Episode 28! In this episode we travel back in time to May and June of 1973 when Fanny was on tour in the UK in support of their fourth album “Mothers Pride.” Alice shares some stories of the tour, plus Kristen tells us how her father, Fanny’s manager, was able to acquire the funds to take the band on tour, and we play “Is It Really You” and “I’m Satisfied,” both from “Mothers Pride”.
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First of all, a big thank you to Alice for debriefing & making us abreast of the inside story to Fanny’s 1973 U.K. Tour. I hope other Fanny tours will be discussed in greater depth in future episodes.
Thank you also to Kristen for sharing her father’s words about the aforementioned tour as well as her cherished memory with Roger Daltrey. (Was Fanny opening for him as he had just released his first solo album? Or was he a UFO before it was fashionable?)
And thank you to Byron for being Byron. Didn’t want to leave you out.
That Mother’s Pride photo of the band would have made for a much better album cover. All of which goes to show that Warner Bros/Reprise was so busy getting behind Fanny that they couldn’t hear what was right in front of them. I’ve said it before & I’ll keep saying it. Had Warner Bros/Reprise released a Fanny live album circa 1972-1973 there would have been no need to revivify Fanny.
As to Episode 29, when I heard “Summer Song” I couldn’t help but think the theme would be summer as we are in the month of June. But when I hear the lyric “picture show” it makes me think there will be a further discussion of “Fanny: The Right to Rock” with its impending U.S. debut. We’ll see in a fortnight.
Until then please take care.
Hi Aaron,
Start with a good pun, eh? I will continue to do my best to share Fanny stories….if I can remember them all! Our UK tours were FAR more memorable than those here in the states, and we just might find a few more tidbits to share.
I have to disagree with you, and not even a little bit. I disagree 100% that the Mother’s Pride picture we spoke of would have made a better LP cover. I don’t like the photo at all, and as a matter of fact, I am quite capable of expressing that same scowl when I see the pic. I LOVED the Mother’s Pride “Baby Doll” cover, and still do.
Episode 29 will most definitely be a departure for us…..and that’s my story. I am happy that you’re enjoying the podcasts!
Best,
Alice
Alice,
You might strongly dislike the pic, but it was so rock ‘n roll, raw ad edgy. Especially your scowl & Nickey’s grimace (June & Jean seem rather content looking off to the side). I think you & Nickey could intimidate an entire NFL defensive line with one look. With that said you are well within your rights as an original Fanny member to be partial to the Baby Doll cover.
“Pound notes, polished coins and plasters”
Hi guys! Another great episode! Always a joy to hear “on the road” stories. 33 shows in 36 days? No band today (pandemics aside) would cope with a schedule like that!!!
I agree with Byron on how “Mothers Pride” gets better with every listen. The slow burner for me, it is now peppered with some of my favourite Fanny tracks.
Also, I agree with how the band were stymied by the label wanting to get them into sexier stage clothes. As if trying to get your message over to a (possibly skeptical) audience isn’t hard enough as a “female band”, to then be seen as “sexed up” figures compromises your musical credibility. It was so unfair. The music spoke for itself… loud, proud and f’ing REAL! This is why the U.K. loved Fanny; they were genuine. The U.K. adored Jimi for the same reasons, whilst US audiences remained unsure. That changed after Monterey… but I digress.
Kristen’s clues… for Ep. 29… I think hints are being dropped about the movie… maybe an episode going deeper into Fanny’s live forays?
I never see the wood for the trees!
Love, light and peace everyone…
Oh, and Roger Daltrey??!! Two of my
fave worlds have collided!!!
#askalice did Fanny every play on the same bill as The Who?
That would’ve been a insanely good night out!
❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️
Ah Nigel,
The three “P’s!” Thank you for the chuckle! I’m reminded of “The Music Man,” and the song where the salesman is telling the townsfolk about having “trouble, trouble, trouble…with a capital “T” that rhymes with “P” and that stands for “POOL!” – LOVED that scene from the play and the movie..
Mother’s Pride has always been in the top 2 of my favorite Fanny LP’s, but now, with the podcast, I truly can’t say I have a favorite. That said, the quality of the songs and the tones on Mother’s Pride are a whole other world away from the first three albums, and I like it because of that….and more.
I’d also have to say that while none of us liked being “sexed up,” we were also smart enough to realize that those outfits might have taken us to another level of view for the fans; maybe we’d appear more like rock stars….I don’t know. I do know that they didn’t work, and I think that was one of the last straws for June, although I don’t remember her hating them back in the day as much as she does now.
Yes, love, light and peace, if only it could be!
Alice
Yet another great show!Loved every minute.Alice never fails to get me laughing numerous times.Thanks!
Hi Guy,
I’m glad I can make you laugh at least a couple of times in each podcast. I find myself laughing at/with myself throughout! Glad you’re enjoying!
Best,
Alice
Enjoying the ride!!! TRULY having a blast!!!!!!
Hi Colleen,
I’m glad you’re on the same trip and enjoying the ride with us! That you’re having a blast is icing….
Best,
Alice
I really enjoyed that
Hi Ray,
So glad you liked it!
Alice
Hey Alice, paratittles must’ve been tough in that coin top!? Another great show. I think i figured out the clues. You guys are doing the next podcast from the West Wind Solano movie premier. Cool! Wish I could be there. Can’t wait for next show.
Peace
E
Love the touring reminiscences. That ’73 tour sounds punishing. London to Plymouth to Newcastle in three days is some serious travelling, especially having to prepare and play a set every evening. Remember, 100 miles is a long way in the UK, and 100 years is a long time in the USA! We had twisty, hilly , narrow roads, and still do off the motorways, many of which were still under construction back then.
The doorman at Ascot would have seen it all before, I can assure you. In the posh horse racing capital of England, upmarket ladies of the night descend on the hotels in droves at certain times of year… Grins. Talking of horses, the photo of Fanny in the street with the carthorse is delightful. Alice and Nickey, you look really happy in that situation, and the light suggests it wasn’t too cold that day. Was that near the Warner Music office in Kensington? I was working in London at the time, and would have loved to see you there.
Kristen, you’re right about Wings covering “Is It Really You?”. The song’s chord sequence has always reminded me of “Live and Let Die”, recorded around the same time.
I remember reading a newspaper interview at the start of that tour; I think it was Alice talking about the glam costumes, and trying to sound enthusiastic. I was horrified at what I saw as an inept cheapening of the band’s image, a desperate ploy. Yes, glam rock was in, but Fanny was more in the Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin bracket.
The story of The Liverbirds, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1QqLCpXMIw , is similar in some ways to that of Fanny. Their stage outfits were decidedly unisex, with shirts and belted flares, at a time when most female singers were still wearing flouncy dresses. The no-nonsense look went down well, especially with their German fans. The band had a tentative offer to tour in the US, but they turned it down in horror when their manager told them they would be expected to play topless in Las Vegas! He was probably trying to keep them in Germany…
The Svelts wore uniform dresses around that time, the mid-to-late 60s. The Liverbirds’ drummer, Sylvia, had to give up playing because a doctor warned her she might well lose the baby she was carrying. The short documentary is well worth a watch, with the familiar ingredients of stress, addiction and tragedy. The part about would-be nun Mary rolling joints for Jimi Hendrix is priceless, lol.
“The English fans ‘got it’. ” And WHAT about us Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish fans? Did we not get it, then? Well? Duh. I know, Alice, a slip of the Iowan tongue, but you can’t be too careful about British national sensibilities!
Regarding shyness, when I saw you rehearsing in Birmingham in ’71, I don’t remember if I said anything to you, but I do remember feeling overawed. I’m not worthy! You were very busy, and it might have been inconsiderate to disturb you. Besides, what could I possibly have said, apart from “You’re one of the best bands I’ve heard.” I certainly clapped and got a nod of thanks. Fanny were and are good people.
Welsh Dave.
Hi,i always enjoy the podcasts but this was one of the best. Great to hear your humorous recollections but also sad to hear about the difficulties you encountered.
In 1973 i was ten years old and knew nothing about the band,although when you played the Town Hall in Birmingham you were 5 miles from my house. I think i was a fan even then though,judging by my consumption of Mothers Pride bread?. And thanks for playing I’m Satisfied, what a great chunk of rock that is. Until next time,
Neil
Another great podcast, especially the 73 UK tour stories.
Any memories of 72 UK, as that’s the one I saw?
Hi everyone,
I work for a small, private/independent school that focuses on remediating learning disabilities. Ours really is a revolutionary approach as many feel that learning disabilities are for life – we politely disagree.
Last night was our Year End Celebration and I have the honour of preparing a year-in-review picture slideshow. As soon as I received my official Fanny-pack of CDs and gave them a listen, I knew that this year’s slideshow was going to be set to The First Time off of Fanny Hill.
I love the idea of being able to recapture who you are or embodying the spirit of the phrase ‘ It’s never too late to be what you might have been.’ This song really resonated with me (even without being in Tinsel Town) particularly because of the lyrics:
For the first time in a long time
I can see my future clear
AND
For the first time in a ling time
I can raise my face and smile
While students typically stay with us for anywhere from 2 – 4 years, they leave us ready to transition back into a regular school setting where they no longer struggle with learning, with many, many more doors opened than prior to starting at Arrowsmith. Leaving is hard as they have embraced the warm, caring environment we have created, but our students young and old are ready to move on to their new schools with new capabilities and with a smile on their faces.
(I was also able to play a Fanny song for all of the students, staff members, and families!)
Thanks for being part of Arrowsmith School’s 2020-2021 Year End Celebration!
Greetings from balmy NYC –
I’ve a question. Has Fanny ever been on the bill with J Geils Band. That was when J Geils was at their peak. Before they lost their mind and their balls. That would have been a dream combo of low-down, sweaty funky RnR.
https://youtu.be/Mq79uJ58eAM
Greetings. Thanks for another wonderful time capsule.
I’m wondering about “Rock en Stock”: The “French TV” video is from 1972–is there video from 1973?
As for Fanny’s stage clothing: When I saw the Beat Club video, it struck me that the clothes you all were wearing were things that the girls in my high school were wearing at that time. All the male bands I liked at that time wore “normal” clothes; it’s a shame that just being a great band wasn’t enough for a female band.
(Note to Dr. K.: “Fanny were” is British usage–plural verb with collective noun.)
Saw you at Bracknell Sports Centre June ‘73. I was 15 and it was the most exciting night of my life. I tried to get to see you after – scared as I was because I was just a boy and you were real women. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. I missed the last bus. Had to walk all the way home to Windsor. Got home around 4 in the morning and was “grounded” for a week. Happy days.
Well, I’m very jealous you actually got see the band live! And I’m sorry you missed the bus and were grounded for it. Thanks for sharing your story!