[analognut]

Sorry about stealing your thread yesterday wayner. I can't believe all the interest in Mark-Almond.

I hate it when I spread disinformation, so this is to correct the facts about  Mark-Almond which appeared there.

I had stated the band members consisted of Jon Mark & Mark Almond, but apparently the years are taking their toll on me, as the correct names of the members are Jon Mark and John (Johnny) Almond. Well, I was close, right? I knew it was something kinky like that.

I have their first two LPs and for years have had them in my spreadsheet as 1 & 2. I had to dig them out today and sure enuff, the first LP is simply self-titled, there is no 1! My apologies to everyone and thanks to a couple of polite fellows who observed that in wayners post. Both record jackets are heavy-duty and have this cool flap about 3" high that folds down from the top sealing in the vinyl. Another important fact is that both LPs are extremely well recorded. In fact, it is really hard to find a record that sounds better than these two.

As for the dates, Wikipedia has them being from 1971 & 1972. I inspected the albums and there are no dates to be found anywhere, so I must have Googled them years ago and may have gotten some misinformation. Come to think of it, I can remember my brother and I listening to them in the early 70's! 

[low.pfile]

good references for production dates at:

Musicstack: http://www.musicstack.com/records-cds/mark-almond

and

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Mark-Almond

Allmusic is also helpful http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-almond-p4846/discography

[Wayner]

I have discovered that I have 2 of their LPs. One is called Rising and the other is called Other Peoples Rooms. I have never heard this band, ever. They actually came with a 1000 piece collection that I bought and were mistakenly thrown in with the Allman brothers. A second look after yesterday's thread, made me realize, that the 2 bands had nothing to do with each other. 

Tomorrow, I will give a listen.

Wayner

[lcrim]

I have no way of knowing if this was mentioned, but Mark-Almond was an offshoot of John Mayall.






This album was recorded live in 1969 at Filmore East, after Mick Taylor had left Mayall's Blues Breakers for the Stones.  No drummer.  Fabulous music in its own right.

[Mike B.]

Yes, I also have several of their albums. I need to dig them out now that you have reminded me of them. I think they sprung off from John Mayall's band if I remember correctly?

[orthobiz]

Not only did I recently pick this up for the first time in my life (having heard Room To Move one zillion times), but it has the paper info insert in it and..........

RL on the dead wax!!!!!!!

Sounding good!

Paul

[analognut]

ortho-

I might be really out of it. Who is RL and which album did you get? 

[jazzcourier]

Heard them live at the Troubadour in West Hollywood,maybe end of 1970-early 1971.They were very good in a gently melodic Jazz infused way.That is no surprise considering their lineage and prior gigs.For that tour they had the great Jazz drummer Dannie Richmond with them who was on hiatus from Charles Mingus.No doubt Richmond was drawn by the constant supply of tasty chicks that used to hover around bands like that-ha ha-maybe,maybe not.I recall the big song that got a lot of radio play was "the City" or something like that.Might have seen them another time but i can see them on the stage now,singing that song.Funny how some things just stick with you.Long live the Troubadour on Santa Monica Blvd.-still in biz to this day.Too bad Danny's dogs down the block went under long ago...nineteen cent hot dogs! Wash that down with some 23 cent a gallon gas and 10 cent a quart reclaimed oil in your one hundred dollar car and you really got it going.Those were the days my young lads...back when cell phone meant the one call you got when you landed up in jail.

[95Dyna]

Sorry about stealing your thread yesterday wayner. I can't believe all the interest in Mark-Almond.

I hate it when I spread disinformation, so this is to correct the facts about  Mark-Almond which appeared there.

I had stated the band members consisted of Jon Mark & Mark Almond, but apparently the years are taking their toll on me, as the correct names of the members are Jon Mark and John (Johnny) Almond. Well, I was close, right? I knew it was something kinky like that.

I have their first two LPs and for years have had them in my spreadsheet as 1 & 2. I had to dig them out today and sure enuff, the first LP is simply self-titled, there is no 1! My apologies to everyone and thanks to a couple of polite fellows who observed that in wayners post. Both record jackets are heavy-duty and have this cool flap about 3" high that folds down from the top sealing in the vinyl. Another important fact is that both LPs are extremely well recorded. In fact, it is really hard to find a record that sounds better than these two.

As for the dates, Wikipedia has them being from 1971 & 1972. I inspected the albums and there are no dates to be found anywhere, so I must have Googled them years ago and may have gotten some misinformation. Come to think of it, I can remember my brother and I listening to them in the early 70's! 

Sorry analognut, on the other thread I described Marc Almond 1 as maroon with the pictureframe cutout and now remember it as gray.  For some odd reason I had The Doors LA Woman in mind at the time.  1971 would have been right around the time I bought it new while a college student.  I now must get it out, run it through the VPI 16.5 and get it on the platter asap.

[Mitsuman]

ortho-

I might be really out of it. Who is RL and which album did you get? 

RL is the renowned mastering engineer Robert Ludwig. Most all of his stuff is top-knotch.

[guest4954]

Most of their albums have been my long time late night favorites.
Nice music and very good sounding.

Even their last, as far as I know only on CD, is nice, not as good as the earlier ones.

Michiel

[orthobiz]

ortho-

I might be really out of it. Who is RL and which album did you get? 

You're not out of it at all! Without trying, I managed to be cryptic. It was a nice, clean copy of Mayall Turning Point.

But anyway I was wrong: it isn't a Robert Ludwig mastering. Although it is stamped "STERLING" it actually has "LH" in the dead wax, indicating Lee Hulko, same guy who mastered Tea for the Tillerman. I think you can almost make it out from my iPhone picture:



I was confusing it with a copy of Paul Butterfield "Better Days" that I recently picked up. It also was mastered at Sterling, different label, but has RL in the dead wax.



Paul

[Mitsuman]

ortho-

I might be really out of it. Who is RL and which album did you get? 

As a follow-up to ortho's post, you may find this an interesting read. 

http://www.rpginc.com/news/interview4.htm

[hifitommy]

from amg: "Jon Mark (vocals, guitar, drums) and John Almond (vocals, woodwinds, vibes, percussion)".

its all so confusing because there IS Marc Almond, a completely different GUY who was in Soft Cell whose 'Tainted Love' was a favorite of mine but also the only thing they do that i felt worth getting excited about. 

anyway, mark-almond's "new york state of mind" attracted me to the group and now i have most of their output.  great stuff.

[SlushPuppy]

Wow, I thought this thread was about Marc Almond of Soft Cell fame 

edit: Looks like hifitommy was thinking the same thing.

Link

[hifitommy]

although i like nearly ALL of mark-almond's output, marc almond's only included one disc, an EP that i fancy:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/tainted-love-vertigo-4-tracks-r204329

VERY catchy and i wouldnt want to be without it.  i have most of mark-almond's output and wouldnt be without that either.