Retro Reviews: Fanny: Charity Ball

 

    I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. These albums are lesser known titles.

Fanny – Charity Ball (1971)

*** ¾

Producer: Richard Perry

Musicians: June Milligan, Jean Milligan, Nickey Barclay, Alice de Buhr

Songs: Charity Ball, What Kind of Lover, Cat Fever, A Person Like You, Special Care, What’s Wrong With Me?, Soul Child, You’re The One, Thinking Of You, Place In The Country, A Little While Later

Reviewed by Matthew Anthony Allair

    The new album by Fanny, the all-female rock band is a great continuation of what they presented with the first. At first glance, the material may appear less gripping, but further inspection reveals additional growth. The Milligan sisters are a potent duo on guitar and bass, and keyboardist / singer Nickey Barclay and drummer / singer Alice de Buhr continue to astound. They have stayed true to their live, informal, relaxed performances from the first album, but there’s some additional production layering. Even the album cover retains their whimsy. While I can’t agree with my peers this is as strong as the first, I will admit, this is only by a small margin. There's a certain power pop element that could remind the listener of peers like Badfinger.

    The album opens with the good time rock n roll of “Charity Ball”. The New Orleans blues of “What Kind Of Lover” is fun, Nickey’s vocal is fiery and June’s lead is good, it’s possible that Fanny had already heard The Guess Who’s “Albert Flasher” as they have a similar feel. The RNB fused “Cat Fever” has a strong rhythm shuffle from de Buhr. June’s lead guitar, and Nickey’s Piano lead tradeoffs give this some life and builds to a fiery end. The Country fused “A Person Like You” has a nice playfulness. The band wrote all of the material except for the next number, a Buffalo Springfield / Steven Stills cover of “Special Care”, has a good vocal from June and guitar lead.

    Things are brought down by the acoustic ballad “What’s Wrong With Me”, some really strong harmony vocals and the nice touch of a tasteful organ refine the number. The standout moments for “Soul Child” is the bass and the interplay with the B3 Organ, there’s an interesting switch up before a great organ solo, fair to say there's a funk infusion with the keyboards. “You’re The One” has an unexpected slow burn, but moves into playful territory. “Thinking Of You” has a dynamic opening for a ballad, but probably should be the single – there’s some real song craft there. “Place In The Country” is another country blues offering, Nickey, June and Alice are really allowed to shine in the number. The closing ballad “A Little While Later”, musically has a certain whimsy, but there’s a lyrical introspection that keeps it interesting, there’s a baroque pop quality to the second half of the number, building into a fitting conclusion for the album.

    The band and the four women who comprise it, remain a very talented group of players that should not be underestimated. This album leaves me curious within where they will go next. Recommended.