Fanny: The Reprise Years 1970-1973 album review
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Pioneering female rockers Fanny – then called Wild Honey – snaffled a deal with Warner Bros offshoot Reprise Records after they were talent-spotted at LA’s Troubadour by the secretary of record producer Richard Perry. But there was a problem. Perry put himself in charge of the sonics for Fanny’s first three albums, employing a light touch – a tap on the shoulder as opposed to a sock to the jaw.
Thus the potential of the band, led by the Filipina-American Millington sisters June (guitar) and Jean (bass), wasn’t fully realised until album number four. This box-set includes their early 70 albums Fanny, Charity Ball and Fanny Hill (recorded in London at The Beatles’ Apple Studios) and their final release for Reprise, Mothers Pride [sic]. With Todd Rundgren at the controls, the latter platter is where it’s at.
This is claimed to the most comprehensive collection of Fanny material to date; there’s certainly an unfeasible abundance of bonus tracks (better than Sweet F.A.). The band’s true prowess can be heard on the live cuts: Charity Ball (the song, recorded in Cleveland) is reminiscent of a female Foghat; Young And Dumb, from a gig in Philadelphia, highlights Fanny’s blues chops; Badge, from the same show, offers a CSN&Y twist to the Cream chestnut.
But if you listen to only one album, it’s gotta be Mothers Pride, which benefits enormously from Rundgren’s eccentric touch. Keith Moon liked the song Solid Gold so much – inebriated vocals and all – he recorded it for his only solo album.
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