We continue our look back the music of 50 years ago……
Picture yourself in an Adirondack chair somewhere in Marin County in the early 70’s. A chilled glass of chablis and maybe some potent herb for sampling. The sunset and the sound of the ocean waves are lulling you. That is what you get from the second LP from the duo of Jon Mark and Johnny Almond.
Mark and Almond were English hippies that had bounced around the music scene in Britian for years. They had accompanied Marianne Faithful and John Mayall. They had a band called Sweet Thursday that included keyboard ace Nicky Hopkins and Alun Davies who worked with Cat Stevens.
Their debut record in 1970 included called “The City” which you may have heard on album oriented radio stations back in the day…
The second LP isnt much different than the first although it may even be more laid back if that’s possible. It was inspired, for the most part, from their time in Northern California…although there is also a track called “Journey Through New England”. With tunes titled ‘Solitude” and “Sunset” you know that you don’t need your rockin shoes for this one. It does perk up when Almond pulls out his sax or flute and the keyboards from Tommy Eyre slither and slide throughout.
Mark is not a great vocalist and the album slows to a snails pace when he sings and noodles on his guitar.
This album improves greatly if you have a bit of a buzz on. If that doesn’t whisper “1971” to you, you probably weren’t there.
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