Retro Reviews: Fanny - Fanny

     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 – Fanny (1970)

****

Producer: Richard Perry

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

Songs: Come and Hold Me, I Just Realized, Candlelighter Man, Conversation With A Cop, Badge, Changing Horses, Bitter Wine, Take a Message To The Captain, It Takes A Lot of Good Lovin’, Shade Me, Seven Roads.

    Man, I have not heard an album that was as fun as this one. There’s a lot of debate I see sometimes that women should stay in their wheelhouse and just do folk music, but these ladies are out to prove many wrong. Some might see an all-female rock band as a gimmick or token, but these ladies have the chops, both as singers and musicians to show this is the real deal. I heard a rumor that Producer Richard Perry heard them at some local club and made certain they got signed. The Milligan sisters on guitar and bass, respectfully, are great players. Nickey Barclay is a more than adept keyboard player, and drummer Alice de Buhr has a steady fire about her playing. One sense these women really love to play off of one another.  The total effect is that you forget these are women, just great entertainers.

    The first several songs might be a  little deceptive as they lay out their pop sensibilities but dig deeper and their rock pedigree comes through on the later material. ‘Come and See Me’ has a nod to the late 60s with an opening that will remind people of Roger Mcguinn and Pete Townshend, before it settles into a pleasing grove. “I Just Realized” opens with an informal quality before it settles into some whimsy. “Candlelighter Man” reveals their rich vocal harmonies. “Conversation With A Cop” has the odd conceit of being a ballad that may have some social comment hidden within. Their cover of Cream’s “Badge”, might be one of the most refreshing reinterpretations I have heard in awhile, it reminds me of The Beatles early years where they would record other’s work and create something definitive such as in ‘Twist and Shout’, very impressive effort.

    A piano blues motif opens “Changing Horses” before it drives into high gear as another pop rocker, again, there’s an informal quality and a sense of camaraderie between the band mates that is charming.  “Bitter Wine” has a clever opening, and some layered instrumentation, and great vocals. “Take A Message To The Captain” has some playful electric piano and a light flavor. “It Takes A Lot of Good Lovin” is the other cover, and features some playful blues support from June as she helps drives the thrust of the song, and some great organ soloing from Nickey. Some great bass and piano work aids “Shade Me” Some bluesy B-3 Organ sets up the tone for the heavy and driving closing track, “Seven Roads”, drummer Alice de Buhr is fantastic throughout the album. The album ends on a rousing note, the whole enterprise leaves me curious to see where they go next. Recommended.