All I know by The Markus band. Composer - Ben Markus.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.
from the album FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD 2008.

Personel.
Melanie Markus - vocals, backing vocals.
Ben Markus - guitar, backing vocals.
Julia Markus - backing vocals.
Sean Markus - backing vocals.
Ric George - piano, hammond.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Karl Randall - drums.
Recorded at Lodge Recording studios Northampton. 

Another track from JUST A SHAGGY DOG STORY that was sung on that album by Melanie Harrold. Melanie Markus always loved it and sang it live since she joined the band at 15. So in 2007 it was time to let her lose with it on FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD. She did a pretty good job too!

All I know

Life is cruel by The Markus Band. Composer - Ben Markus.
From the album FURTHER ON DOWN THE ROAD 2008.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.

Personel.
Ben Markus - guitar, vocals.
Sean Markus - guitar (solo)
Ric George - piano, hammond.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Karl Randall - drums

This was written in 1982 for the album NOCTURN GATE, there is an analog version but sadly the eq levels just don't cut it alongside the other stuff. We re-did the track in 2007, a little prettier than the 83 version which did get a good outing with Radio One. Sean on lead guitar. 

Life is cruel

Here with you by The Markus Band. Composers - Melanie Markus and Ben Markus.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.
Recorded at Lodge Studios Northampton.
From the album NEW JERSEY EXILE - 2001.
Personel.
Melanie Markus - vocals, backing vocals.
Ben Markus - guitar, backing vocals.
John Morrey - bass.
Simon Porte - drums.
Max Read - piano, hammond.

When Melanie was around 15-16 she had an acoustic 6 string and sat in her bedroom playing, she came downstairs and started playing this song she had just written. I was totally gobsmacked to say the least, I changed one chord in the verse just to give it a more sad overfeel but this is pretty much what she wrote. I added the lyrics on the last verse, otherwise it's all Melanie Markus. 

Here with you

White room by The Markus Band. Composers - Jack Bruce and Peter Brown. 

From the album JUST A SHAGGY DOG STORY 1989.
Produced by Nigel Pegrum and Ben Markus.
Recorded at 'Pace' Studios, Milton Keynes.
Personel.
Ben Markus - guitar, vocals, backing vocals.
Mark Williamson - bass, backing vocals.
Vince Cross - hammond, piano, horn arr, backing vocals.
Nigel Pegrum - drums.
Photo. Ben Markus, Nigel Pegrum, Vince Cross.

With the sad passing of Jack Bruce this year I started to ponder what Cream meant to me as a very young aspiring guitarist. They really gave dignity to modern music, from Cream onwards (Beatles the exception) pop groups became artists and it all meant something. Nigel and I kept piling on more and more sounds, brass, timpanny drums...One of my favourite quotes "you can't have too many kitchen sinks in music!"

white Room

As the lights go down by The Markus Band. Composers - Ben Markus and Isabel Fulcher.

From the album 'TIME TO MOVE ON' 2004.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.

Personel.
Ben Markus - guitar, vocals, backing vocals.
Dean Rees - Hammond, backing vocals, percussion.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Karl Randall - drums.
Rebecca Gibson - backing vocals.

I always loved the way this song felt, the hammond and backing vocals in the chorus's evoke a real image in my head. Written about modern life, not exactly a protest but more a huff!


As the lights go down

Soar on your song by The Markus Band. Composers - Janet Croston & Ben Markus.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.

From the album GOING HOME.
Personel.
Melanie Markus George - vocals, backing vocals.
Ben Markus - guitar.
Max Read - Hammond organ.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Karl Randall - drums.
Rebecca Gibson-Swift. Flute.

This was the first song Jan and I wrote together. Jan is a published poet and we initially got together to see if we could write some songs...things went from there..

Soar on your song

Heart of shame by The Markus Band. Composer - Ben Markus.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus.

Dean Rees takes lead vocals on this 'live' sounding track. Dubbed the 'Guiness mix' by the Band. 

Personel.
Dean Rees - Hammond, vocals.
Ben Markus - guitar.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Karl Randall - drums.

Never before heard version of the TIME TO MOVE ON track.
Produced by Max Read & Ben Markus.
Recorded at Lodge Studios Northampton.

I first wrote this for RABBLE WITHOUT A CAUSE but the version on that album was not so funky. The version that is on TIME TO MOVE ON has Melanie on lead vocals but Dean liked singing along, so he did this when things were quiet. I really like this and it always makes me smile! The hammond is louder in the mix than all other mixes here which does make it stand out nicely. 

Heart of shame

Yesterday's years by The Markus Band. Composers - Janet Croston & Ben Markus.

Originally from the album GOING HOME TMB.
Personel
Melanie Markus George - vocals, backing vocals.
Ben Markus - guitar.
Karl Randall - drums.
Dean Rees - hammond.
Rob Butterfield - bass.
Produced by Max Read and Ben Markus
Recorded at Lodge Studios Northampton.

We carry those we love within our hearts, with us always. A powerful ballad about loss and love. 

Yesterdays years

Tell him by The Markus Band. Composer - Ben Markus.
Re-record of Angelene from Just a shaggy dog story. Made at the Abbey Road Studios in St John's wood London with Darren Godwin producing.

Personel;
Ben Markus - guitar, bass, vocals, backing vocals.
Peter Webber - Hammond, piano.
Nigel Pegrum - drums.
Rick Taylor - trombone.
Gordon Marshall - trumpet.
Julie Costello - backing vocals
Alison Sumner - backing vocals.
Produced by Darren Godwin with much help from Nick Webb.

This is a song I wrote while witnessing someone going through a really dark time and just tried to help.

Tell him

The Markus Band present the FREE download album AURORA to all! This album available now complete with links to all the artwork, stories of the making and 13 tracks. Charting the band from the first PYE deal in 1983 up to GOING HOME the 2014 album release. Enjoy this early Christmas present from Ben Markus, Janet Croston and The Markus Band. 
www.tmbmusic.co.uk

If after downloading this album or tracks you feel you would like to give something, please give  whatever amount to CANCER RESEARCH. That would be cool. Ben Markus.

If you would like to read about THE MARKUS BAND,  NEW JERSEY EXILE is the book of the band and Ben's life in music, as a firefighter at Luton Fire Station, his fight with cancer and a whole lot more. Check it out on Amazon. NEW JERSEY EXILE by Ben Markus.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Jersey-Exile-Ben-Markus-ebook/dp/B008GU3YUY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1401270488&sr=1-1