Positively 4th Street - David Hajdu

 

Yet another book that I discovered by someone recommending on social media (now I cannot remember who, but thank you!) and it sounding interesting to me. This is an overview of the early days of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez (his sometime lover who helped bring him to recognition), her sister Mimi Farina and her husband Richard, all of who were particularly influential in the early NYC folk scene.

The story here begins with Joan and Mimi and their (overall) supportive family and Joan's relative rapid rise to fame on the coffee house circuit and her extremely focused vision of success, to the point of bitchiness to anyone who could or might interfere, including her sister, Mimi, whose beauty and talent Joan was envious of. But it was ambitious Joan who regularly played the coffee houses, got a recording contract, and had a surprise, major hit with her debut album, rocketing her to folk stardom. 

While she was the undisputed queen of the scene, others did their best to follow suit, including Carolyn Hester, a more traditionally good looking folk singer who seemed the next to rise as she was courted by record companies who passed on Joan. Carolyn became entwined with Richard Farina, whose authoritative demeanor overpowered some of her better judgement, and he became part musical collaborator and part manager, despite the fact that she already had a professional manager taking care of her business. Richard became friends with Bob Dylan, the shy, Woody Guthrie-obsessed newcomer on the scene and brought him in to play harmonica on Carolyn's recording. Richard met Joan at a party and this led to his relationship with Mimi! Whew!

But the spotlight quickly moves to Bob Dylan and his relatively meteoric rise to fame in NYC, his recording contract and, most importantly, his songwriting. The other heroes are not forgotten and Hajdu does his best to keep us informed of everyone's actions and interactions throughout this wild time period. Of course, Joan "discovers" Bob and latches onto his songwriting and to him, as well, falling for him and his talent, and bringing him along with her for some of her biggest and most important shows.

Of course, Bob eventually eclipses Joan's popularity and the tables are turned but Bob does not reciprocate Joan's favors and the relationship falters as he turns his back on Joan and. marries Sara, a muse for numerous songs over the years. Mimi and Richard record with reasonable success and critical acclaim, Richard eventually publishes a book and, tragically, on the night of his book release party (something he had been working on for years), Richard dies in a motorcycle accident just a couple of months prior to Dylan's own legendary incident.

The book essentially ends with Richard's death, although it ties up some loose threads, but his death acts as the final chapter in the tale of this foursome, who were entwined in so many ways, as only characters in a small scene (as the NYC folk congregation was at the time) can be. 

This is extremely well written, personable and relatable - well worth your time if you are a fan of these characters, this time period or this musical scene. Very much recommended.