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Get Behind Fanny Podcast

Godmothers of Women Who Rock

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Get Behind Fanny: Episode 36

Episode 36! In this episode, we continue to shake things up by continuing our hashtag series. This episode is #JuneJams as we cover Fanny’s guitarist June Millington! We asked June what three songs she wanted to feature and she picked “Place In The Country,” “Badge,” and “It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin'”. We’ll continue with more of #JuneJams in episode 37 so ask any questions for June using the hashtag #JuneJams!

And don’t forget to look below for Fanny roadie Segrave’s email about June’s amp set-up back in the day.

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From Segrave, Fanny’s Roadie:

I don’t remember June ever using anything but a Wah-wah pedal. She also had a Fender Twin reverb amp with JBL speakers. For the guitar through the Leslie [speaker], I built an adapter with a pedal having two buttons. One disconnected the speakers in the amp (actually it substituted a very high power resistor for the speakers, as simply disconnecting them would have damaged the amp). At the same time, it disconnected one of Nickey’s two Leslies from the B3 [Hammond organ] and substituted a tapped off signal from the resistor to feed the Leslie (Leslies have their own amplifiers built in, a B3 doesn’t actually have any power output at all). The other button changed the rotation rate of the Leslie when it was switched to June’s amp instead of the B3. So in effect, the B3 had one cable going directly to the Leslie just behind Nickey (we put it on a flight case to bring the sound closer to ear level). The other Leslie cable from the B3 went to my adapter. June’s speakers were not plugged into her amp; the speakers and the amp were both plugged into my adapter. Then there was a third Leslie cable from the adapter to the Leslie on June’s side of the stage.

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35 comments

  1. Let me begin on a personal note. There’s another UFO who had a September birthday – yours truly.

    I liked the change in arrangement for this posco presenting the interview, er, conversation with June in its entirety before presenting “Place in The Country”, “Badge” & “It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin” in their entirety. I especially adored the inclusion of June’s guitar solo from the Bijou version of “It Takes a Lotta Good Lovin'”.

    I’m glad you explored the question of whether Richard Perry would have let the band loose had he seen you live more often. From where I sit, I don’t think he would have. After all, Fanny came to his attention after Norma Goldstein Kemper saw you perform live, not through a demo tape. When I listen to some of the other records he produced (especially for Nilsson) his sound is very refined & structured. I think he was set in his ways. It may have worked to Nilsson’s benefit but this is not the case with Fanny though the studio versions of the three songs spotlighted today are quite good.

    Indeed, it was June letting loose on slide guitar on the Beat Club version of “Ain’t That Peculiar” which drew me to Fanny in the first place. At the risk of sounding like a broken record had Reprise released a live Fanny album circa ’72-73 I believe Fanny would have been seen & heard in a different light & its members would have gained a confidence they did not have at the time.

    With that, I look forward to June Jams, Part Deux in a fortnight.

    1. Aaron – Please forgive me for not including you in the Birthday Bakery shout out list! We will celebrate you on the next episode for sure! So glad you enjoyed the posco, and the change up in format. Cheers and Happy Birthday! Sincerely, Kristen

    2. Hi Aaron,
      Norma didn’t bring us to Richard’s attention (just to keep things straight). There’s been a buzz about us around L.A., and he sent her to check us out. And as much as you wish Reprise had released a live album, we can’t go back and change the course of time. We’ll just have to satisfied with the live recordings we do have, right? Somehow, that’s got to be enough!
      Happy Belated Birthday!
      Alice

      1. Thank you for keeping me on the straight & narrow regarding how Fanny (nee Wild Honey) got signed by Reprise.

        I’ll get off my Fanny live album soapbox. But you do realize Fanny keeps us wanting more.

  4. RA!!! Another classic!!!! So great to take these journeys with you and hear how you all attacked the songs, regardless of insecurities, which as we now can hear, those insecurities were baseless!!!!!! Keep em coming they are all a total JOY!!!
    As always love LOVE LOVE!!!!
    BRING ON THE RAINBOW!
    ????

    1. Thanks, Cherry,
      We’re having so much fun, none of us see and end in sight…….
      Lovin’ that rainbow!
      Alice

    1. Thank you, Cherry! The 14 year old kid in me who discovered Fanny’s music back in September of 1971 is still amazed at how lucky I am to, one, have Fanny’s music in my life, and two, to interact with the group as I do. That 14 year old fan is still star-struck to this day.

  7. Just a quick FYI: Isaac Hayes was the composer and artist for “Hot Buttered Soul.” But I digress… I enjoyed this episode. Thanks for keepin’ on… it’s cheers to the ears and a rewind for the mind.

    1. Hi Bob,

      Yes, Byron made that clarification on the podcast after we played June’s interview in its entirety. Thank you though! So glad you enjoyed the episode, and I love “it’s cheers to the ears and a rewind for the mind.” Did you make that up?

      Cheers,
      Kristen

  8. Just my humble opinion, but I think It would be cool to play a clip of the songs as you’re talking about them to give listeners an immediate connection to the great info you’re discussing.

    1. Hi Nina,

      Thanks for the suggestion! As you may have heard in the set up to this particular episode, we decided to do things a bit differently, because we wanted to play June’s interview in its entirety. Typically throughout the last year plus on the podcast, we’ve done exactly this: Play a clip of the song(s) as we’re discussing them and/or diving into the history of the band.

      Cheers,
      Kristen

  9. I love all of Fanny’s songs, but I just want to say, Place In The Country is just brilliant. I love you all, love the podcast, so happy about the renewal of interest in Fanny. I just so wish Nicky could/would be a part of it, that’s the only little bit of a downer about the whole wonderful thing.

    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      First of all, Happy Fannyversary! Second, I agree about Nickey. However, what gives me joy is being able to listen to and discuss her music, and to make sure she’s never forgotten or downplayed in the historical record. To me, she was and remains and musical genius.

      Cheers,
      Kristen

    2. Hi Elizabeth,

      I couldn’t agree more. I miss Nickey SO much! As we explore Fanny through 2021 ears and eyes, I’d love for her to know how much we love and respect her….and then, just start to find the right adjectives for her brilliance……I’m at a loss for words!
      Best,
      Alice

  10. This is so great. And in great timing. Alice and June here are so well versed. And yeah…Happy Birthday Byron! I love these women in music ways, word ways and friendship ways. And June thank you for including me love.

  11. An outstanding podcast this time around – Kristen you and June melted in conversation – loved the extra clip at the end that Byron prepared – so nice to really hone in on June’s playing – And – I did not know that June sang the second verse of “It takes a lotta good lovin” – I went back and listened again – Jean and June sound so much alike in the recording! The sisters had it going on! All three songs are my favorite! Ok who am I kidding – all songs by Fanny are my favorite! Lol Looking forward to another posco – Thanks Kristen, Alice and Byron for continuing to entertain with reckless abandon!

    1. What????? Melanie….. “reckless abandon..” moi?
      Thanks for that final chuckle and your sweet note!
      Best,
      Alice

  12. June almost word for word what I, myself, thought about FANNY’S rendition of Badge. She is also spot on about the live version. It sends shivers up my spine every time I hear the song. I think she stayed true to Clapton’s lead…with that exceptional touch of June. WOW, that woman can play guitar like no one. Her singing gets underrated, I think but both her and Jeanne have very soulful voices. OH screw it…they ALL have soulful voices. June has just the right amount of vibrato action in her voice. A side note: Alice’s drumming on Badge is beyond reproach. She must have felt like taking a nap after all that action. Again, Alice’s drumming is underrated…right Ringo? Right, Keith? Right, Ginger? OK, one more thing…FANNY’S harmonizing is also not mentioned nearly enough. I’m a big harmony guy when it comes to good rock music. So much of rock music is tied to the guitar that the harmonies get over looked. I’m listening to Badge right now! I never thought about it until June mentioned it, that a woman singing this song makes sense. I get it now, listening to it as I write. Ooooooo bay is right! Yeah, tight? FANNY was tight and polished and that was one of the things I loved when I first hear FANNY. The June interview was soooooo cool! OK , well my day is all mapped out now…FANNY FEST!!!

    1. Hi Steve,
      I’m glad you mentioned the harmonies. We did work hard on them, and (except for me being flat most of the time – no, don’t go there!!), we pulled them off live so well. I agree. The Fanny harmonies were a part of the magic of the Fanny sound!
      And, btw, “Badge” never wore me out. It was so much fun to play, that it energized me for the rest of the set!
      Thanks,
      Alice

      1. “Except for me being flat most of the time – no, don’t go there!!”
        Will go there!! Fanny was too professional to allow that.

  13. So many awesome podcasts, but for me personally, this episode 36 is my favorite. June’s conversation with Kristin, “was great”. The song trio after, again was a great idea. It let me fall into Fanny’s music in another way and dimension!
    Your insights, thoughts and comments just elevated the podcast even further!
    Byron’s tech wizardly clip of June’s guitar solo another notch higher! Segrave’s
    tech comments about June’s amp and guitar setups, another notch higher! And you guys willingness to go with your gut instincts about changing and adapting the podcast structure etc.! Just awesome! Damn good podcast!!!!!!

  14. Well… what a fantastic, nay FANNYTASTIC posco!
    I loved the subtle change of template!
    The conversation between June and Kristen flowed so naturally and with great confidence. Like Byron, I’m a total “gear head” and I love to hear info about guitars, technique and musicality, and having June talk so passionately is, frankly, nourishing.
    Byron’s “lift” of the live cut of “It Takes A Lot Of Good Lovin’” shows the real power, edge and fire in June’s playing. (Her tone is so close to Townshend’s Hiwatt/Les Paul Deluxe sound of 1973 onwards!)
    On a personal level, I loved the birthday bakery shout out; thank you so much! You all mean the world to me! This lovely series of “individual” spotlights just go to show how each member brought so much richness and colour to the Fanny banquet. What’s saddens me is that each member had doubts and insecurities about their musical skills… those with ears and a modicum of taste can safely say that they ALL had it in ACES!
    Bring on part deux!
    Love, light and peace to all of you sailing on this perfect posco ship!!! X

  16. Since we’re focussing on June’s guitar playing, could you guys sort something out? I could swear I read in her book — but I can’t find the reference now (was I hallucinating?) — that another guitarist did the fabulous, gnarly, distorted slide guitar in “I’m Satisfied”. No one else is credited on the cover, however, and she stresses elsewhere in the book how little she remembers of the sessions. So didn’t she or did she? Whoever did it, what a song!

  17. Just catching up with you guys after a busy couple of weeks! Great idea to include more of the interviews, looking forward to more from June in the next podcast. Kudos to Byron the mixmaster too for that clip highlighting Junes great guitar work.

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