark – Almond period, Johnny Almond made a few albums for Deram’s jazz leaning long player roster (along with the likes of Henry Lowther, The John Cameron Quartet and The Mike Westbrook Orchestra). All highly desirable now, primarily for their sampling potentials, it’s interesting to think that the label would actually release singles from said endeavors, which even more oddly, I ended up liking a lot.

jonmarknightcomesdownukb, Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon - Mark

jonmarkus, Blue Thumb, Deram, Bob Krasnow, John Mayall, Marianne Faithfull, Columbia, Patto, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Mark - Almond, Johnny Almond Music Machine,  Jon-Mark

Listen: Night Comes Down / Jon-Mark JonMarkNightComes.mp3

Jon Mark, in fact, started years earlier, playing guitar on various Marianne Faithfull singles, like ‘Come And Stay With Me’ and ‘Summer Nights’. It was during that period (’65) that he too recorded a version of the Shel Talmy written ‘Night Comes Down’, which I post a few days back by The Mickey Finn in a much more psychedelicized style.