Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Get Behind Fanny podcast!Ā
The final episode of 2020!Ā We reflect back on 2020 as well as look forward to 2021 with two great Fanny tunes. First up is the haunting “Last Night I Had A Dream” and then we dive deeper into Nickey’s “The First Time”Ā from “Fanny Hill”.
Hosts Alice, Kristen, and Byron are joined by Jean and June Millington via pre-recorded interviews.
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Just finished listening to this episode. A few observations.
First, my favorite rendition of “Last Night I Had a Dream” was on The Midnight Special. Nickey’s vocals are out of this world. It is also nice to see her full of joy.
Second, I agree with Alice that Richard messed up “The First Time” with the horn section. And I love brass (i.e. Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears as well as Lighthouse) but it is unnecessary here. I can only imagine what “The First Time” sounded like live.
Third, I enjoyed Boyd’s letter. I was struck by his determination & resourcefulness in finding a way to make Fanny a part of his workday. Today, I managed to listen to all four of Fanny’s Reprise albums without leaving my desk. But Boyd had to be clever & creative.
Finally, I envy the fact that Boyd had the pleasure of seeing Fanny in concert twice. So many of us, especially those of us who love early 1970’s rock, are kicking ourselves for not knowing about Fanny until 2020. But as Alice says, “It’s not when you discovered Fanny. It’s that you discovered Fanny.” In that spirit, I hope the Get Behind Fanny podcast will go into a deeper dive about the Fanny Live in 1972 album & its adventures on the concert stage come 2021.
With that I wish Alice, Kristen, Byron, June, Jean & Nickey (wherever you are) a holiday season full of joy & merriment.
And the same to you, Aaron!
Hi Aaron! Thank you so much for your observations. Always so interesting to read. As for doing a deeper dive into the Fanny Live in 1972, we already have some ideas on it. This just means you’ll have to stay tuned. š Happy holiday season to you and yours, and here’s to a fabulous 2021! Cheers!
Thanks, Aaron,
I always enjoy your comments (if I didn’t, would I tell? LOL) and am grateful that you take the time to leave us your impressions of each podcast.
On to 2021!
Alice
āAn analogue memory in a digital age…ā
This is one of the finest ways to round off one of the oddest years ever. I am so glad for the synergy between you three; you have given us all sixteen fannytastic podcasts this year. Whilst the content is always brilliant, special mention must be given to Boydās letter… I remember taping and listening to fave bands in the 80ās when I got my first tape recorder… the lengths a fan will go to just to listen or see their fave band should never be underestimated! Of course when I was young the ways and means weāre easier, but the rewards were still scintillating! Thinking of his ingenious ways of ensuring he had his music available to him, I feel so lucky itās āat the touch of a buttonā for me…
Although born in 1975, my tastes in music pretty much cover 1962-80 with a few exceptional modern bands thrown in. So… in many ways my ears *are* the ā1972 earsā that have been mentioned before. Fanny has been the discovery of the year for me (arguably the last 5 years!), and be it 1970 or 2020 there is a freshness, vitality and energy that *Iām* soaking up like a sponge too!
Many do feel the same way… the podcasts *have* made this crazy year easier to deal with and the joy youāve brought to me personally is inestimable. Thank you so much!
Have the best holiday and know Iām going to be raising many festive glasses to your health and happiness… to Byron, Alice, Kristen, June, Jean and Nickey (wherever she is, I hope sheās happy safe and well)!
Hereās to 2021,
Love, light and peace to you all!
Listeners like you are the reason we do the podcast! Nickey is as happy, well, and safe as one can be during these trying times.
Happy Christmas to you, Andie, and adorable Lauren! xxoo
Thanks, Nigel!
I’m so happy that you DID find Fanny in 2020, and that you’ve taken so much time to share your thoughts and family with us.
Happy Christmas, indeed!
Alice
Fanny in general was ahead of their time. June’s guitar on “Dream” is my style. I tend to play this way but then my whole brain is psychodelisized anyway. I need to get you some more art. I’ll work on that. Lov e you guys.
Hi Steve! Thanks as always for tuning in, as well as some possibly producing more art! Cheers and love!
Hi Steve,
I agree with you…..I’ve always thought we were just “too” soon, but SOMEONE had to take those first steps, and I’m glad that as far as being the first all female rock band to sign a multi-LP deal with a major label, record and tour…we were that someone.
I’ll look forward to more of your art!
Alice
When I got the Rhino box set I was in danger of wearing out the CDs from playing them so much but it has been so marvellous to hear such a guided tour through the songs you pick each podcast. Itās such a pleasure hearing your laughter and joy all the way to Derby England. iād Picked up on your podcasts early on and they sure have helped me get through the pandemic all right. I wonāt even try to pick my favourite Fanny song as I love all of them for different reasons. Have a good Christmas Cheers Richard
Hi Richard! What a wonderful thing to know that you’ve enjoyed our podcasts early on and that they have helped you get through this pandemic. I feel the same way. Here’s to more Fanny songs, insights, and laughter to come in 2021! Have a Happy Christmas! Cheers, Kristen
Richard,
I’m so glad that you don’t have a favorite. Neither do I, and the gift the podcast has given me is new found like/fondness for songs I’d left behind so long ago. And, we do laugh a lot, don’t we? I LOVE that about the three of us. Kristen and Byron make this labor of love so much fun to create!
Best,
Alice
Thanks everybody for making 2020 more bearable with the hilarious podcasts and comments pages which make me feel like a member of a true community. The first thing I do every other Friday is download the ‘cast and listen to it two or three times through the day; once is never enough to absorb everything that is said and played, and Alice’s dirty laugh is a tonic in itself!
Learning ever more about how Fanny came to be and evolve has given me 2020 ears to reappraise the songs my early 70s ears came to love. I’ll be known around town as “Old Four-Ears” at this rate… Hearing the music in the fabulous quality provided by Byron is a revelation in itself. (Remind self to buy the CDs.)
I accepted the horns as an intrinsic part of “The First Time”, although I’d rather have heard more of Fanny, naturally. Now with my new lugholes I wonder what possessed Richard Perry to add them, without permission, which is rather naughty to say the least. There may be something beyond an obsession with horns. This was another of Nickey’s acceptance songs; I visualise her wearily walking along tacky Sunset Boulevard with her four-legged friend, looking up towards Fanny Hill and smiling “for the first time in a long time”. The album is called “Fanny Hill”, and the house is a Spanish-style villa; I wonder if Richard put some Latino music in just to evoke the architecture! Wild conjecture, I know… While we’re on the subject, can anyone remember who painted the wonderfully ornate name on the house? Sadly, no trace of the artwork remains.
Let’s hope we all have a better year than 2020 has been, although I fear the UK’s troubles are just beginning, what with the dreaded B-word. Anyway, y’all have a happy and healthy festive season, and keep up the stellar work. Jean, may you go from strength to strength. Cheers!
Nadolig llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd dda,
Welsh Dave.
Hi Dave! Thanks for all your insights! Let’s hope that 2021 is FAR better (in every way) than 2020. We all need a respite. In the meantime, we’ll keep making the “Get Behind Fanny” podcasts in order to keep us sane and laughing, all while listening to amazing music. Cheers, Kristen
Hi Dave,
I have a “dirty laugh” you say? NO, really????? I accept it! If I can be a tonic in any way in these times, I’ll take on the “dirtylaughAlice” moniker with no problems and with pride. When Kristen and I (more Kristen than me, in all honesty) put together the arc of each podcast, and get the timestamps to Byron, he DOES work some incredible editing magic. He’s our secret wizard! Kristen and I will promise to continue to inspire and share the joy that was/is Fanny, and Byron will ply his wonderful skills to keep the podcast improving. We’re all looking forward to 2021 episodes!
FYI, “Fanny Hill” was never painted on the house, that was someone in an art department, probably before Photoshop, who put the name on the “turret.”
Happy Christmas!
Alice
Hi Alice,
I was sorta suspecting that the owners wouldn’t be too pleased to see a big black name painted on their “turret” and that it might be a photo retouch job, but WOW! It was very well done. In curved perspective that’s a labour of love, even if it was printed flat, stuck to a cylinder and photographed from just the right angle and distance. Being in Hollywood must have helped. Of course, Fanny was worth it.
Reminds me of when we did “Little Shop of Horrors” at our local amateur theatre and I had to paint mid-town Manhattan on a curved panel! Must have been crazy…. Fab show, though.
Seasonal best wishes from locked-down Wales. With a new variant of the virus up to 70% more contagious, we’re only allowed to meet one person, and that on Christmas Day. Take care. Roll on 2021…
Love,
Dave
Haha. That was a lot of fun! You guys crack me up. Another great show. And uh, I’m with Alice. I hate those stupid mariachi horns!
I love the band and look forward to every podcast.
I hope all you guys have happy holidays with people you love. And a happy new year. My late discovery of all things Fanny has definitely been a bright spot for me in this colossally crazy year. You guys are awesome.
Cheers,
E
Hello Eric! We’re so happy you’re enjoying Fanny’s music, as well as the “Get Behind Fanny” podcast. It has been a bright spot for me as well in this colossally crazy year. Thanks for all of your support – it means the world to us. I hope you and yours have a very happy holiday season too. Here’s to 2021! Cheers, Kristen
Thanks, Eric,
I really do appreciate each and everyone of you(s) who take the time to listen and react to/with us! We’ll do our best to continue to entertain and enlighten you in 2021.
Happy Christmas!
Alice
Great episode! I didn’t know ‘last night…’ was a Randy Newman cover – it sounds like a Fanny original! It’s really theatrical. What makes that spooky sound effect near the beginning and end – I can only describe it as sounding to me like ‘wobbly spoons’? I gotta admit, I don’t find the mariachi horns on ‘first time…’ offensive, although I can see what Alice is saying – this is, texturally, a very rich song (love the organ sound on this) and maybe the horns are a layer too many? However, great song regardless and everything sounds right and in its place. I’ve very much enjoyed listening to you 3′ s podcast shenanigans on a Saturday morning with my cup of tea and I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2021! It’s really cool. Keep up the good work!
Hope you have a very merry Christmas and rockin’ new year!
Cheers,
Brian
Hi Brian! Thanks for all of your insights. I agree with you that the mariachi horns are not offensive, although I’ll never be able to listen to it again without hearing Alice saying, “And then Richard had to go fuck it up!” Too funny! Also, it’s wonderful to know and envision that you listen to our podcast on Saturday morning with your cup of tea. Love that. I hope you have a Happy Christmas and Fabulous New Year!! Cheers, Kristen
Hi Brian,
We are full of shenanigans, aren’t we? For me, that’s a goal for each podcast! I wouldn’t want to bore anyone to death, no would I? I think it was some kind of wind whistle through and echo (?) to get the spooky sound. Todd WAS a master of odd sounds and bits…..
We’ll see you in 2021, I’m sure, at least here on the comments pages, because we have no plans to stop what is so much fun and rewarding for us. I’m so glad you enjoy….But, what is the brand of tea you drink on a Saturday morning? I’ve been importing Typhoo for almost 50 years now, and can’t go a morning without it!
Happy Christmas!
Alice
Lol! Merry Christmas Alice! – for some reason, and I don’t really remember what started me drinking it, but my main brew is green tea with a slice of lemon. You gotta try it – it’s maybe an acquired taste but you can add manuka honey too. Go for it!
Apparently a cup or 2 a day is good..
All the best
Brian
Brian,
Green tea (I don’t care WHAT you add to it) = dirt……. I’ve tried it, and just can’t do it, BUT, I’ve heard that hot water and lemon are the best way to jump start your metabolism in the morning! Now that I can do!
HA!!
Alice
Haha! It ain’t for everyone – normal teabag-wise you might want to try ‘yorkshire tea’ – now, you may notice a difference to typhoo – Typhoo and Yorkshire tea are the big brands normally. BUT, I will let you know of any new/unusual teas that roll out the n the market over here.
Me green forever!
Best,
Brian
Fannys covers are exponential better then the originals, particularly Hey Bulldog , which Fanny gives a serious drive and urgency.
I think the horns being added to āThe First Timeā song made it sound like the ending of a 70ās tampon commercial. , still an amazing and wonderful song and nicely put together. I just got my first Fanny album, blown away and it just had this great tone and feel . Thank you Alice for the wonderful gift you sent
You’re welcome, Matt,
Thanks for the thanks, Matt.
Alice
Hi Matthew…to quote you, “…[T]he horns being added to ‘The First Time’ made it sound like the ending of a 70s tampon…” Huh? What does this mean? Hard not to read this as a sexist or crude comment, but wanting to give you the benefit of the doubt. And then you added, “…[S]till an amazing and wonderful song and nicely put together.” This is curious to me. “Still” – so tampons are not wonderful and nice? (I beg to differ.) Please let us know what you mean by all of this. Eager to hear your rationale. Sincerely, Kristen
It looks like my comment is still awaiting moderation. I can just take it down if you want
It is just me dealing with comment approval and there are times it takes a bit to get to comments that need approval, especially on weekends. I try my best to get them approved quickly. Sorry it took a while to be approved.
Byron,
You do a FANTASTIC job of approving the comments and EVERYTHING ELSE you do on a regular basis. For some reason, the Split Enz line comes to me….”Patience is a virtue. Possess it if you can.”
Love ya, man,
Alice
Byron – you’re a dude!
Thank you for the awesome platform you give to genuine music lovers! Rock on homes!
Matthew,
We’re working as fast as we can…… Sorry you felt you had to take your comment down???
Happy Christmas,
Alice
Byron – you’re a dude!
Thank you for the awesome platform you give to genuine music lovers! Rock on homes!
Thanks for another great show!Always a pleasure to hear Alice,June,and Jean comment on the fantastic music I love.I look forward to more in the new year.Merry Christmas to Byron,Kristen,Alice,Jean,and June.Stay safe and happy and dammit let’s get Fanny in the RRHOF !
#16 Get Behind Fanny Podcast put the icing on the cake for me – With uncontrolled laughter listening to Jean talking about the Mariachi sounds on the song āThe First Timeā, and all the comments and giggling – it is classic and heartfelt and makes for good entertainment.
WOW – 32 weeks and still Sizzling HOT – with wonderful stories and Fanny history than New fans like me just love and canāt get enough of.
Thank you Alice, Kristen, Byron, June, Jean and Nickey for sharing FANNY with us.
Happy Hollidays and looking forward to more fun!