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.
The City
Mark-Almond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by a redwood tree
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I don't want to know, I don't want to go
I don't want to go back into the city
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
Going nowhere
(It gets so hot in the city)
Down by a redwood tree
(It gets so hot in the city)
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I don't want to know, I don't want to go
I don't want to go back into the city
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
Going nowhere
The City, a song by Mark-Almond, depicts an individual who takes refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city by sleeping in the open under a redwood tree, just to let their soul free. Mark-Almond sings about how the city affects a person and how it can leave one feeling lonely and desolate. The first stanza speaks about the singer's desire for freedom, which might have led them to sleep under the stars "just to let my soul free." The second stanza talks about the unpleasantness of city life, which makes the singer not want to return. Sleeping under the stars is a chance for them to escape to a place where they feel free and beautiful, unencumbered by the city's oppressive atmosphere.
The song sounds like an honest expression of a person's need to escape the city and find peace in nature. Nonetheless, the lyrics' underlying meaning suggests that the redwood tree symbolizes a pillar of strength or stability. While the singer is free in the open, they also seek refuge in the redwood tree, which provides a sense of security and peace of mind. In the end, the song expresses a desire for the balance between freedom and security, concluding that only a sense of stability can provide one with true freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I slept last night in the open
I spent the night outdoors, close to nature.
Down by a redwood tree
I was surrounded by tall and majestic trees.
Yes, I slept last night in the open
I chose to spend the night in nature, instead of indoors.
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I needed to disconnect from the city and its noise, to find inner peace and freedom.
I don't want to know, I don't want to go
I refuse to engage with the city and its problems, or to return there.
I don't want to go back into the city
I have already experienced the city and its negative impact on my well-being.
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
The journey back to the city is boring and sad, and reminds me of how lonely and disconnected I felt there.
Going nowhere
I feel like my time in the city was wasted, and I don't want to go back to that emptiness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JON MARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@botellajuan
Well, I slept last night in the open
Down by a redwood tree
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I don't want to know, I don't want to go
I don't want to go back into the city
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
Going nowhere
Well, I slept last night in the open
(It gets so hot in the city)
Down by a redwood tree
(It gets so hot in the city)
Yes, I slept last night in the open
Just to let, just to let, just to let my soul free
I don't want to know, I don't want to go
I don't want to go back into the city
It's just a long long long lonely taxi ride
Going nowhere
@bmuhamad
Arranged By [Brass And Harmony Arrangements] – Johnny Almond, Tommy Eyre
Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Vibraphone, Vocals, Congas, Flute [Concert Alto, Bass] – Johnny Almond
Bass [First], Percussion, Vocals – Rodger Sutton*
Cover [Concept], Design – Ian Latimer
Guitar [Classical], Electric Guitar, Bass [Second], Percussion, Lead Vocals – Jon Mark
Photography By [Cover] – Richard Dunkley
Piano [Concert], Electric Piano, Vocals, Organ, Flute [Second], Percussion, Guitar [Second] – Tommy Eyre
Producer [Production Supervisor] – Hugh Murphy
Written-By – Jon Mark (tracks: A1 to B1)
@homemountain333
They don't make 'em like this anymore. A masterpiece.
@marynovak5800
He sounds like he's ripped off the melody from Emerson, Lake and Palmer's song, "from the beginning"...how come EL&P didn't drag him into court for plagiarizing?....Led Zeppelin did that!
@junofluke
Simply outstanding. I saw these guys at the Fillmore East as part of John Mayall's band. I was 17 and in high school. I never understood the general public's lack of enthusiasm for the band. I played this album over and over. Lots of nostalgia every time I hear it.
Thanks for sharing.
@stuartsmith1057
there isn't a note out of place on this incredible, velvety smooth groove... wow, happy to have stumbled across these fellas, crazy good!!!
@annasoucek6407
I fell in love with this at 16 . At 65 it’s still working.
@2005rosebud
Me too. Still working at 66
@doylegaines1319
17 & 67 here...
@stephenrowan8935
Still have My vinal albumn!
@duanewyman977
Living in Vegas in the early '80s, this song & Lee Canyon (Mt Charleston) were my escape from the City...
@Behutet93
I was 19 when this came out. KSJO played this. Now I am 69 & it is fresh as ever still.