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.
Ghetto
Mark-Almond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems like I'm a thousand miles from home.
You know that never did I have a friend.
You know I never had a dollar that I could lend.
And sometimes I get down on my knees
And I wonder if He sees.
New York City is where I'm from.
Seems like my life has passed me by.
And you tell me, tears of joy,
But I tell you, I cry!
And sometimes I get down on my knees
And I wonder if He sees.
Don't give me liquor for my pain.
All my friends they never came back again.
Nowhere to run, there's nowhere to hide.
Just me in the ghetto with you looking in from outside.
And sometimes I get down on my knees
And I wonder if He sees.
The song "Ghetto" by Mark-Almond is a melancholic ballad that speaks about the experience of living in the ghetto. The opening lines immediately create an atmosphere of isolation and distance, as the singer stands "all alone" and feels far away from home. The reference to never having a friend or a dollar creates a sense of hopelessness and poverty, which is further underlined by the reference to getting down on his knees and wondering if God can see him.
The verses speak to the feeling of being trapped and stuck in the same situation, with New York City being the place of origin and the ghetto being the place where the singer is now. The reference to tears of joy versus tears of sadness speaks to the idea that despite life moving forward, the problems and challenges of the past still linger. The refrain of getting down on his knees and wondering if God sees him speaks to the longing for recognition and perhaps redemption, or at the very least, an end to the struggle. The closing lines speak to the sense of desperation and the lack of options, as the singer feels there is nowhere to run or hide and is left alone in the ghetto, with people looking in from outside.
Overall, the song "Ghetto" by Mark-Almond is a poignant and emotional commentary on the experience of living in poverty and isolation, and the longing for hope and recognition.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am, standing all alone.
I am currently by myself and without anyone to rely on.
Seems like I'm a thousand miles from home.
I feel emotionally distant from the place I consider home.
You know that never did I have a friend.
Throughout my life, I have never had a true friend to support me.
You know I never had a dollar that I could lend.
I have never been in a position to financially support others due to my own lack of resources.
And sometimes I get down on my knees
And I wonder if He sees.
Occasionally, I become religiously introspective and question if a higher power is aware of my struggles.
New York City is where I'm from.
Down there in the ghetto, where you don't come.
I grew up in the impoverished and dangerous areas of New York City that people usually avoid.
Seems like my life has passed me by.
It feels like I have not made much progress or achieved much in my life.
And you tell me, tears of joy,
But I tell you, I cry!
While others may see success or happiness in my life, I am still struggling and cannot find joy.
Don't give me liquor for my pain.
Alcohol will not provide a solution or relief for the pain I am experiencing.
All my friends they never came back again.
I have lost contact and connection with my former friends.
Nowhere to run, there's nowhere to hide.
Just me in the ghetto with you looking in from outside.
I am unable to escape or avoid the harsh reality of living in the ghetto while others are simply observing and not truly understanding.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JON MARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Brown
Still moves my soul today and remains 1 of my top 10 all time favorites. The album is still incredible today 47 yrs. later!
silvanusslaughter
This album rocked my adolescent world into jazz. Thanks!
silvanusslaughter
One of the best tunes of the era. I love the first two albums.
Marcus Propostus
RIP Jon Mark. Thanks a lot for all the beautiful music!
Edmund Vitale
I saw these guys live a few times. Truly exceptional. They toured with this absolutely manic jazz drummer by the name of Danny Richmond. Radio and life was populated by many great bands like these guys - and I wonder if we appreciated it back then?
nazzare79
Most underrated band ever...One of my favourite...Unique style...'tuesday inNY' probably my favourite album but it's difficult to choose among their masterpieces...so sad they are not recognized as they should...
doowop2302
I love the groove Tommy Eyre and Roger Sutton create during the sax solo despite the lack of a drummer, great players.
Andreas Paul Locher
I think with drums it wouldn’t have the same mood …
Hugo Cestari
I am fortunate to have Mark-Almonds complete works, including their earlier collaborations with John Mayall and Sweet Thursday. My favorite album is "To The Heart", although I really like all their material. Very talented band members as well, such as Tommy Eyre who played in Joe Cockers Grease Band and as a session keyboardist for many famous artists.Also Billy Cobham. I am glad this music lives on in the hearts and minds of many.
Andy Howlett
Oh lord what a track, so cool. I had (and I think I still have) this on a sampler LP called 'The Harvest Bag'. Brings back so many memories of being about 17 and those Summers. Samplers were pretty popular in the late 60's and early 70's.