line up 1 (1969)

- Alun Davies -- vocals, guitar

- Nicky Hopkins (RIP 1994)-- keyboards

- Joe Mark (aka John Michael Burchell) -- vocals, guitar

  backing musicians:

- Harvey Burns -- drums, percussion

- Brian Odgers -- bass, woodwinds

- The Jeff Back Group (Nicky Hopkins)

- Alan Davies (solo efforts

- Cyril Davies All-Stars (Nicky Hopkins)

- Nicky Hopkins (solo efforts)

- Jefferson Airplane (Nicky Hopkins)

- Jon and Alun

- Mark-Almond (Jon Mark and Alun Davies)

- John Mayall  and the Bluesbreakers (Jon Mark)

- Zoot Money's Big Roll Band

- Quicksilver Messenger Group (Nicky Hopkins)

- Raven (Nicky Hopkins)

- Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages (Nicky Hopkins)

\\ 

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Sweet Thursday

Company: Great Western Grammophone

Catalog: KZ 32039
Year: 1969

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5793

Price: $20.00

So here's one of those second-tier English super groups that seems to have been put together with more than a passing eye for the bottom line - singer/guitarist Alun Davies, perennial sideman/keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, and former John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers singer/guitarist Jon Mark.  Davies and Mark had actually recorded an obscure early-1960s skiffle album together:

 ("Relax Your Mind" - Decca catalog LK-4547).  Like most of these 'super group' projects, the Sweet Thursday collaboration didn't last very long (about a year), and didn't yield anything particularly creative, or commercially successful (one quickly forgotten album).

Produced by Hugh Murphy, 1960's "Sweet Thursday" was one of those albums that didn't make an immediate impression.  To be perfectly honest, rather than a group effort, it struck me as being three solo acts backed by the other members.  Each of the three members had a distinctive sound and there simply wasn't much of a collective sound.  That wasn't to say the set didn't have its low-keyed charms, rather there weren't enough of them. to make this a standout collection.  

"Sweet Thursday" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Dealer   (Jon Mark) - 5:43

Showcasing Mark's dry, craggy voice, 'Dealer' was a spare, but likeable ballad.  Lyrically the song didn't have a great deal going for it, kind of echoing something Dylan might have been doing at the time.  Still, the melody, and particularly the chorus, were quite nice.  That said, the song would have benefited from judicious editing and eliminating the dumb backing vocals (which simply echoed the original lyrics, though they sounded like they were being repeated at the end of a bad long distance phone connection.. Hopkins kettle drums were also disruptive.   rating: **** stars

2.) Jenny  (Jon Mark) -  3:46

Even though it wasn't the most commercial, or likeable track on the album,  'Jenny' was picked as the single.  Davies was an okay singer (his heavy accent quite appealing to Anglophobes), but with the acoustic guitars and tinkly piano, this one sounded like something you'd hear at your local Irish bar.  Pretty, but ultimately forgettable and a dumb choice for a single.   rating: ** stars

3). Laughed at Him  (Jon Mark) -  5:10

Wow, talk about a period piece.  The socially concious lyrics were certainly admirable, but complete with harpsichord and church organ, the end result was a bit over-the-top.  Imagine Donovan on steroids.    rating: ** stars

4.) Cobwebs   (Brian Odgers) - 3:23

Complete with swirling harpsichord and flutes (I'm smiling as I type that description) and stoned vocals, 'Cobwebs' was interesting for it's distinctive psychedelic sound.  Unlike anything else on the album, the song actually sounded somewhat dated here, but quite enjoyable all the same.    rating: **** stars

5.) Rescue Me   (Jon Mark) - 3:41

Showcasing Hopkins' organ, 'Rescue Me' was a complete mess.  Musically it struggled to find a melody and rhythm, never really finding either.  The end result was a MOR-mess.  Terrible.    rating: * star

(side 2)
1.) Molly   (Brian Odgers) - 3:04

'Molly' offered up a weird mixture of English folk and pop moves - imagine Gilbert O'Sullivan spending time with Fairport Convention.  Truly strange, but way too English to appeal to most Americans, though the harpsichord was a nice touch.    rating: ** stars

2.) Sweet Francesca   (Jon Mark) - 3:57

There's nothing wrong with being a Dylan fan, but blatant immitation such as 'Sweet Francesca' probably wasn't the most original or creative move.    rating: ** stars 

3.) Side of the Road   (Alun Davies) -  4:50

'Side of the Road' may have been the most straightforward rock song on the album, but it was also one of the least memorable performances.  Literally like a McDonald's meal, within a couple of moments of hearing the song, you couldn't remember anything about it.   rating: ** stars 

4.) Gilbert Street   (Pat Gunning) -10:22

The lone non-original, 'Gilbert Street' was another highpoint.  Musically this was another Dylanesque piece, though they got it right this time around.  Nice melody, strong hook with Hopkins providing some nice Al Kooper-styled keyboards and tasty fuzz guitar in the background.   rating: **** stars 

Sales clearly weren't helped by poor timing.  The album was originally released by the Tetragrammaton label (catalog number T-112), but when the label went out of business Columbia's Great Western Grammophone imprint acquired distribution rights, though their marketing efforts were apparently just as feeble.

There was also at least one promotional single, though I've never seen a stock copy:

- 1969's 'Jennry' b/w 'Dealer' (Great Western catalog number ZS7-5023)

Davies undertook a brief solo career and enjoyed some recognition working with Cat Stevens and reunited with Mark in Mark-Almond.

Hopkins continued his wanderings through the rock and roll landscape, playing with a wide array of bands and becoming a major sessions player.  Always in poor health, he died in September 1994.  He was only 50 at the time.

Mark reappeared as a member of the lifeless Mark-Almond and recorded some solo material.