Mark–Almond were an English band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who wor… Read Full Bio ↴Mark–Almond were an English band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who worked in the territory between rock and jazz. In 1970 Jon Mark and Johnny Almond formed Mark-Almond (also occasionally referred to as The Mark-Almond Band). The melancholy tones of saxophonist Almond were an integral part of the group's sound, and Almond frequently played flutes as well, including the rarely-heard bass flute. Characterized by a blend of blues and jazz riffs, latin beats, and a mellow rock aesthetic, and in contrast the heavier guitar-driven rock of his contemporaries, composer and band leader Mark worked at producing warm and melodic works.

Early history
In 1963, Jon Mark, using his given name Jon Michael Burchell, and a former schoolmate, Alun Davies; singer-songwriter, folk guitarist and skiffle musician, (later of Cat Stevens' band), recorded an album as a duo, with the name Relax Your Mind, on Deram Records' new label, Decca.

Mark and Mick Jagger co-produced Marianne Faithfull's early recordings, with Mark recording on at least one album, touring with Davies again, both as supporting guitarists for Faithfull. Upon returning, both Mark and Davies travelled extensively throughout the UK, and France, busking until they secured a job entertaining on a Cunard Line ship, crossing the Atlantic sixteen times. Tired of their voyages, both moved away in differing musical directions. Five years later, the two united in a five-piece band, the short-lived Sweet Thursday. The band had only one recording, the eponymous Sweet Thursday on Fontana Records. The band was composed of Jon Mark, Alun Davies, Nicky Hopkins, Harvey Burns, and Brian Odgers. However, the album was not promoted by their record label, and the bandmates never toured. Fontana Records later declared bankruptcy.

Johnny Almond had previously played in the Alan Price Set and had recorded a 1970 solo record for Deram Records, Johnny Almond's Music Machine, as well as performing considerable session work in England.

The two began playing together in John Mayall's popular Bluesbreakers band in 1969, and can be heard on the records The Turning Point and Empty Rooms. From that experience they decided to form Mark-Almond. Davies, though invited, was unreceptive. He had found a position as guitarist in Cat Stevens' band, and "was "getting a buzz off Stevens' work.".

Mark-Almond
Mark-Almond's first two albums, Mark-Almond (1971) and Mark-Almond II (1972) were recorded for Bob Krasnow's Blue Thumb label, and were noted for their embossed envelope-style album covers. "One Way Sunday" was a hit for them in America and hit #1 in Boston in 1970. The group then recorded two albums for Columbia Records, Rising (1972) and the live Mark-Almond '73 (1973), by which time the group's members had grown to seven. The liltingly arranged but thematically depressing "What Am I Living For" from 73 gained the group the most U.S. radio airplay they would get, but nevertheless they disbanded later that year.

Jon Mark released a solo record for Columbia Song For A Friend in 1975. He and Almond reunited in 1975 and released To the Heart on ABC Records in 1976, which featured noted drummer Billy Cobham. Other notable musicians who have recorded or toured with Mark-Almond include drummer Dannie Richmond, violinst Greg Bloch, keyboardist Tommy Eyre and bassist Roger Sutton. Eyre and Sutton later teamed in Riff Raff. A&M Records signed the duo in 1978 and released Other Peoples Rooms, but the record did not sell as well as earlier releases. A number of European releases followed, but Mark-Almond disbanded again in the early 1980s. Mark-Almond reunited again in 1996 for a CD called Night Music featuring keyboardist Mike Nock and others.

Later history
Jon Mark eventually moved to New Zealand in the mid-1980s and has released a number of successful solo New Age music recordings on his White Cloud music label, as well as collaborating with other artists on traditional Celtic and folk recordings and producing other artists. A release of Tibetan Monk chants Mark recorded and produced with his wife Thelma Burchell won a Grammy award in 2004. Johnny Almond at last report was living in the San Francisco Bay area.

Get Yourself Together
Mark-Almond Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Swallowed a pill of Technicolor
Just to dream
Just to sleep
Flick up a flame
Take a breath from the other
Just to breathe lucidity
Pull yourself together
Pull yourself together

For this is what it means
To fight and live your dream
The constant fight
Choose the dream or paper
I meddle with stability
But I chose the heart
Instead of the other
And meddle with anxiety
Pull yourself together
Pull yourself together
For this is what it means
To fight and live your dream
Pull yourself together
Pull yourself together

For this is what it means
When you fight for what you believe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mark-Almond's song "Get Yourself Together" convey a sense of struggle and determination in pursuing one's dreams. The opening lines, "Swallowed a pill of Technicolor, just to dream, just to sleep," evoke the idea of seeking escapism through vibrant dreams. It signifies a desire to break free from the mundane reality and find solace in the realm of imagination.

The subsequent lines, "Flick up a flame, take a breath from the other, just to breathe lucidity," reflect the notion of seeking inspiration and clarity from external sources. Lighting a flame represents igniting the creative spark within oneself, while taking a breath from the other suggests seeking inspiration from someone or something outside of oneself. The desire for lucidity indicates a yearning for mental clarity and focus in order to pursue one's dreams effectively.

The repeated refrain of "Pull yourself together" emphasizes the need for self-discipline and resilience in the face of challenges. It is a call to overcome obstacles and maintain focus on one's goals in order to fight for and live out one's dreams. The following lines, "For this is what it means to fight and live your dream," highlight the relentless effort required to turn dreams into reality.

The lyric, "Choose the dream or paper, I meddle with stability, but I chose the heart instead of the other and meddle with anxiety," explores the conflict between choosing a stable, secure path (symbolized by "paper") and following one's heart's desires. It acknowledges the internal struggle and uncertainty that can arise when pursuing one's dreams, as the choice may involve sacrificing stability and inviting anxiety into one's life. However, the lyrics assert that it is worth it to pull oneself together and fight for what one believes, as it is the true essence of living and pursuing dreams.

Overall, "Get Yourself Together" is an empowering song that encourages perseverance, self-belief, and the willingness to overcome obstacles in order to fulfill one's dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

Swallowed a pill of Technicolor
I took a psychedelic drug to escape reality and have vivid dreams.

Just to dream
I did it solely for the purpose of having dreams.

Just to sleep
I wanted to fall asleep peacefully.

Flick up a flame
I ignite a spark of inspiration.

Take a breath from the other
I inhale a different perspective or experience.

Just to breathe lucidity
I seek mental clarity and awareness.

Pull yourself together
Regain control of your emotions and thoughts.

For this is what it means
This is the essence or significance.

To fight and live your dream
To struggle and pursue your aspirations.

The constant fight
The ongoing struggle or battle.

Choose the dream or paper
Decide between pursuing your passion or opting for a stable, conventional path.