Richard Fariña, who was married to successful folksinger Carolyn Hester, met Mimi Baez, the teenage sister of Joan Baez in the spring of 1962. Hester divorced Fariña shortly thereafter, and Fariña married 17-year-old Mimi in April 1963. They moved to a tiny cabin in Carmel, California, where they composed songs on a guitar and appalachian dulcimer. They debuted their act as "Richard & Mimi Fariña" at the Big Sur Folk Festival in 1964 and were signed to Vanguard Records. They recorded their first album, Celebrations For a Grey Day, with the help of Bruce Langhorne, who had previously played for Dylan. Due to his short life, Fariña's musical output was limited. The Fariñas released three albums, one posthumously. Fariña, who died in a motorcycle accident april 30, 1966, has been considered to be one of the top talents to emerge from the 1960s Greenwich Village folk music scene. His best-known songs are "Pack Up Your Sorrows" and "Birmingham Sunday".
At the time of his death, Fariña was also producing an album for his sister-in-law, Joan (which Baez would ultimately not release, though two of the songs were included on Fariña's posthumous album, and another, a cover of Farina's "Pack up Your Sorrows", co-written by Fariña with the third Baez sister, Pauline Marden, was released as a single in 1966).
Musicians include:
Mimi Farina: Guitar & lead vocals. After Richard's death Mimi married Milan Melvin and continued to perform, sometimes recording and touring with either her sister Joan, or folksinger Tom Jans. She continued to sing in her later years, releasing an album in 1985
Richard Farina: Dulcimer and lead vocals. Richard wrote the majority os the duo's recorded songs
Bruce Langhorne: Guitar
Felix Papallardi: Bass.
Al Rogers: Drums
Discography:
1. Celebrations for a Grey Day - Vanguard 1965
Tracks: 1. Dandelion River Run / 2. Pack Up Your Sorrows / 3. Tommy Makem Fantasy / 4. Michael, Andrew and James / 5. Dog Blue / 6. One-Way Ticket / 7. Hamish / 8. Country / 9. Tuileries / 10. The Falcon / 11. Reno, Nevada / 12. Celebration for a Grey Day
Rating : 6
2. Reflections in a Crystal Wind - Vanguard 1965
Tracks: 1. Reflections in a Crystal Wind / 2. Bold Marauder / 3. Dopico / 4. A Swallow Song / 5. Chrysanthemum / 6. Sell-Out Agitation Waltz / 7. Hard-Loving Loser / 8. Mainline Prosperity Blues / 9. Allen's Interlude / 10. House Un-American Blues Activity Dream / 11. Raven Girl / 12. Miles / 13. Children of Darkness
Rating : 7
3. Memories - Vanguard 1968
Tracks: 1. The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood / 2. Joy 'Round My Brain / 3. Lemonade Lady / 4. Downtown / 5. Almond Joy / 6. Blood Red Roses / 7. Morgan the Pirate / 8. Dopico; Celebration for a Grey Day / 9. House Un-American Blues Activity Dream / 10. A Swallow Song / 11. All the World Has Gone By / 12. Pack Up Your Sorrows
Rating : 6
4. The Complete Vanguard Recordings- 2001
Tracks: 1. Dandelion River Run / 2. Pack Up Your Sorrows / 3. Tommy Makem Fantasy / 4. Michael, Andrew and James / 5. Dog Blue / 5. V. / 6. One-Way Ticket / 7. Hamish / 8. Another Country / 9. Tuileries / 10. The Falcon / 11. Reno Nevada / 12. Celebration for a Grey Day // 1. Reflections in a Crystal Wind / 2. Bold Marauder / 3. Dopico / 4. A Swallow Song / 5. Chrysanthemum / 6. Sell-Out Agitation Waltz / 7. Hard-Loving Loser / 8. Mainline Prosperity Blues / 9. Allen's Interlude / 10. House Un-American Blues Activity Dream / 11. Raven Girl / 12. Miles / 13. Children of Darkness // 1. The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood / 2. Joy 'Round My Brain / 3. Lemonade Lady / 4. Downtown / 5. Almond Joy / 6. Blood Red Roses / 7. Morgan the Pirate / 8. A Swallow Song / 9. All the World Has Gone / 10. Pack Up Your Sorrows / 11. Leaving California (One-Way Ticket) (live) / 12. Sell-Out Agitation Waltz (live) / 13. Pack Up Your Sorrows (live) / 14. House Un-American Blues Activity Dream (live) / 15. The Bold Marauder (live) / 16. Hard-Lovin' Loser (live) / 17. Dopico (live) / 18. Celebration for a Grey Day (live) / Shady Grove (live)
Rating : 8
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - August 5 - 2008
28 Memories - 1968
139Celebrations for a Grey Day - 1965
144 Reflections in a Crystal Wind - 1965 Check and Rate Here!
- "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a Best of Compilation:
1. Pack Up Your Sorrows ( Farina ) Celebrations on a Grey Day
2. The Falcon ( Farina ) Celebrations on a Grey Day
3. Reno Nevada ( Farina ) Celebrations on a Grey Day
4. Reflections in a Crystal Wind ( Farina ) Reflections in a Crystal Wind
5. A Swallow Song ( Farina ) Reflections in a Crystal Wind
6. Hard Lovin' Loser ( Farina ) Reflections in a Crystal Wind
7. House Unamerican Blues Activity Dream ( Farina ) Reflections in a Crystal Wind
8. Children Of Darkness ( Farina ) Reflections in a Crystal Wind
9. Joy 'round My Brain ( Farina ) Memories
10. Almond Joy ( Farina ) Memories
11. Blood Red Roses ( Farina ) Memories
12. Morgan the Pirate ( Farina ) Memories
13. All the World Has Gone By ( Farina ) Memories
14. Pack Up Your Sorrows ( Farina ) Memories
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