Mark London
Encyclopedia
Mark London is a soundtrack composer, songwriter and producer. He is particularly notable as the co-writer of the song "To Sir With Love".
, starring Sidney Poitier
, Judy Geeson
and Lulu
. The song, co-written with lyricist Don Black
, was recorded by Lulu and released as a single, becoming the Billboard Year-End Top Single for 1967
. Also in 1967, London was the composer, with Mike Leander
, of the soundtrack to the movie Privilege
, starring Paul Jones
. London also acted in the film. The other soundtrack credit during this period was the soundtrack for Maximillian Schell's Ernst Liebe (1970).
London maintained a longstanding association with Lulu, as both a songwriter and producer. With Don Black, London co-wrote "Best of Both Worlds", Lulu's follow-up single to "To Sir With Love", which was also recorded by Scott Walker
. London also produced Lulu's 1978 album, Don't Take Love For Granted
. London was married Lulu's longtime manager, Marion Massey
.
London was also involved with the management and production associated with other bands, in particular Cartoone
, in which Led Zeppelin
manager Peter Grant
had a financial interest, and Stone the Crows
. With respect to Stone the Crows, London co-managed the band with Grant,who was his best friend,who had also named Stone the Crows. Stone the Crows signed a management contract with Grant and London in 1969. Mark London produced Stone the Crows' eponymous first album
, released in 1970, and is credited as a co-writer of "I Saw America", which occupied an entire side of the album. Grant is credited as executive producer. London also produced the three follow-up albums by Stone the Crows, released between 1970 and 1972, with Grant credited as executive producer.
Stone the Crows broke up in 1973, shortly after the accidental onstage electrocution death of guitarist Les Harvey. Mark London and Peter Grant then offered to help lead singer Maggie Bell
record a solo album. She subsequently recorded two for Atlantic Records
, one produced by Felix Pappalardi
and the other produced by Felix Cavaliere
. Neither has yet been released. London later participated in Maggie Bell's Suicide Sal album (1975), as a background vocalist. The album was released on Swan Song Records
, a record label established by Grant for Led Zeppelin and other acts, and where London was responsible for band security. In 1976, London produced McKendree Spring's
Too Young To Feel This Old album.
In the 1980s and 1990s, London continued as a soundtrack composer. He composed the soundtracks to the short Act V (1981), the comedy
horror film
, Bloodbath at the House of Death
(1984), the television short Mr. Men, Little Misses (1991) and the television series Junglies
(1992).
History
Mark London initially became notable in 1967, as the composer of the melody to "To Sir With Love", the title song to the movie of the same nameTo Sir, with Love
To Sir, With Love is a 1967 British drama film starring Sidney Poitier that deals with social and racial issues in an inner city school. James Clavell both directed and wrote the film's screenplay, based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by E. R. Braithwaite.The film's title song...
, starring Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
, Judy Geeson
Judy Geeson
Judith Amanda "Judy" Geeson is an English actor.-Early life:Geeson was born in Arundel, Sussex, England on 10 September 1948. She came from a middle class family; her father edited the National Coal Board magazine. Her sister, Sally Geeson, is also an actress and is known for her roles in British...
and Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
. The song, co-written with lyricist Don Black
Don Black
Don Black may refer to:* Don Black , racialist campaigner* Don Black , English lyricist* Don Black , baseball player for the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics...
, was recorded by Lulu and released as a single, becoming the Billboard Year-End Top Single for 1967
Billboard Year-End
Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
. Also in 1967, London was the composer, with Mike Leander
Mike Leander
Michael George Farr professionally known as Mike Leander was an arranger and record producer for Decca Records in the 1960s and Bell Records in the 1970s and worked with such artists as Marianne Faithfull, Billy Fury, Marc Bolan, Joe Cocker, The Small Faces, Van Morrison, Alan Price, Peter...
, of the soundtrack to the movie Privilege
Privilege (film)
Privilege is a British film directed by Peter Watkins. It was released in 1967 being produced by John Heyman. Story: Johnny Speight. Script: Norman Bogner...
, starring Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
. London also acted in the film. The other soundtrack credit during this period was the soundtrack for Maximillian Schell's Ernst Liebe (1970).
London maintained a longstanding association with Lulu, as both a songwriter and producer. With Don Black, London co-wrote "Best of Both Worlds", Lulu's follow-up single to "To Sir With Love", which was also recorded by Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
. London also produced Lulu's 1978 album, Don't Take Love For Granted
Don't Take Love For Granted
Don't Take Love For Granted is an album released in the autumn of 1978 by Lulu on Elton John's Rocket Records.-History:The album, which marked a return to recording for Lulu after a six year absence, was produced by Mark London - composer of Lulu's career record "To Sir With Love" and Lem Lubin...
. London was married Lulu's longtime manager, Marion Massey
Marion Massey
Marion Massey is most notable as one of the early female managers of music artists. In particular, Marion Massey is the person who discovered singer Lulu, at the age of fourteen, and who managed her for twenty-five years thereafter.-History:...
.
London was also involved with the management and production associated with other bands, in particular Cartoone
Cartoone
Cartoone were a Scottish band formed in 1967. Their debut album featured Jimmy Page as guest musician.-History:Cartoone were formed in 1967 from a band called The Chevlons. Cartoone toured all over Scotland in support of other acts such as The Tremeloes, The Merseybeats and The Hollies.In 1968,...
, in which Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
manager Peter Grant
Peter Grant
Peter "G" Grant was an English music manager. Grant managed the popular English bands The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, among others, and was also a record executive for Swan Song Records. Grant has been described as "one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history"...
had a financial interest, and Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows
Stone the Crows were a blues band formed in Glasgow in late 1969.-History:The band were formed after Maggie Bell was introduced to Les Harvey by his elder brother, Alex Harvey...
. With respect to Stone the Crows, London co-managed the band with Grant,who was his best friend,who had also named Stone the Crows. Stone the Crows signed a management contract with Grant and London in 1969. Mark London produced Stone the Crows' eponymous first album
Stone the Crows (album)
-Personnel:Stone the Crows*Colin Allen – Drums, percussion*Maggie Bell – Vocals*Jimmy Dewar – Bass guitar, Vocals*Les Harvey – Acoustic, Electric Guitars*John McGinnis – Organ, Piano, KeyboardsAdditional personnel...
, released in 1970, and is credited as a co-writer of "I Saw America", which occupied an entire side of the album. Grant is credited as executive producer. London also produced the three follow-up albums by Stone the Crows, released between 1970 and 1972, with Grant credited as executive producer.
Stone the Crows broke up in 1973, shortly after the accidental onstage electrocution death of guitarist Les Harvey. Mark London and Peter Grant then offered to help lead singer Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell
Maggie Bell is a Scottish rock and blues-rock singer, regarded by some as Britain's answer to Janis Joplin.-Career:...
record a solo album. She subsequently recorded two for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, one produced by Felix Pappalardi
Felix Pappalardi
Felix A. Pappalardi Jr. was an American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bass guitarist.- Early life :Pappalardi was born in the Bronx, New York...
and the other produced by Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
. Neither has yet been released. London later participated in Maggie Bell's Suicide Sal album (1975), as a background vocalist. The album was released on Swan Song Records
Swan Song Records
Swan Song Records was a record label launched by the English rock band Led Zeppelin on 10 May 1974. It was overseen by Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant and was a vehicle for the band to promote its own products as well as sign artists who found it difficult to win contracts with other major labels...
, a record label established by Grant for Led Zeppelin and other acts, and where London was responsible for band security. In 1976, London produced McKendree Spring's
McKendree Spring
McKendree Spring is a progressive folk-rock band, active mainly in the early 1970s. The band consisted of Fran McKendree , Fred Holman , Dr. Michael Dreyfuss , Martin Slutsky . Christopher Bishop replaced Holman on bass as of the 1973 release Spring Suite...
Too Young To Feel This Old album.
In the 1980s and 1990s, London continued as a soundtrack composer. He composed the soundtracks to the short Act V (1981), the comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, Bloodbath at the House of Death
Bloodbath at the House of Death
Bloodbath at the House of Death is a 1983 comedy horror film starring the British comedian Kenny Everett and featuring Vincent Price. It is an over-the-top spoof loosely inspired by The Amityville Horror and other horror films from the same period....
(1984), the television short Mr. Men, Little Misses (1991) and the television series Junglies
Junglies
The Junglies was a short-lived British animated series by Terry Ward, lasting from 1992 to 1993 on ITV on TV-am, but was repeated on Tiny Living between 2005 and 2006.-Overview:...
(1992).