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Fanny Hill Album from 1972 |
"Fanny Hill" was the anticipated follow up to 1971's
"Charity Ball" release. Recorded at Apple Studios, London, England
in late 1971, the album features producer Richard Perry's best work,
even though Fanny was not thrilled with some of his additions (like
brass and strings to some of the songs). "Fanny Hill" features a
wide range of song styles from rockers to ballads, plus it's lyrical
content touched on topics that would not become center stage in the
world for decades to follow. The single "Ain't That Peculiar" would
chart at #85 on Billboard's Hot 100 and the album would chart at 135th
for 6 weeks. |
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FANNY HILL
Reprise MS2058, February 1972
Ain’t That
Peculiar? (W. Robinson, W. Moore, M. Tarplin,
R. Rogers)
Fanny Hill boasts two of Fanny’s finest covers and this
is one of them. June’s powerfully distinctive slide
guitar lends a real sense of authority to this re-worked
version of Marvin Gaye’s Motown hit. Bass and drums are
solid as a rock and June’s idiosyncratic vocal is the
final brick to making this a killer cover.
Knock on My Door
(Nickey Barclay)
The first of only two occasions when Jean takes the lead
vocal on one of Nickey’s songs. This classic other-woman
ballad has a vaguely Baroque feel to it with its
key-shift chorus and string backing and as a result
feels strikingly different to the majority of Fanny’s
other work. |
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Blind Alley (Nickey Barclay, Alice de Buhr)
Another pounding rocker from Nickey set against Alice’s
tumbling-down-stairs drum patterns and June’s power
chords. The hardest rocker on the album with a typically
tough lyric. (See video in Gallery for live rendition of
this song.)
You’ve Got a Home
(June Millington)
A gentle and wistful ballad utilizing only June’s
acoustic and slide guitars and sister Jean’s bass. The
type of social awareness contained in the lyric was a
rarity in 1972 but adds real emotional punch to a hugely
evocative song.
Wonderful Feeling
(Jean Millington)
Arguably Jean’s best song, this mid tempo rocker has a
well-crafted melody with a harmony laden, soaring chorus
and is sympathetically arranged by the band.
Borrowed Time
(Nickey Barclay)
Another classic rocker from the pen of Nickey, augmented
this time by a brass backing arrangement and featuring
some gutsy rock ‘n’ roll guitar from June.
Hey Bulldog (John
Lennon, Paul McCartney)
Fanny out-Beatles the Beatles with this storming version
of one of John Lennon’s most uncharacteristic songs.
Jean’s rumbling bass sets the scene as Alice’s
Ringo-like drumming provides an unstoppable juggernaut
of a groove while June improves upon Harrison’s original
solo with gusto plus some extra lyrics from Nickey make
this possibly their best cover, but then
look at the source material!
Think About the Children
(June Millington)
A shimmering eco-ballad carried by June’s exceptional
wah-wah playing and earnest vocal. The guitar solo is
well crafted and evokes the memory of Hendrix at his
most mellow. One of June’s finest efforts.
Rock Bottom Blues
(Nickey Barclay, June Millington, Jean Millington, Alice
de Buhr)
Alice’s Ringo moment. She really gets to grips with the
vocal line on this mid tempo rocker; the only band
credited song in the canon, and relishes its story of
hardship and rejection – complete with muttered
obscenity. A cult classic!
Sound and the Fury
(June Millington)
Fanny does Country with this appealing ballad from June.
Her own slide playing and Nickey’s tinkling piano add
the appropriate ambiance. As far as I am aware this is
the only Fanny song that has been covered by others –
The Gogos in this instance.
The First Time
(Nickey Barclay)
A typically big ballad from Nickey to finish what is
generally considered to be Fanny’s finest album. The
whole thing has a bluesy feel augmented with Alice’s
huge drum sound and occasional Latin American brass
arrangements which all builds to a stunningly intense
finale where June’s irresistibly rising guitar line
wails into the fade.
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