Gary Marks today has shared his new single, the title track from his unreleased album The Real World. The buoyant track is today seeing the light of day for the first time. Listen to the embedded video below. Today’s single follows the release of his recent LP Crossroads and the single “I Guess It Never Stops,” which were released this year via Lantern Heights Records.

This track features guitar by Stef Burns (Alice Cooper Band, Narada Michael Walden), back-up harmonies from Bonnie Hayes, Teresa Trull, and Vicki Randall, with music, lyrics, lead vocals, guitar and piano written and performed by Marks.

“My most interesting memory about ‘The Real World’ was that it was recorded entirely for free. The story goes like this: I met this girl at a party. Her name was MaryAnn. Her boyfriend introduced me as a great piano teacher. She told me she was studying music at UC Berkeley and would love to take lessons from me but that she couldn’t afford it. So I decided to challenge her. I said, “Don’t worry about the money. Just show up, I dare you!” She did. And I taught her for free for over a year.”

Fast forward three years later. She calls me out of the blue and tells me she’s now a recording engineer at Alpha Omega Studios in the city. She asks me if I’m writing new songs for my next album. I said yes. She asks me, “ Are you willing to record at odd hours if I can get you a good rate?” I said, “What kind of rate are you talking about?” And she said, “Zero dollars an hour. Just show up, I dare you.” And that’s how I recorded The Real World for free. Marianne was awesome, both as a friend and as an engineer. I still love the way The Real World sounds to this day.”

For five decades, Gary Marks has written songs about power, compassion, democracy, and freedom internally and externally — themes that feel strikingly current in 2026. 

Gary Marks – Discography:

• Gathering (1974) – Gary Marks w/ John Scofield, David Samuels, Michael Cochrane. 
• Upon Oanda’s Wing (1976) – Gary Marks w/ Art Lande and his band, Rubisa Patrol, including Mark Isham and Bill Douglass. 
• Thoughts of Why (1978) – Gary Marks w/ John Scofield, David Samuels. Paul McCandless, Mark Isham. 
• Crossroads:  April 18, 2026 – Gary Marks w/ Stef Burns, Paul McCandless, John Scofield, Mark Isham, David Samuels. 

(What happened between 1978 to 2026? —  8 unreleased undistributed full albums of original music with great musicians… that can only be found on his website!)

“The Real World” is out now.

Gary Marks Bio:

Gary Marks is an American singer-songwriter whose work has avoided industry demands, guided by artistic autonomy.

He first emerged in the 1970s with three albums featuring musicians who would later become major figures in modern jazz, including guitarist John Scofield in his first-ever studio appearance, along with Paul McCandless (Oregon), Art Lande (ECM), David Samuels, and Mark Isham.

Those early vinyl recordings were later reissued seven times in Europe and Japan over the course of a decade. These albums are now considered cult classics among vinyl collectors.

Over the following decades, Marks continued writing and recording steadily, releasing eight additional undistributed albums while remaining outside conventional touring and promotional structures.

Across his catalogue runs a consistent thematic thread: democracy, environmental responsibility, cultural fracture, a connection to love in its highest form, and personal conscience — while using sophisticated harmonies and rhythms.