My Fair, My Dark
Encyclopedia
My Fair, My Dark is Ida
's second EP
, released in 2008
on Polyvinyl Records. It features two original songs, a live version of "Late Blues" (from Heart Like a River
), and four covers. Guest musicians include The Band
's Levon Helm
, Peter Schickele
, Michael Hurley, and Tara Jane O'Neil
. My Fair, My Darks eponymous lead song was first issued on the CD accompanying the 2005 music issue of The Believer
magazine.
's "The Pain of Loving You" and the live version of Ida's own "Late Blues" from one of Helm's Midnight Ramble concerts. "My Fair, My Dark" was included on a list of "150 of the saddest songs in the world" published in the Los Angeles Times
' music blog.
, except as noted.
The vinyl release contains an additional cover, of Warren Defever
's "Darkness Night".
Technical personnel
Graphics
Ida (band)
Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters...
's second EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, released in 2008
2008 in music
2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
on Polyvinyl Records. It features two original songs, a live version of "Late Blues" (from Heart Like a River
Heart Like a River
Critical reception for Heart Like a River varied from mildly favorable to very favorable, but all agreed that it was of a piece with their previous work...
), and four covers. Guest musicians include The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
's Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
, Peter Schickele
Peter Schickele
Johann Peter Schickele is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist. He is best known for his comedy music albums featuring his music that he presents as music written by the fictional composer P. D. Q...
, Michael Hurley, and Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil
Tara Jane O'Neil is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio recording engineer, and visual artist based out of Portland, Oregon.-Biography:...
. My Fair, My Darks eponymous lead song was first issued on the CD accompanying the 2005 music issue of The Believer
The Believer (magazine)
The Believer is a United States literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers, it is edited by Vendela Vida, Heidi Julavits and Ed Park...
magazine.
Reception
Reviewers highlighted the new song "Still Life" and the two on which Levon Helm participated, Dolly PartonDolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's "The Pain of Loving You" and the live version of Ida's own "Late Blues" from one of Helm's Midnight Ramble concerts. "My Fair, My Dark" was included on a list of "150 of the saddest songs in the world" published in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
' music blog.
Track listing
All songs written by IdaIda (band)
Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters...
, except as noted.
- "My Fair, My Dark" – 3:15 written by David Schickele
- "Don't Wreck It" – 3:48
- "Road to Ruin" – 2:16 written by John MartynJohn MartynJohn Martyn, OBE , born Iain David McGeachy, was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour...
- "The Pain of Loving You" – 2:49 written by Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
- "Late Blues (Live)" – 4:40
- "Still Life" – 3:33
- "Time Has Come" – 3:35 written by Anne BriggsAnne BriggsAnne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
The vinyl release contains an additional cover, of Warren Defever
Warren Defever
Warren Defever is a musician and producer from Livonia, Michigan. He is most known for his chameleonic project His Name Is Alive, though he is active in numerous other circles...
's "Darkness Night".
Personnel
Musicians- Jean Cook – violin
- Levon HelmLevon HelmMark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
– mandolin on "The Pain of Loving You", drums on "Late Blues" - Michael HurleyMichael HurleyMichael Hurley is an American singer/guitarist. He also plays the fiddle and piano. He grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
– viola on "The Pain of Loving You" - Ruth Keating – drums, percussion, marimba, ukelele, shruti box
- Daniel LittletonIda (band)Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters...
– guitar, wurlitzer, piano, percussion, vocals - Elizabeth MitchellElizabeth MitchellElizabeth Mitchell , is an American actress/modelwho is known for her roles as Dr. Juliet Burke on ABC's TV series Lost and as FBI agent Erica Evans on V. She has starred in such films as The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, and Gia.-Early life:Mitchell was born Elizabeth...
– harmonium, vocals - Tara Jane ONeil – guitar on "The Pain of Loving You"
- Karla Schickele – wurlitzer, bass, vocals
- Peter SchickelePeter SchickeleJohann Peter Schickele is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist. He is best known for his comedy music albums featuring his music that he presents as music written by the fictional composer P. D. Q...
– piano on "Late Blues" - Lincoln Schleifer – bass on "Late Blues"
- Matt Sutton – pedal steel on "My Fair, My Dark"
Technical personnel
- Warren DefeverWarren DefeverWarren Defever is a musician and producer from Livonia, Michigan. He is most known for his chameleonic project His Name Is Alive, though he is active in numerous other circles...
and IdaIda (band)Ida is an indie rock band from New York City. They are known for their three part harmonies, sparse, minimal, often quiet arrangements, and for their three singer-songwriters...
– producers - Justin Guip – engineering
- Sean Price – additional engineering
- Daniel Littleton – additional engineering
- Steve Fallone – mastering
Graphics
- Tara Jane ONeil – art
- Warren Defever – design