We kick off our 10th episode with a funny fan comment then dive into “You’re the One” and “Place in the Country” both from the “Charity Ball” album. Then we announce our second podcast contest!
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NOTE: These podcasts will be produced once every two weeks at present. A lot of work goes into these and we’re looking for feedback from the fans to drive the direction of the podcast.
Podcast as instructive and entertaining as ever. One question: did Fanny record the separate instrumental track for Whistle Test at the BBC studio or elsewhere? I love Jean’s sly smile at having been able to sing “I can make you come” on good old Auntie BBC, an organisation which used to have a very staid reputation, as the nickname suggests.
“The Old Grey Whistle Test” had long been a music industry expression when the show of that title started. It actually referred to the grey-haired elderly doormen at music publishers and recording studios. If those gentlemen were heard whistling the latest tune, it was sure to be a hit.
Hi Dave,
Thank you SO much for clearing up “The Old Grey Whistle Test” story! I thought I had it right, but NO! I’ll try to make sure we correct that on the next (or future) podcast. All these little bits help us get it right, and with all of the “fake news” that abounds these days, that can only be a good thing.
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the podcasts. They really are a labor of love for us. As far as an answer for your question, I’m sure that the backing music track was provided by Reprise (Kinney in the UK, right?), as we didn’t record just the track sans vocals specifically for the show. I’m sure that’s how it was done in those days.
“Auntie BBC” – what a great nickname!
Best,
Alice
Many hippy retunes, Alice,Gloria, Nigel. Most remiss of me to forget that.
The whistle test thing could have included janitors or caretakers, some of whom might well have done both jobs. I remember the official explanation from the Press release on the first episode of the new show.
Thanks, Alice, for clearing up the backing track question. I think it differs from the LP track in some ways, though. Yes, the bass drum in the studio was dead, it rests in peace. There’s never a sign of the skin vibrating. That must have been disconcerting, even off-pissing!
Dave,
I like “off-pissing.” That’s a new term for me; one that I’ll try to fit into future dialogue!
Best,
Alice
I’m all up in this…LOL
Ha! Thank you very much. Happy Birthdays to Nigel, Alice, Gloria, and everyone else. ? Fantastic episode, I really enjoyed it. It made a great substitute in my effort to get off the news while getting ready today, but I’m going to need 98 more installments to make it to New Years. Also considering doing the swirly tassel thing myself, which won’t be pretty, but should help clear the sidewalk. Keep up the good work, you guys! ?
Hi Mike! Happy Birthday to you too! And very happy to hear that we could be a distraction from the dreary news. As for 98 more installments to make it to the New Year, we’ll get right on that! Lol. 😉 Thanks for tuning in. Hope you’ll continue to do so. 🙂
Oh, Mike,
The picture of you “clearing the sidewalk” has me chuckling…..and, I know I can’t unsee that!
Best,
Alice
Thank you to Dr. K for my cameo. Glad there was amusement at my “abreast” comment. It could have caused a rift – a cleavage if you will.
Looking forward to Episode #11.
Full marks! A Quality pun!
Hi Aaron! Lol! Thanks for making us laugh!
Aaron,
“a rift – a cleavage….” I am once again reminded of how wonderful our listeners are, who share this space and our humor!
Love it!
Alice
Great Galloping Grooves, Fanny Fans! Another outstanding episode! Just one note for Alice and it’s a positive note! Your voice characterizations of my replies is UNCANNY! I mean, I had to rewind repeatedly because all I could hear was my own giggling! And I was right, I was honored!
Now the less good news: I have four and a half pages of notes from my 1st listen alone!! Yipes! But the bright side (there’s always a bright side) is I have several new writing projects which sprung to mind–of their own volition–while I listened. That is a very good thing! Thank you all kindly! When I ever post them to my blog I can link ya’ll. As my mother always taught me, “Don’t dump your url without consent.” To which I reply, “Who’s Earl, ma??”But it turns out she meant the oil in the tractor. A type of environmentalist of her day, I suppose.
I don’t know why I mentioned that. Weird. ¯\_(“/)_/¯
Anyway, before I leave here’s an idea: Could “pivot” become “Turn another cheek?” HA! In keeping with all things Fanny! And the other (and last, I promise) pun I have is this: “Rubber Cymbals? That’s the shittiest stage name, I’ve ever heard!” (not sure this one rates a rimshot. It helps to read it as Groucho Marx).
Groovingly Yours,
Jim
Hi Jim! Glad you enjoyed Alice’s reading of your comments! We had a hoot (not hooters) time working on this podcast! As for everything else, I’ll let Alice reply. Thanks for continuing to make me/us laugh! Groovingly yours, Kristen
Jim,
I’ll be looking for the link to your blog, Earl…… Yes, I got that immediately, and the chuckles started all over again! I’ll consider using “turn another cheek,” but I don’t think “rubber cymbals” is going to make the cut…..HA!
Love,
Alice
Alice,
Thank you kindly (though there’s no telling when I may have the piece I’m currently working on up on my blog (editing… always editing…). But I’ll put the link here against that eventuality!
Rubber Cymbals reminds me of that old drinking song “I Used to Work in Chicago:”
I used to work in Chicago
At a department store
I used to work in Chicago
I’ll never work there anymore
A lady came in for a hose one day
I asked her what kind did she want
Rubber she said, So rubber I did
I’ll never work there anymore!
Looking forward to the next Fanny podcast!
Groovingly,
Jim
Jim,
You have way too much time on your hands and WAY too many drinking songs in your head…..Should we be worried?
Love,
Alice
Just joined and enjoyed the last few podcasts – looking forward to no. 11 discussing ‘Solid Gold’ – great song, cool lyrics, great delivery (pre-emptive of punk rock – even put me in mind of Sonic Youth). When I hear Keith Moon cover it, he takes that loose vocal style that then leads us on to Sid Vicious singing ‘My Way’. I think there’s a subtle link there!
Hi Brian! Welcome to the “Get Behind Fanny” podcast family! Thanks for your comments and great insight. We’ll read this on the podcast. And I agree re. pre-emptive of punk rock, including the line in the song, “…don’t punk out.”
AGREED!!!
Hi again, Brian! So I messed up and forgot to include your (oh-so-cool) feedback about “Solid Gold” in the upcoming podcast. However, I’ll make sure to read it in the following episode. Please forgive me. All best, Kristen
Hi Kristen
No worries – you’re forgiven!
Looking forward to Ep 11! ?
Thanks, Brian…I’m glad you forgave me. Hope you enjoy Ep. 11!! 🙂
Hi Brian,
I’m glad you’re joining us on our misadventures! I’m not familiar enough with Sid Vicious to comment on your comment…….but, I’ll see if I can educate myself on Sid AND Sonic Youth (I know, “Man, she must be REALLY old!). “Film at eleven” is all I’ll say…or, we’ll see?
Best,
Alice
Love the podcast!!!
Hi Bobbi! SOOOO great to hear, especially coming from you! 🙂
Hey LAAAADDDDYYYYYY!
Nice to see you here! I’ll be looking forward to hearing 2021 developments………right?
Alice
Great episode! Both songs you featured are awesome cuts. “Place in The Country” is a fantastic song with great lyrics and musicianship. As a guitar player, I am particularly focused on June’s rhythm and soloing; and her tone on this one is just the best! It’s got a certain kind of electric crackle and bite that I dream of!! Overdriven, but clean. It takes you right to the edge, and it’s in danger of going over the edge, but it just walks that fine line between “total chaos” and “just holding it together.” I think that tension is reflected in the lyrics, too, and it’s the core of rock and roll, in some sense. Jean is absolutely killing it, too. Like you said, Kristin, she is doing bass leads all the way through that propel the groove into the stars, but also keep it grounded. I would love to do a cover of this song.
I, too, felt it as an association with the war and the political situation at the time, but it also seemed to me to be an expression of the pressures experienced by these young, female musicians trying to “get along in this world,” and dreaming of an escape from all the BS. I think that’s one of the hallmarks of great lyrics is that they say something, but they leave space for the listener’s personal experiences and interpretations to be layered on top of what’s there. It’s really cool hearing Alice, June, and Jean analyze and comment on the songs – wish we could hear from Nicky. She deserves a hell of a lot of praise for her part in all this!
Anyway, I’ll just end by saying that I’m glad you revisited and extended the “rude”-iments jokes. It was a nice stroll down “mammary lane!”
-Dave
Hi Dave! Thank you so much for this insightful feedback. All great stuff. As for covering the song – go for it! We would LOVE it! And I couldn’t agree more with you that Nickey deserves a hell of a lot of praise! She’s is a musical genius, and has an opening with us should she ever choose to do so. Oh, as for your contribution to the pasties puns, “mammary lane” is excellent! All best, Kristen
Hi David,
Thank you for your insightful comments, and for taking the time to jot them down here for us to share. This Fanny community is growing by the day, and I have to say, I AM HAVING A BLAST! working to put it together. Kristen and Byron and I work so well together, and to hear Jean and June’s comments interwoven is just icing on an already good cake.
I think Jean plays “lead” bass on a number of sections of songs; others, she’s just riding the bottom with me. June’s guitar tone is wonderful to revisit with 2020 ears – hell, ALL of it is fun through 2020 ears!
I love your take on “rude”-iments……to say nothing of mammary lane!
Best,
Alice
Quality Pun!
I’ve really dug these exchanges…
Welsh Dave (new username to avoid confusion).
I love these podcasts. Alice was always the “cool chick” wasn’t she? LOL I’m NOT leaving Kristin out…or Byron…ah hell you’re ALL cool! We were all lucky to come out of that era when a band like FANNY could, more or less, make it. We came from a time that allowed us to hear and be apart of the most original and creative music ever conceived. I never did listen to the first episode so I better go back and listen but two songs I’d love for you to look at are from the first album…”Come and Hold Me” is such a well-crafted song. This song was recorded before Nickey joined? The other gem, for now, is “Changing Horses”. You may have covered these already but if not add to the other thousand requests. LOL “You’re the Ones”.
PS I’m going to try and work up a couple of painting art pieces featuring FANNY images. Is this permissible?
Hi Steve! Thank you so much for your comments! I think I can speak only speak for myself, but Alice is still the “cool chick” of our podcast bunch. I’m an admitted and unabashed nerd, albeit a nerd who pretends (tries?) to be cool. 😉 As for the Fanny songs you referred to we will either be getting to them soon or revisiting them, so stay tuned! As for doing art with Fanny images- go for it! Hope you’ll share it with us when you’re ready. All best, Kristen
Hi Steve,
I so appreciated your email (you’ll hear it on Ep 11), I had to share it. I never thought of myself or think of myself as the cool one, but I do think my sense of humor and fun is still pretty much intact. I think future requests could easily be filed under “You’re The Ones,” and will check with our “board” to see if we can make that happen.
As far as “Come and Hold Me” is concerned, we MAY have had the basic track down before Nickey joined us, but when we went back to re-cut at least 1/2 of the first LP WITH Nickey, she put keyboard parts on anything that needed them. That first LP has a ton of Nickey’s songs and influence on it.
And, I do agree with you about the time we come from – a time of HUGE creative growth in music and the arts. I feel pretty damn lucky to have lived during those days and am blessed to have made it out alive!
Go for the paintings! Remember to share!
Love ,
Alice
Thanks to both of you for the response. NOW I have to decide what image to make some art out of. I’m got about a gazillion different styles so I’ll keep my fingers crossed, my paints wet and FANNY blasting out of my speakers… and a couple of edibles to calm the nerves (a couple?…10 maybe…LOL. I bought “First Time in a Long Time” when it first came out. I realized I DON’T have separate FANNY CDs for each album. Yeah, yeah, yeah I’ve got the MP3s and someone kiped a bunch of my LPs years ago and I still hate them for it. I wish they had left The Beatles and FANNY LPs alone. I bought the set. Speakers, ready and waiting as is the canvas and a lot of luck.
Stephen – I love the setting: Art, edibles, and Fanny. A perfection trio! Looking forward to see what you create.
*Oops – I meant to say a perfect trio, but a perfection trio kinda of works too. Lol!
Stephen,
I’m looking forward to you sharing your art with us…..’cmon, we showed you ours…it’s only fair!
Alice
Great podcast.I just watched 6-10 to catch up.
Can’t wait to hear about Solid Gold!Thanks!
listened actually not watched lol
Hi Guy! Thanks for catching up on the podcasts – we appreciate it! And we hope you enjoy Ep. 11 with “Solid Gold” and “Special Care.” We had a fantastic time putting it together. Let us know what you think. All best, Kristen