Legend of a Girl Child Linda, Mimi Farina

OK this post is about a modern folk song called "Legend of a Girl Child Linda".
It was written by Donovan... Donovan Leitch-the eccentric but successful Scottish singer/songwriter. The song  was released on   his 1966 Sunshine Superman album, and was written about a women named Linda Lawrence, who become  Donovan's spouse and remarkably has remained  since 1970.

The song was covered in 1967 by Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Mimi Farina.  The 1967 live recording from the Newport Folk Festival was only available on a obscure charity album, Save The Children until it was finally re-released on the second disc of Joan Baez' s 1993 box set called Rare, Live and Classic.

  I don't why the track wasn't better known , though back in the sixties and the seventies record companies were reluctant to let their artists work with other successful artists. Especially if they were on a different label.While most people should know who Joan and Judy are, many don't remember Mimi Farina.  Mimi was Joan's younger sister. Mimi worked in a duo with Richard Farina and also did solo work, she died in 2001. This song features Mimi on the main lead vocal, but Joan and Judy sing lead parts as well. I love the song-the weird lyrics, the harmonies, the shared  lead vocals.

The video shows a picture of three of them (Mimi in the middle)  but sadly doesn't feature a motion picture performance of the song. 

Joan Baez and Mimi Farina rarely worked together but also played a duet of Donovan's "Catch the Wind" in the same concert. Joan Baez of course, was widely regarded as having the perfect voice-and Mimi couldn't compete with that-and so with Richard Farina she actually took up an instrument and was better known for that intially.

Richard and Mimi  Farina

However, sadly Richard Farina died in motorcycle crash-and Mimi Farina had to continue on and front her act on her own.  Joan Baze also played together in the this  second song on this video taken at a prison concert.

More about Linda Lawrence, the subject of the song...
Born Late:Legend of a Girl Child Linda

Originally posted February 15, 2013

Linda Lawrence with her son.