My girlfriend in 1974-1975 had a record album that, IIRC, had an illustration of a slice of pie on the cover. I remember the style was male vocals, sensitive ballads - I think one song was about a poor lost girl in New York City. I had it vaguely in mind that this was by some fellow named “Mark Almond” or by two guys named “(something) Mark” and “(something else) Almond”.
Is this the Marc Almond who recorded Tainted Love and is in the news lately for being hospitalized? Or is it somebody else?
Nope. You’re thinking of the Mark-Almond Band, named for its two principals, Jon Mark and Johnny Almond. Here’s some info about them. Marc Almond, lead singer of Soft Cell, appeared on the scene in the 1980s.
Johnny Almond played with John Mayall on the “The Turning Point”:
After I heard about the accident I start a thread in Café Society asking whether Marc Almond changed his name because of the Mark-Almond band.
Never got an answer there, so if anyone here knows I’m still curious.
Well, hey, that settles that - and neatly. If the SDMB doesn’t have the answer, well…
Thanks, folks!
Marc Almond used to work maybe 50-60 yards from where I did, years ago.
I was working in Leeds General Infirmary in the power and seriveces plant, went to college and did several courses in Electrical/Electronic engineering, took six years of fairly intensive study, at the same time I was working shifts and weekend stuff.
Figured that possesing higher level qualifications plus all the experiences of HVAC, control and generation and switchgear would give me a pretty good living, and it has been quite comfortable.
Meanwhile Marc was working in the Leeds Playhouse as a part time barkeep literaly the width of a signle carriagway road away.
We used to go over for a drinky poo on Sundays when we were on weekend shift, he never looked like he was going anywhere, very giggly person, very fey, far too interested in fashion and style and not all that much into trade skills, didn’t seem like an intellectual genius either.
Look how wrong one can be, I wouldn’t mind being a few quidlets behind him in the bank account stakes, not only that, he was right all along about the style stuff too.
Wonder if he’s still such a happy go lucky type, the bike crash notwithstading.
As did Jon Mark. They formed Mark-Almond after they left Mayall.
I saw them live in the 70s. They were the only group I’ve ever seen that was booed before they took the stage.
Heh - I didn’t notice that. The Turning Point is an old favorite of mine mainly because of Almond’s sax, though.
I saw Mayall when he had the USA Union band. He made a very peevish announcement in the middle of the concert - “Would you people PLEASE quit requesting stuff off The Turning Point - do you see a saxophone up here?”
But they had the instruments for mouth percussion, which was all that was needed. 
Back in the 70s, I knew a girl who shoplifted a Mark-Almond LP. She thought it was the Allman Brothers. It wasn’t. She wanted to bring it back, it was that bad.