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Topic: "The Fabulous Farquahr" ? |
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 26 Jul 2009 6:13 pm |
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Does anyone remember this outstanding group from the late 60's to early 70's?
I was living on Cape Cod at the time these guys hit the scene.
Lately, I've been amassing any recordings that they made. A friend has a cassette entitled "The Fabulous Farquahr - 1st Album", and I have a vinyl LP called simply "Farquahr".
Basically, there were 4 members and a 5th bass player. Three members were brothers and the 4th was a cousin.
They took on stage names, and came to be known after these names: Barnswallow, Condor, Flamingo, and Hummingbird FARQUAHR.
There skits were patterened after English pub acts; one guy would sneakily depart the stage, while the other bandmates would cause distractions so the audience wouldn't notice he was gone. He then would reappear in full costume and an assumed personna.
Even as many times as I caught their shows and was hip to the 'disappearing routine', they still would catch me unawares.
If anyone knows about these dudes and has any of their hard-to-find recordings, I sure would like to talk to you about obtaining some of those songs.
In particular, I'm looking for "Carol, You're The Bottom Of The
Barrel".
I have most of their other 'big' hits already turned into mp3 files, complete with a bit of audio tweaking. Anyone interested, is more than welcome to what I have.
Sadly, three of the original members have passed on.
The link below will explain better about this great group and era, than I could.
Please read it. A wonderful 'act' is gone forever; and sadly, so far, there is no video of these guys either. Just the cassette and LP is all I know about.
I know this is a sentimental stretch, and don't expect everyone to be as 'GA-GA' as myself.
It was a great time, fellers; [and ladies, too].
As an ending point, if anyone HAS caught The Fabulous Farquahr, then you know exactly what I'm trying to convey. >>>
http://johnnykmusic.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-eggs-dont-taste-same-without-you.htm
...I'm having a bit of a problem at the moment with the URL. It's not going through. I'm gonna keep trying to resolve the matter.
Sorry all; please bare with me. 
OK - this may work:
http://johnnykmusic.blogspot.com
When you get to this page, type in "my eggs" in the SEARCH bar.
Gheezz
ALRIGHT - the 2nd URL definitely works. Just type in "my eggs".
 
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2009 5:32 pm Faroutquahr
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I have 2 LPs--one was a castoff by the college radio station (WRVU Nashville, of late a bluegrass trendsetter of sorts): piles of vinyl just spread out on the student center. I don't know what made me grab "Fabulous Farquahr" (probably the fact that it was on Verve Forecast--and they had the Blues Project and some other happening acts in the early Nixon Years), but I've paid $15 and $20 for LPs and CDs nowhere near as good.
I always had a dream of getting on Johnny Carson to try to stump Doc and the band with "My Eggs Don't Taste the Same Without You."
(Add: several examples of each of first two Farquahr LPs on eBay. Apparently 2nd album (Elektra originally) has been released on CD.)
---
(Another find from the same discardavaganza: Bobby Gosh on Polydor. Anyone ever heard of or know about him? Shaved head, goatee, LP cover shoot apparently at the then-unrestored Ellis Island complex.
"Goin' back, goin' back to Willowbrook Farm where it's not too late to learn/From the earth we take our fortune and to the earth we must return." )
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"Gopher, Everett?" |
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Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 28 Jul 2009 8:12 pm
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Ben,
Just great. The Fabulous Farquahr made it out to the west coast. What else can you say?
I'm gonna take the liberty to send you "Ruth". It's in the same vein as "My Eggs Don't The Same Without You".
Maybe you already know it or about it. But, what the heck?
At the time the Farquahr were hitting their stride, the Eagles debuted with "Take It Easy".
Let me tell ya. In about 2-3 weeks time, after the Eagles had that big hit going down, the Farquahr surprised everyone and played a bunch of Eagle songs (outside of the big radio hits). They were noted for their diversability, but hardly ever did ANYONE else's songs. Until the Eagles hit the scene. The Eagles were simply too much to avoid. The Farquahr had to do some acknowledgement.
Oh, and did they do it? You bet. I swear, they played and sang Eagle songs better than the Eagles. Well, OK?!! Just as good. Harmony and guitar riffs, to the max.
I know everyone is probably thinking (in this day & age) -so what?
But a floundering wanna-be steeler, floundering around, and falling in love with these dudes; well, it was too much when they started playing Eagle songs.
HEY! I was impressed. Simple as that. Thank you.
Let's put it this way. If you were there at the gig, and closed your eyes, and just listened - you would have sworn it was the Eagles. Back then, everyone LOVED the Eagles.
And back then, a lot of us aspiring musicians just loved and respected any fellow musician and/or group that could convincingly pull off and interpret "great" songs; no matter whose song it was. You know? Done 'correctly'. With the right chords and phrasing and leads etc. It was a big thing back then.
Anyway, Ben, thanks again for your input. I'm gonna follow-up on your links, especially EBay.
I'm not good at all with Ebay. So, I don't know. We'll see what happens.
I just would like to keep this Farquahr thread going as long as possible.
I just know there are folks out there who are hip to these guys. It's just a matter of time, before they stumble or bumble onto this thread.
OK, enuff for now. Get ready Ben. I'm gonna send ya "Ruth". Let us all know what you think; of course, only if you feel like it.
PS - I'm going through IE (not Firefox), and not experiencing any problems, as previously mentioned. I do have the latest FF update, so I don't know.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer. |
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