Album
Fanny
The Reprise Years 1970 – 1973
Cherry Red (label)
09 April 2025 (released)
09 April 2025
Fanny are almost forgotten today, which is a shame, because they were a damn fine rock band.
An all-girl band (in the parlance of the times). They wrote, played and attracted top producers as well as being photographed by the likes of Candice Bergen and David Bailey.
Over the course of the four albums here – ‘Fanny’, ‘Charity Ball’, ‘Fanny Hill’ & ‘Mother’s Pride’ – they progressed from a pop band to a classy rock band, developing their talents as well as their style.
It is fascinating to hear the band developing, almost track by track.
Kicking off with ‘Fanny’, they open with an incredibly poppy sound with ‘Come Up And See Me’ but the album also includes ‘Conversation With A Cop’ which includes the line “I never knew the night could turn a whim into a crime” – strong meat for the time. There is a fine version of ‘Badge’ as well.
‘Charity Ball’ was recorded almost at the same time as their debut and has a similar tone, but the band were already showing stronger abilities as the later recorded numbers show the bass lines becoming stronger and Jean Millington’s lead guitar (she had only turned to lead guitar when Addie Clement left before the band started recording) really making strides. ‘What Kind Of Lover’ is a terrific number and really shows the band stretching their chops. ‘Special Care’ has an easy-rolling style, slightly country but with a rocky edge to it.
Their third album, ‘Fanny Hill’, sees them becoming a harder-edged rock outfit. They are now strong players and songwriters and it was around this time that their live shows were getting more attention. They still had a great pop song in their canon – ‘Knock On My Door’ could almost be an ABBA track – but their sound was heavier and stronger than before. Recording at the Beatles studio in Savile Row London gave them a great sound and it is probably the most complete of the four.
‘Mothers Pride’ was produced by Todd Rundgren and moved away from the heavy stuff, more of an adult pop/rock. The quality of the playing and the subtlety of their performances is delightful but the songs are a little dated now.
Fanny were a brilliant band, and this shows just how they developed into a fine outfit.
Well worth investigating, and a lot more than a quirky oddity.
An all-girl band (in the parlance of the times). They wrote, played and attracted top producers as well as being photographed by the likes of Candice Bergen and David Bailey.
Over the course of the four albums here – ‘Fanny’, ‘Charity Ball’, ‘Fanny Hill’ & ‘Mother’s Pride’ – they progressed from a pop band to a classy rock band, developing their talents as well as their style.
Kicking off with ‘Fanny’, they open with an incredibly poppy sound with ‘Come Up And See Me’ but the album also includes ‘Conversation With A Cop’ which includes the line “I never knew the night could turn a whim into a crime” – strong meat for the time. There is a fine version of ‘Badge’ as well.
‘Charity Ball’ was recorded almost at the same time as their debut and has a similar tone, but the band were already showing stronger abilities as the later recorded numbers show the bass lines becoming stronger and Jean Millington’s lead guitar (she had only turned to lead guitar when Addie Clement left before the band started recording) really making strides. ‘What Kind Of Lover’ is a terrific number and really shows the band stretching their chops. ‘Special Care’ has an easy-rolling style, slightly country but with a rocky edge to it.
Their third album, ‘Fanny Hill’, sees them becoming a harder-edged rock outfit. They are now strong players and songwriters and it was around this time that their live shows were getting more attention. They still had a great pop song in their canon – ‘Knock On My Door’ could almost be an ABBA track – but their sound was heavier and stronger than before. Recording at the Beatles studio in Savile Row London gave them a great sound and it is probably the most complete of the four.
‘Mothers Pride’ was produced by Todd Rundgren and moved away from the heavy stuff, more of an adult pop/rock. The quality of the playing and the subtlety of their performances is delightful but the songs are a little dated now.
Fanny were a brilliant band, and this shows just how they developed into a fine outfit.
