Odetta / Mimi Fariña: Rolling Coconut Revue Japan Concert 1977 Disk Union (FJSP 388) Released March 2020 Running time: 48 minutes

The Rolling Coconut Revue was a benefit concert to protect whales. Fred Neil and marine biologist Ric O'Barry formed The Dolphin Project in the early 70s, organizing benefit concerts to free dolphins from captivity. The Rolling Coconut Review was their biggest project, culminating in a three-day concert with almost thirty acts:

Friday, April 8: The Dophin Project Band - Bob Ingram Odetta Eric Andersen Shigaru Okabashi Richie Havens Rolling Coconut Revue		Saturday, April 9: Paul Winter Consort Danny O'Keefe Iruka Warren Zevon J.D. Souther Jackson Browne
Sunday, April 10 - Morning Nakagawa Estrella Toyoda Mimi Fariña Terry Reid Country Joe McDonald JAM: Fred Neil, Rolling Coconut Revue, Uka Dan		Sunday, April 10 - Evening Vince Martin Peter Rowan Louisiana Red Sunset Gang Lonnie Mack Masakiuada Stuff (a New York City jazz-funk band)

Some history of the concert is told at https://mockford.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/rolling-coconut-review-japan-concert-april-10-1977/ and the complete story is told in depth in Peter Lee Neff's 2019 book That's the Bag I'm In: The Life, Music and Mystery of Fred Neil. An expensive 14-CD box set of the whole three-day concert was released in Japan in 2018, and now they have begun re-issuing portions of the concerts in single-disc packages.

Mimi begins her set solo, letting her nimble, graceful picking shine on "Old Woman". She then calls Peter Rowan onstage to join her on "Now You've Learned to Love", a song that has never seen a studio release. Paul Winter joins in on "Blue Prelude", a 1930s song that Mimi would often sing with Banana. John Sebastian then steps in to play harmonica on the Fred Neil song "Everybody's Talkin'", and finally Richard Greene joins them on "Pack Up Your Sorrows". It's a short set, but the sound is good, it is great to hear Mimi performing with this unique ensemble.

The entire event was filmed by Eric Christensen (The Trips Festival), but unfortunately the film has never been released.

The CD also has a few photos of Mimi, and of Odetta. The liner notes are in Japanese.

THE SONGS:

ODETTA
"Opening Show"
April 8, 1977
1. MC Introduction - 1:51
2. Black National Anthem - 1:28
3. Folk Song Suite - 19:11