Episode 37! In this episode, we continue hashtag #JuneJams with part two of our discussion of June Millington’s songs and guitar playing. We chat about the songs “Bitter Wine” from Fanny’s first album, and “Hey Bulldog” & “Ain’t That Peculiar” from Fanny Hill. Plus some other delicious things along the way!
She gave women permission to play electric guitar. I mean, I didn’t take up the electric guitar ’til…the mid-’70s, so I was, like, 24, and I just wanted to play like June. But I was never, never the kind of electric guitar player that June was, but I remember playing with Cris [Williamson], doing solos with June…that was like something [that] I never thought would happen – that we’d play electric guitars together. She‘s taught so many women – gave so many women permission, and the strength to be balls out guitar players! And what she’s doing now with young women is phenomenal. I rave about IMA [IMA.org] all the time. When people want to know, “Well, how can we learn,” and I tell them to go to IMA. Go study under June Millington, because she is the master. To me, she’s the one. I talk about her all the time in interviews.”
-Tret Fure in a 2021 Zoom interview with Dr. K
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe to the Podcast RSS
Thank you for the belated birthday wishes.
It is fitting that the second half of the #JuneJams dropped today because in less than 12 hours from now I will be meeting June at the New England premiere of “Fanny: The Right to Rock” here in Cambridge, MA.
Indeed, as with many people, it was June’s slide guitar on the Beat Club rendition of “Ain’t That Peculiar” that Fannyfied me. The sight & sound of a woman, and an Asian woman at that, playing slide guitar turned my life upside down. I thought I knew 1970’s music & June opened up a whole new world.
Needless to say, I look forward to conveying my appreciation to June in person. I can only hope I won’t be told to STFU by two Fanny members in the space of 12 hours.
With that I shall now be quiet.
Well, I’ve been told to #shutthefuckup many times, so welcome to the club. 🙂
I’m glad you’re getting to meet June. Watching her play in-person is more than memorable.
Hey Aaron,
I’m very excited for you to meet June! What a moment this must be for you, considering how much her musicianship means to you. Wonderful!
I also sincerely hope you know that for Alice to say #STFU to someone it’s a true badge of honor, because it means you’re a part of the Fanny family. Happy belated Birthday too!
And please don’t ever be quiet…we love your comments, puns, and writings about all-things Fanny!
Cheers and have fun at the screening!
Kristen
Hi Aaron,
LOL! I highly doubt June would ever tell you to STFU, UNLESS you were telling her to turn her amp down from 11 to 3!
So, that’s just one Fanny member….You needn’t worry!
Best,
Alice
I, too, cherish the haunting Bitter Wine as a highlight of that first album. Interesting choice, in that it’s not really a guitar song.
A question that perhaps June could answer: what is that instrument that replaces the acoustic guitar on the right channel during the “Bitter wine, the taste of things that cannot be” section? It sounds like a hammered dulcimer, or the Persian santoor perhaps? Whatever it is, the texture really enhances the sophisticated mood of the track.
Roman,
I’ll be sure to ask June when I next get the chance. For now, if you have any questions or comments for #AskAlice, please let us know. The next two episode will be devoted to her.
Cheers,
Kristen
Thanks, Kristen. I have to say, I find Alice’s playing with Fanny to be so musical and creative. Can’t wait to hear her episodes!
Roman – I’d love to hear more from you about Alice’s “musical and creative” playing. (I agree.) Would you be willing to share a couple of songs (or parts) that are particular intriguing to you? Let us know. I’m excited for her episodes too!
One example is What Kind of Lover. The fills she does throughout are so interesting, varied, and tasteful. In general, I find many of her drum parts to be beautiful little mini-arrangements in themselves.
Thank you, Roman! That’s a high compliment!
Alice
Hi Roman,
I really don’t have a clue to answer you, but I have to tell you that I appreciate your ears and dedication to the sound to pick that instrument out!
Best,
Alice
Listening again, I feel that part in Bitter Wine must be guitar, but I can’t figure out why it sounds the way it does. Some combination of EQ and compression, maybe?
Hi Roman,
Maybe just that special sound of a 12 string?
Alice
Roman,
Might it have just been a 12 string with effects? I’m not sure, but I know June is crazy busy, and I don’t know when we’ll get an answer from her. She’ll have to play it in her studio and let us know….
We’ll see?
Alice
Hi everyone – what I love about these features are the absolute joy in the voices of the musicians as they talk about their songs of choice – it comes across loud and clear on the posco! To get the inside scoop on these songs makes me appreciate them even more….I have to admit that it was the ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’ performance on The Beat Club that put a HUGE smile on my face the first time I heard it – and was what made me share it with friends, etc. Upon further review – all of the songs are golden and what I’d like to #AskAlice is about the drum part in ‘Special Care.’ I think she has mentioned that she feels it is simple or pedestrian (please forgive my in-exact quote) BUT when I listen to it, I always, always, always get goosebumps! It totally ends the song on a raucous note. It’s just perfect! There is something sonically beautiful that just feels great in my ears. (Alice – could you describe what you’d have liked to have played there?)
P.S. It may also be the interplay between all band members. A musician friend of mine commented about how ‘in the pocket’ you all were.
Hi Jason,
Thank you for giving me some food for thought for the upcoming challenge I face. I’m not really comfortable talking about myself, but as long as I have Kristen and Byron holding me up, I’ll be okay.
Thanks again, and my best to you!
Alice
RA!!!! TOTALLY BRILLIANT AS ALWAYS!!!! It makes me so happy to see the reach FANNY are finally getting!!!
Love the song choices too! JUNE IS JUST LEGEND!!!
When I was twelve, thirteen and first got in to Fanny, they were my super heroines, I was always flabbergasted everyone wasnt in to them like I was!! I couldn’t even understand it, the fact they were half Oriental shake and baked like me just made it so much more personal!!! My whole family loved them, then and now!! I was absolutley HEARTBROKEN when they were no more!!!
ALICE, for me, the way you play on”Catfever” is brilliant, locked in with Jean’s bass, fabulous!!!!
Blind Alley of course!!!!! And the heaviness of the drums on I’m satisfied…fucking words escape me!! Even now! That heavy thud to bring in the verse..just wow!!!!
Thanks Alice, Kristen and Byron…FANNY TIME IS ANYTIME!! THE TIME IS NOW!!!
LONG LIVE FANNY!!!!
RA!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE? till the next one!!!!
BRING ON THE RAINBOW!
????
Thanks Cherry,
I know you’ve been there for us forEVER, and appreciate it so much. I’m not sure which songs I’ll be choosing yet. Byron nailed it when he told me I couldn’t pick them all……Damn!
Stay tuned!
Alice
YAY! Kristen turned 21 (about goddamn time, too). Once you read this you will say to me “shut the fuck up, Steve”. I have four younger sisters that lived through the early 70s and all came out of it very independent. I entered a career with the USPS in 1973 when women were first allowed(!!!) to work there. They were not treated well at all. Now Roe is under attack by far right jack asses. Now then, taking a Beatles song, and one of John’s classics no one ever heard of, and making it FANNY’s own was remarkable. No band has EVER done this with “Bulldog”. FANNY did it. June never gets the credit great guitarists get. She stayed true to George’s lead but then took off well beyond that. Who does that? Who adds more lyrics to songs of The Beatles? FANNY did it! FANNY fucking did it!!! Jeeeeeez Alice…again with the mariachi band? Still embarrassed about it after all this time? Therapy not working for you? Hmmmm? BTW Kristen, strong arming June to present “Peculiar” as a favorite gets my absolute respect. No one plays slide like June. Nobody…period! Yeah…mind blown indeed. I play slide but no where close to how June plays. Agreed with June’s vocals. She sings like she plays…just like Jean sings as her soul blasts all over the place. No one can belt it out like Jean. Sorry Nickey but Jean wins by a quarter note. Moving on to Alice next time…how the hell do you even attempt to pick any song over the other. I’ll get on Twitter and suggest nothing because it would be a dis service to the others…therefore I pick…da da DA!!! “Solid Gold”. No one plays drunk like Alice. No then “Shut the fuck up Steve!”
Okay, you’ve got me rolling on the floor, Steve, and I thank you for that! As Kristen has said, it’s a badge of honor to be told to STFU, and I just can’t say it to you…….yet!
LOL! Alice
Ohhhhh Yeahhhh!
“Bitter Wine”…I couldn’t think of anything to say about it because it’s just simply so beautiful in so many ways. FANNY’s harmonies have never been given the proper accolades therefore I shall give them now……,..FAN(fucking)TASTIC!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent posco!!!June’s guitar playing is phenomenal.The slide intro to Ain’t That Peculiar is what hooked me immediately when I first heard of Fanny via the Beat Club footage.I was in shock as I had heard Stephen Stills’ original version and June’s version is WAY BETTER!No offense Stephen…I look forward to #38.Thanks!
m y mistake duh…That was originally done by Marvin Gaye…
Hi Guy.
I knew you’d catch that! LOL! But on Special Care, I love June’s lead more than the original. but then I’m biased, and she did pay homage in keeping her lead really close to that original. Only June!
Best,
Alice
That’s okay, Guy. We all do it, at one time or another….
Alice
GREAT episode!
One thing keeps popping in to my head these days any time I hear “Bitter Wine”…..this song was written by someone in their late teens/early twenties!
(Having found out since the podcast began that “Nickey Barclay” was a made-up persona, and that her birthday was actually in October, va. April, I don’t know if she really was born in ‘51 or not!), but whatever the case, the song showcases the true genius of Nickey!
As for “Hey Bulldog”, the fact that the Beatles….THE BEATLES!…..would allow the band to add to one of their songs speaks to the level of how highly regarded the group was by other acts!
And “Ain’t That Peculiar”…..Yes, June is at the forefront, but very few other cuts in the Fanny catalogue SO perfectly exemplify the WHOLE band firing on all cylinders! Exquisite….and so, SO hot!!!
Nuff said!!!?
Thanks, Jef,
I’m just so happy you’re still listening and are triggered enough to jot down your thoughts. Know I appreciate it so much, my friend!
Love,
Alice
Greetings from balmy NYC –
“Unfortunately neither of our producers captured that Fanny raw energy and sound”
While I agree with Alice there are a few tunes would say that retain power of a live
performance. If wrong am really sorry that we have so little footage of Fanny live.
https://youtu.be/2ZNUrpok8wQ
https://youtu.be/Wt3_BQtCuOw
https://youtu.be/b49DXhMyPw0 Love to see this one if only to take joy in watching
Jean’s spider fingers weave a web over the fret board.
Pertaining to the first time hearing/seeing ‘Ain’t That Peculiar”- After the percussive intro
June CUTS in with that slide. My spine stiffened. Did a double take at the screen.
Marvel at the little things in June’s accompaniment: the 4 note fill just prior to the outro
of the unison singing of ain’t that peculiar.
Okay, Paul,
I’ve pulled up all three of your links, and I agree. Watching Jean on “Shade Me” would be a treat!
Best,
Alice