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Get Behind Fanny Podcast

Godmothers of Women Who Rock

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Get Behind Fanny: Episode 25

Episode 25! Closing out April 2021 with recollections on how Nickey Barclay joined the band. With that, we’ll listen and discuss two of Nickey’s songs in this episode. First up is the rip-roaring rocker from Fanny’s first album, “Changing Horses” with lead vocals by Jean. Then Nickey switches gears for the quasi-funky ballad “A Person Like You” from the “Charity Ball” album.

Alice, Kristen, and Byron are joined by Jean and June Millington, and Fanny’s head roadie, Jim Segrave via pre-recorded interviews.

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NOTE: These podcasts will be produced once every two weeks.

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54 comments

  1. Thank you Alice, Kristen and Byron for your continued efforts and hard work in delighting us all with these bi-monthly masterpieces, greatly appreciated! What a joy to welcome Segrave on board this week, I look forward to his contributions in the future.
    As a fan, I always found Nickey very “approachable” she was kind, caring and considerate, I have fond memories of spending a little time with her.

    2. Hi Angie,
      Thank you so much for this little letter of love….I’m so glad you have so many memories of good times with Nickey and how kind she was!
      Best,
      Alice

  2. I enjoyed this Western motif themed, Nickey-centric episode.

    Kristen is spot on when she says “Changing Horses” is as “close to live” as Fanny got in the studio. Nevertheless, I wish there was a live recording of it. I have to imagine “Changing Horses” presented an opportunity to jam onstage had to be a huge audience favorite at Fanny concerts.

    I’m not surprised about Nickey’s creative process. In her book, June indicated that Nickey’s songs were typically presented as a finished product. This indicates someone who finishes before they start and only requires a private space to give it life.

    It also seems Nickey had a fascination with accents. In that U.K. tea advertisement she is talking in a British accent or at least trying to do so.

    Anyhow, I’m looking forward to your interview with Bobbi Jo Hart in a fortnight. Needless to say, I am also looking forward to seeing “Fanny: The Right to Rock”.

    1. Hey Aaron! I do believe the voices in the tea commercial were dubbed in and not Fanny’s actual voices (I’ll let Alice confirm as my memory is less than reliable since my stroke), but I would not put it past Nickey to put on a British accent all the same. 🙂

      1. Hmmn!!! What would possess them to dub their voices? If they did that must have “tead” them off.

    2. Hi Aaron,
      Thank you, as always, for your comments. I’m so glad you’re enjoying our efforts!
      Best,
      Alice

  3. “Howdy, Pardners!!!”
    Well, that was a fun and fact filled episode! Loving these new #segravesegments !!! Any new info on Nickey is always fascinating to listen to. I felt very comfortable with her writing process; I did the same (and demoed the instruments) for a band I was in back in the day.

    Looking forward to the Bobbi Jo Hart interview… it’ll be close to *your* podcast Fannyversary!!!

    Best wishes and love always? Y’darn toot’n!!! ❤️?❤️?❤️

    1. Yep, this was a fun podcast to record! And I can never let cowboy references go by without making some sort of smart-ass comment. It’s the redneck blood in me. 🙂

    2. Hi Nigel,
      Byron’s neck may be “red,” (yes I read his comment), but there’s not much else that qualifies him as a “red-neck!” Ha!
      I’m glad you’re still enjoying the podcasts as much as we are making them, and Nickey DOES provide us with many, many “what ifs” and “I wonders.”
      Be well and stay safe!
      Alice

  5. Well howdy y’all!
    I really enjoyed the show today.Nice to hear about the mysterious Nickey.God bless her heart ( another southern colloqialism), I love June’s slide in A Person Like You and Changing Horses is an all out scorcher rollicking rocker.Was interesting to hear Segrave’s perspective on Nickey’s writing.Thanks for another Fannytastic Friday…

    2. Hi Guy,
      I know very well the southern saying of which you speak, but it usually included a “Bless his sweet little heart,” followed by a polite giggle!
      I’m glad you enjoyed Segrave’s segment. We’ll be including some from him ongoing!
      Best,
      Alice

  6. Can we talk for a moment about Jean’s hilarious impression of Nickey’s southern drawl singing? ???

    Nickey’s live performance of “Last Night I Had a Dream”, specifically the “Started out in a barnyard, ‘jutht’ about ‘thundown’…” section with the drawl, always amuses me, too. What a performer! Thanks to all for providing such a vivid picture of what Nickey (and working with her) was/is like.

    These tunes are both favorites of mine from their respective albums. The flavor that Nickey added to the group’s blend was priceless. Plus, she practically invented the diss track (“Borrowed Time”, “Changing Horses”, “Conversation with a Cop”). So cool.

    Also priceless, by the way, was June’s lead on both of these tracks. That slide work is tasty! Ditto Alice’s stereo-speaker-annihilating entrance and Jean’s rip-roaring vox on “Changing Horses”, and of course, Alice and Jean’s perfect work in the rhythm section. As always, the band came together “like buttah” on both tracks. I also have to give a shout-out to Perry for letting that raw sound shine when his mariachi band was out of town. ?

    Thanks for another wonderful episode, and for the name drop toward the end!
    ???

    P.S. That was the first “That’s what she said” joke that’s made me laugh in ages. Thanks, Alice! ?

    1. Hey Tim! I have always loved “Changing Horses” and it always blew out my car’s stereo speakers when I played it. Yeah, seems Richard Perry let the mariachi players have a day off now and then. Good thing, as it would have messed up a solid song otherwise. 🙂

    2. Hi Tim,
      You’re welcome for the laugh. I just don’t know WHAT got into me (she said quietly from a very safe distance)!
      I always appreciate reading your comments, and I thought I’d already answered…..right after the podcast aired, but I can’t seem to find them….oh, well! Your devotion to “keeping it true and kind.” is appreciated more than you know.
      Best,
      Alice

    2. I agree with you Stephen! I love the intro to “Changing Horses.” (I haven’t heard “Changing Hoses,” but I’ll check it out.) 😉

      Cheers and thanks for tuning in!

      All the best,
      Kristen

  8. Thanks, y’awl, for another top-notch informative and entertaining podcast. I’ve never been to the States, but I can just visualise life in L.A. at the turn of the 70s as if I was there, so vivid are your descriptions. It really is like dropping in on friends for a reminisce and a good laugh.

    One thing I’ve been intending to ask for some time: where did Jamie stay when the band was on tour? It must have been rather confusing for him, unless there was a very good friend to look after him.

    I think the piano intro to “Changing Horses” sounds a touch Gershwinesque as well as saloonish. And what does Nickey mean by “All right, Mama”? New mysteries spring Hydra-like from every enlightenment…

    That last note of June’s is wonderful, like the plug being pulled on a relationship. How was it achieved?

    “A Person Like You” is one of very few songs about Platonic friendship, and Nickey seems to be careful to avoid making it gender-specific; it really could be anyone singing to anyone else. As Alice suggests, it could refer to alternative sexuality, or indeed to asexuality, something the average mother definitely doesn’t understand. Heck, she’s a mother; why should she? I’ve lost count of the number of times Ace Dave has been told,”Oh well, some day you’ll meet someone…” No, Mum, it doesn’t work like that, and trying to explain it is a waste of time! Platonic friendship is good and true, and all power to Nickey for pointing it out. Perhaps Nickey adopted the cliché deep Sayuth accent to make light of what is actually a serious point.

    “Person” scans well (as do all words in every Fanny lyric, another reason to love y’all), and it helps to make this a song to which anyone can relate. A genius among genii. (If that’s not the correct plural, it should be…)

    Looking forward, as ever, to the next cornucopia.

    1. I overlooked something obvious; a southern American accent is the only one in which “understand” rhymes with “friend”!

    2. Hi Dave!

      Thanks for the comments – great feedback and insights!

      In terms of where Jamie stayed when the band was on tour: That’s a great question. We’ll ask Segrave for you. #SegraveSegments.

      I agree with you that “Person” scans well – and it truly does add to the mystery of the “relationship.” As I said on the podcast, I never heard it as a song about a boyfriend.

      By the way, that’s Alice saying, “Alright mama,” not Nickey. Alice’s Mason City, Iowa twang is perfect for it! We’ll have to #AskAlice how this came about.

      Thanks again for tuning in and joining the conversation! Love hearing from you.

      Sincerely,
      Kristen

    3. HI Dave,
      I’m sure that Jamie stayed with Alan, the third roommate in the Nickey/Segrave household. He’s the friend that Nickey asked to stay with when she first came to L.A. They’d both gone to the same high school in MD, and Alan gave her a safe place to land.
      As Kristen as told you, the “alright, Mama” came from me, and I cannot, for the life of me, remember why I said it!
      And, last but not least (AT ALL), “No, Mum, it doesn’t work like that” is spot on!
      Best,
      Alice

  9. Another great show!
    On “A Person Like You” I think Nickey sang it like that because, how the hell else would you sing it?? We’re all super excited about the movie! Can’t wait to see it.
    Peace,
    E

    1. Hi Eric!

      I agree with your assessment: How the hell else would you sing it? 😉

      I can’t wait to see the documentary too!

      Cheers,
      Kristen

    2. Hi Eric,
      The lyrics DO tend to dictate just exactly how the song should be sung, and Nickey was not only a genius on keyboards and with her song writing, she also knew how to “present” a song as a performance.
      I’ve seen the film, but I’m not talking……
      Best,
      Alice

  10. One thing about FANNY and especially the podcast…there is enough musical material and stories to last for years on end. I can’t think of any more superlatives…oh and I have a cowboy hat…a nice one…but I can’t find, pards.

    1. You can leave your hat on, pilgrim… if you can find it! Yeah, I have one around here too, but since I moved a couple years ago, it’s been hiding in a box somewhere.

      1. I will wait to see this picture….patiently at first, but…….
        Alice

    2. Steve,
      I do not, nor have I ever (well, since childhood), had a cowboy hat. I only where a hat of ANY kind when trying to protect my skull from the Arizona BLAZING sun!
      If you find yours, a picture is required, ya know, or we’ll have to string you up or run you out of town, at the very least!
      Ha!
      Alice

  11. Nickey was – and still is I’m sure – well over the genius border.
    A true wordsmith, with a love of language, and an innovative tunesmith. She was wide open to musical influences but would be totally judgemental and down on anything that didn’t turn her on or ‘float her boat’.
    If any of you do speak to her again please say ‘hi’ from me xx

    1. Greetings, Pete! Recognize your name from your posting of some recordings of Nickey’s band, and I truly enjoyed those tunes, so thank you for that.

      Nickey is still sharp and as judgmental as you would expect, and I have mentioned you to her, so I have said “Hi!” for you.

      1. Cheers Byron
        What you said in this podcast about Nickey being proud of Fanny is absolutely right.
        Her mission on earth was / is to give us great music and that certainly happened whilst she was with Fanny.

    2. Pete,
      Byron is the only one who still speaks with Nickey, and I’m sure he’d be happy to send her your regards. Everything you say about Nickey is spot on true!
      Best,
      Alice

    2. Really? I KNEW it! The way she used to look at me when she sang it…..Well, she and I DID have a bond, and I cherish that!
      Alice

  13. These podcasts are so informative to us fans. So, thanks for putting them together and sharing Fanny’s history to all.
    It is my opinion that Fanny deserves to be recognized in the ultimate fashion by the music industry by being nominated and hopefully inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What are your thoughts on that? And a side note to that is,
    are you aware that “The Go Go’s” are one of the nominees for induction this year?

    1. Howdy, Roger! Thanks for listening! As a fan myself, I always find something new in every podcast, so it great to have these stories told for all to hear. And yes, we saw that the Go-Go’s were nominated for the RNRHOF this year, and I’ll just leave it at that as I think we’re all disappointed at Fanny not being at least nominated.

    2. Hi Roger,
      Yes, we’re well aware the Go-Go’s are one of the nominees. They sold a hell of a lot more records than Fanny did, and when I worked with them, they were WELL aware that Fanny had opened the door for them.
      Thanks,
      Alice

  14. Wow! Fab podcast! I just discovered this and love it. And so cool to hear Alice on the show, my favorite band member! Yeah Alice! I just ordered a bunch ‘o stuff from the store and can’t wait to get the package! As a young lad, I was a Raspberries fanatic and saw a late night show where Raspberries and Fanny were both on it! I thought Fanny were fantastic! Lost track after the band broke up. But I’m so happy to be rediscovering the magic. Thank you also to Kristen and Byron for your stellar work on this show. Best of luck with the new documentary. I look forward to seeing it. Love ya Alice, you’re wonderful!! All the best, David
    aka: Matthew Street YouTube
    PS) my son and his family lived in Dubuque for 2 years. I was there often and every time I drove over the bridge into East Dubuque IL…I thought of you playing gigs there!

    1. Hi David aka Matthew Street YouTube!!

      Apologies for the delay in replying to you. SO happy to hear you’re enjoying the podcasts! Also happy to hear you got “stuff” from the store! I will check out your YouTube page, but for now, welcome to the Fanny family!

      Cheers,
      Kristen

  15. Thanks for the shout out folks!

    Loving getting to know all about Fanny from these great informative and funny podcasts.

    The great shame is of course, as a huge music fan, that Fanny wasn’t on my radar growing up despite all the contemporary artists that they mixed with, played with and were supported by, were household names.

    Finally putting all that right! WE SHALL ALL KNOW THE NAME FANNY!!!!!!

  16. Great podcast! Hey Alice, being a bass player myself, wondering how you worked out drum parts? did you work them out with Jean or the entire band? or did it depend on the song?

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