gbfpodcast@getbehindfannypodcast.com

Get Behind Fanny Podcast

Godmothers of Women Who Rock

23 comments

  1. Another great episode…Thanks!I wish Nickey would be more actively involved in Fanny’s resurgence.Love that you included Conversation,which is my personal fave by Nickey.Keep up the good work Alice,Byron,and Kristen! Fanny rox!Crank that shit up!!

    2. Hi Guy!

      I’ve always loved Conversation With A Cop, and yes, I even “crank that shit up!” I LOVE Nickey’s songs!

      Best,
      Alice

  2. A terrific range of Nickey’s copious talents on show, here. Cat Fever and Conversation With a Cop are among my favourite songs of any band, period. The latter track really hit home this year, here in the UK. There was a national scandal recently when a young woman was cuffed and ‘arrested’ by an off-duty policeman and later murdered. A truly horrible story. She’d been stopped from walking home on the pretence of breaking COVID laws. I didn’t want to equate that shocking story to the song, but it’s hard to separate Nickey’s words with the reality of that woman’s situation. I’m pleased Byron was also able to reference the fact that Nickey’s ‘story’ remains very much in evidence at times on your side of the pond, also. It’s a truly remarkable tune and one that really resonates. And then we get to Cat Fever which is just an absolute delight. I think I posted somewhere recently that this tune could have been a co-write between Townshend and Elton John, it’s just a flurry of pure, pure joy.

    Hey, Nickey, know that you are loved! Stay safe, be happy

    1. It is a testament to Nickey’s songwriting talents that her lyrics hold up 50 years later, but it’s also a sad statement of both our countries as the story you mentioned are still common place amongst the headlines today instead of being a rarity.

      And yes, with Elton’s keyboard mastery and Townshend’s penchant for storytelling songs, “Cat Fever” could have been written by that team. You get the best of both in one musician with Nickey!

    2. Hi Jason,

      I remember that UK scandal, and how sad it made me (well, angry, too!), and Nickey’s lyrics are so right for that situation. I must say, though, that her lyrics were ALWAYS right for the situation. She was/is just pure brilliance!

      I listen to Cat Fever today, and I know I better be ready, because if you’re not, that song will leave you behind so fast you don’t even realize it’s happening. LOVE IT!

      So glad you’re enjoying the fun!

      Alice

  3. No better song to lead off with than, “Blind Alley”. It was that very moment “I Just Realized” again how damn much I love FANNY! I think I never appreciated Jean’s bass playing on “Cat Fever”. Now that I feel it after all these years “I’m Satisfied” On to other comments. “Regular Guy” was always one of my favorite Nickey songs. “Conversation With a Cop” is just such a well-written song. The story feels as real as it actually was. As has been the case ever since 1970 Nickey is one of the best songwriters of the era. She is an amazing player and self-taught to boot. That blows my mind. I’m self-taught and I play like shit. Moving along…Nickey could have written, played, and sang for ANY band in those years. I really never use the term that much but…genius is what Nickey was.

    1. Yeah, it is cliché to toss around the word genius, but it really does apply to Nickey’s talents. And I agree, “Blind Alley” is the perfect song to kick off a set of Nickey’s tunes… or any tunes for that matter! Thanks for listening!

  4. Another great posco! I love the banter on the show, but i liked the serious turn to just listen to Nickey’s songs. They are so good. Nickey is a tremendous talent as a writer, player and singer. Remarkable. I think she is one of the rare people who deserve the label “musical genius.” And I like Alice’s sweet tribute. I know Alice is Nickey’s good friend and honors and defends her in real life. You were fortunate to have each other in Fanny. We were fortunate, too. Thank you.
    Peace
    E

  5. kind of my reply to Eric’s post, I agree completely, Nickey is a tremendously talented musician and I love hearing the variety in her songs; but… since the first episode was mostly music, how about in the next episode we hear more stories, funny things, not funny things, whatever, since Nickey isn’t speaking for herself, I’d just love to hear what Alice, June, Jean have to say about their time with her

    1. Hey Elizabeth, I am hoping for some stories, too. I bet they will give some, but keep in mind that Alice is very mindful of Nickey’s privacy and respectful of her wishes, as a real friend should be. I think we all love and admire Nickey no matter what.
      Peace
      E

    2. Hi Elizabeth,

      We’ll see about Nickey stories. I’m not sure just yet how we’ll deal with it, and as Eric responded to you, I am tenacious when it comes to protecting her privacy, so telling “Nickey stories” may or may not happen. We do have AND love her music, and a lot of folks have written some beautiful words to her that we will be sharing.

      Best,
      Alice

  6. Wonderful episode! Can’t wait to hear what comes next in Episode 41. Truly enjoyed the entire set! When it’s Fanny, it’s easy to let the music do the talking!

    (As an aside – if Fanny had recorded a Christmas album, what songs would have been on it and how much would they have rocked?)

    1. I’m not sure what Christmas songs Fanny would have covered, but you can bet Nickey would have written a socially critical set of lyrics surrounding the commercialization of the sacred holiday.

      As an aside, I would have loved to hear Fanny cover Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as the guitar bits in the songs would have been great for June to showcase her slide guitar work again. Also, I’m sure Fanny would have rocked it a lot harder than Brenda Lee. 🙂

    2. Hi Jason,

      Thank you so much for your comment! I loved the entire set, too. It was such a treat to just sit and listen to it as we recorded the podcast.

      As for Christmas songs, I don’t think I’ve ever even thought about which holiday songs I’d want to cover. I do know that “Little Drummer Boy” wouldn’t be among them! LOL!

      Best,
      Alice

  7. Hearing all these tracks in a succession certainly makes an impression! I just wish one day Nickey would accept her fans’ admiration.
    A question for Byron (or anyone): Did you buy, or were you even aware of, Nickey’s solo album when it was released? I know it wasn’t a smash hit, but I’m curious if Fanny’s fanbase would have been there for her at the time.

    1. Hey, Roman! No, I was not aware of Nickey’s solo album when it was released. But in all fairness, the album was released as I was entering college and beginning my four year career of binge-drinking beer every weekend, so I was unaware of a LOT of things happening in the later part of the ’70s. From what I gather, most people were unaware of the album at the time, thus why it was a commercial flop.

      I bought a copy in the early 2000’s and, frankly, wasn’t all that impressed. It has it’s moments, but like most people, I was expecting some spark of Fanny’s rockers in her solo material, and it just wasn’t there. It’s not a bad album for sure, it’s just not one I pull out very often. I’m a huge Nickey fan, but I have to call it as I see it.

      Thanks for asking as well as your support of the band and the podcast!

      1. Hey Byron…binge drinking on weekends in college. You naughty, naughty boy. I never went to college, outside of radio school (yeah there was such a thing) and I would binge drink on weekends and sometimes weekdays. Who knows…I can’t remember. What I do remember is when I did suck a few down I always had FANNY on the turntable…full boar!!! A quick thought on Nickey. Yes I have her stuff too and like you say…it has its moments but she must have wandered away from her FANNY writing and into more…how do I say it…mellower stuff? Not what we were used to with FANNY Nickey. Still, it’s listenable.

    2. Hi Roman,

      Even I wasn’t that aware of Nickey’s solo album at the time, and I would have loved to support her by buying it and playing it for my friends.

      I do think that Nickey is aware and does accept her fans’ admiration, but I honor and respect her “retirement” from the music business, and will NEVER push it with her. It’s the only way I can show her my own love and admiration.

      Best,

      Alice

  8. As the beginning lyrics of a Moody Blues song goes, “Isn’t life strange? A turn of the page”! And so it goes with podcast 40. You three have done it again with a short Opus of Nickey’s work. When you listen, (volume up of course) you are throttled with musicianship, heartfelt energetic vocals and lyrics that transport you down different paths of life’s realities and dreams! What YOU are listening to, feeling and experiencing is TALENT! The enigmatic Nickey, “A Rebel With a Cause”! Can’t wait for #2.

Comments are closed.