Mark Cawthra
Encyclopedia
Mark Cawthra is a musician and music producer working in the UK. He was born in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire.
.
After a period of playing drums with other musicians from the Kingston-Upon-Thames area, he moved to North Yorkshire and lived there for the whole of 1978. He returned to London in 1979, following an invitation to join Tim and Jim Smith in Cardiac Arrest (replacing Peter Tagg on drums). Other members of the band at this time were Colvin Mayers (keyboards), (later to play with Adrian Borland
in The Sound
), and Mick Pugh (vocals). The Cardiac Arrest album The Obvious Identity
was recorded at this time. Subsequently, Mark and Tim Smith recorded the band - now renamed Cardiacs
- for a number of sessions in a small Surbiton studio. The results became the first Cardiacs album, "Toy World
".
Following a short period in 1982 in which he was Cardiacs' keyboard player and percussionist, he left the band, moved to Birmingham
and briefly worked with two of the remaining members of the Birmingham band Dangerous Girls, following their split. The line-up, calling itself TAAGA, produced one single, "Friend of Mine", produced by Bob Lamb.
On returning to London, Mark worked for the remainder of the 1980s as crew member or live sound engineer, touring with several acts including Immaculate Fools
, Its Immaterial, and Then Jerico
. He was also Cardiacs front-of-house engineer at this time, and played in the band Grown Ups with William D. Drake
(Cardiacs), Elaine Herman, Jon Bastable (The Trudy), Dominic Luckman (Cardiacs) and Craig Fortnam
. Five tracks were recorded by this line-up but never released.
From 1998, his work was based in and around Leeds, culminating in the building of a 48-track facility, That Studio. Most recently, he worked with This et al. demo-ing material prior to the release of their Baby Machine
album. The studio was closed down in 2007.
Today, his work is all studio-based, recording and mixing demos and masters in his own facility, now relocated to the South West of England. He is also responsible for recording/producing the work of several artists, most recently the first two North Sea Radio Orchestra
albums. His mastering credits in addition to the NSRO albums include William D. Drake's second album, "Briny Hooves", as well as releases by Local Girls, and Kyham Allami.
Mark's most recent project was to contribute a track and compile and master Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith, Songbook 1, an album produced to gain funds for Tim Smith and his ongoing care, and raise awareness of his work.
.
Cardiacs Rude Bootleg
was recorded from the mixing desk by Mark on a scruffy cassette deck in the effects rack at the Reading Festival. The EQ settings on the mixing desk were left behind from the band who had played last on the night before, Saxon
and needed little alteration.
Mark may be seen briefly dancing to Cardiacs' "R.E.S" in the Seaside Treats video. He performs several delightful moves whilst wearing a light blue bri-nylon jersey.
Biography
Mark Cawthra's first serious musical activity was in an early (un-named) music project with schoolfriend Tim Smith (bass guitar) and David Philpot (keyboards), in which he played drums. The music drew inspiration from the "Canterbury" bands, particularly EggEgg (band)
Egg were an English progressive rock band formed in January 1969.-Career:The founding members of the group were Dave Stewart who played organ , Mont Campbell on bass and vocals and drummer Clive Brooks...
.
After a period of playing drums with other musicians from the Kingston-Upon-Thames area, he moved to North Yorkshire and lived there for the whole of 1978. He returned to London in 1979, following an invitation to join Tim and Jim Smith in Cardiac Arrest (replacing Peter Tagg on drums). Other members of the band at this time were Colvin Mayers (keyboards), (later to play with Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, bestknown as the lead singer of post-punk band The Sound...
in The Sound
The Sound
The Sound were an English post-punk band, formed in 1979 and dissolved in 1988. The band was fronted by Adrian Borland and evolved from his previous band, The Outsiders...
), and Mick Pugh (vocals). The Cardiac Arrest album The Obvious Identity
The Obvious Identity
The Obvious Identity is the debut album by English rock group Cardiacs . It was released solely on cassette and was only sold at concerts. The album title came from a name which the band used for a short time prior to taking on the "Cardiac Arrest" name...
was recorded at this time. Subsequently, Mark and Tim Smith recorded the band - now renamed Cardiacs
Cardiacs
Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...
- for a number of sessions in a small Surbiton studio. The results became the first Cardiacs album, "Toy World
Toy World
Toy World is the second album released by Cardiacs . The cassette is a mixture of older songs by the earlier Cardiac Arrest lineup and newer songs by the then-current Cardiacs lineup...
".
Following a short period in 1982 in which he was Cardiacs' keyboard player and percussionist, he left the band, moved to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and briefly worked with two of the remaining members of the Birmingham band Dangerous Girls, following their split. The line-up, calling itself TAAGA, produced one single, "Friend of Mine", produced by Bob Lamb.
On returning to London, Mark worked for the remainder of the 1980s as crew member or live sound engineer, touring with several acts including Immaculate Fools
Immaculate Fools
Immaculate Fools were a pop group formed in 1984, who had their biggest success in 1985 with the single "Immaculate Fools", and continued until 1997, releasing six studio albums before splitting up.-History:...
, Its Immaterial, and Then Jerico
Then Jerico
Then Jerico are a British rock band who became popular in the late 1980s.-Career:Mark Shaw formed the band at the age of 21, recruiting bassist Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren and poaching guitarist Scott Taylor from Belouis Some....
. He was also Cardiacs front-of-house engineer at this time, and played in the band Grown Ups with William D. Drake
William D. Drake
William D. Drake is an English musician, keyboardist, pianist, composer and singer-songwriter. He is best known as a former member of the cult English rock band Cardiacs, whom he played with for nine years between 1983 and 1992...
(Cardiacs), Elaine Herman, Jon Bastable (The Trudy), Dominic Luckman (Cardiacs) and Craig Fortnam
North Sea Radio Orchestra
North Sea Radio Orchestra is an English contemporary music ensemble and cross-disciplinary chamber orchestra ....
. Five tracks were recorded by this line-up but never released.
From 1998, his work was based in and around Leeds, culminating in the building of a 48-track facility, That Studio. Most recently, he worked with This et al. demo-ing material prior to the release of their Baby Machine
Baby Machine
-Personnel:This Et Al*Wu - Vocals, Gibson SG guitar, E-Bow , Korg 707 , Piano, Hammond Organ , String arrangement with help of Tom Ragsdale .*Ben Holden - Fender Telecaster guitar, Spaceship guitar ....
album. The studio was closed down in 2007.
Today, his work is all studio-based, recording and mixing demos and masters in his own facility, now relocated to the South West of England. He is also responsible for recording/producing the work of several artists, most recently the first two North Sea Radio Orchestra
North Sea Radio Orchestra
North Sea Radio Orchestra is an English contemporary music ensemble and cross-disciplinary chamber orchestra ....
albums. His mastering credits in addition to the NSRO albums include William D. Drake's second album, "Briny Hooves", as well as releases by Local Girls, and Kyham Allami.
Mark's most recent project was to contribute a track and compile and master Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith, Songbook 1, an album produced to gain funds for Tim Smith and his ongoing care, and raise awareness of his work.
(With Cardiacs)
- Toy WorldToy WorldToy World is the second album released by Cardiacs . The cassette is a mixture of older songs by the earlier Cardiac Arrest lineup and newer songs by the then-current Cardiacs lineup...
Cassette (1981) - The Seaside (1st Version and CD)The Seaside (Cardiacs album)The Seaside is the third album from English rock group Cardiacs. The album originally featured the second recording of what would become the band's only hit single, "Is This the Life?". It is the last of the band's releases to feature keyboard player/drummer/singer Mark Cawthra and the first to...
Cassette/CD (1984) ALPH 001 - Archive CardiacsArchive CardiacsArchive Cardiacs is a compilation of tracks from Cardiac Arrest's The Obvious Identity and Cardiacs' Toy World, plus some demo tracks created by Tim Smith and Dominic Luckman, for a side project, that never made it to release until this compilation came out....
Cassette/CD (1989) ALPH 000
(As Mark Cawthra)
- Cardiacs and Affectionate Friends - "Truth Be Told" CD (2001) ORG228
- Leader Of The Starry Skies: A Tribute To Tim Smith, Songbook 1 - "Let Alone My Plastic Doll" CD (2010) Believers Roast
- The Rising Of The Lights - William D Drake - "Mefishbring" CD (2011) Onomatopoeia
(As Redbus Noface)
- Redbus Noface - "If It Fights The Hammer It Will Fight The Knife" CD (2011) Believers Roast
Trivia
Mark's brother is the guitarist Gypie MayoGypie Mayo
Gypie Mayo is an English guitarist, playing in Dr. Feelgood from 1977 to 1981, and from 1996 to 2004 in the re-born Yardbirds with Alan Glen....
.
Cardiacs Rude Bootleg
Rude Bootleg
Rude Bootleg is a live album by the English rock band Cardiacs. It is the band's first live album, and was originally recorded at the Reading Rock Festival on 24 August 1986....
was recorded from the mixing desk by Mark on a scruffy cassette deck in the effects rack at the Reading Festival. The EQ settings on the mixing desk were left behind from the band who had played last on the night before, Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
and needed little alteration.
Mark may be seen briefly dancing to Cardiacs' "R.E.S" in the Seaside Treats video. He performs several delightful moves whilst wearing a light blue bri-nylon jersey.