Ranking the Albums: Fanny

[@kirtmckinlay4997]

Saw them headline in London in 1973. Fantastic high energy rock concert. Sold on Fanny immediately. Own all their albums. Badge and a place in the country are my favorites.

[@carlosayala243]

They should be in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame! The first true all female rock band! Way before The runaways!

[@RobinKay75]

I love Fanny. June was the original reason I picked up the guitar to play. Her and Nancy Wilson was a huge influence and still is.

[@tonyghicks01]

Thanks... never heard of them, and enjoyed checking them out. You're right...some cool live 1971 videos on YT!

[@kayfimt7769]

Yay. One of the most overlooked bands of all time. Good to see them on the channel. Speaking of overlooked bands, ask Martin one day about Sloan, a Canadian band in a similar position in that they’re one of the best power pop bands of all time but they’re very obscure outside of Canada.

[@wolf1977]

Good Toronto band, I have 7 of their albums. Action Pact, Never Hear The End Of It & Parallel Play to me are their best. There may be a couple I haven't heard...

[@kayfimt7769]

@@wolf1977 I highly recommend Navy Blues if you don’t already have it.

[@wolf1977]

@@kayfimt7769 I liked 3 tracks: "C'mon C'mon (We're Gonna Get It Started)", "Iggy And Angus" & "Keep On Thinkin'"

[@garygennaro6029]

Good ranking show. They sound interesting. Starting with first two, etc..

[@michaelwalters3004]

Fanny is my big discovery this year, heard the name for years but never listened to them. Heard a few of those KZbin videos Pete mentioned fell in love with them and before I knew it had their whole catalog. Minus the live album they did. This was right before their stuff was reissued recently. It took a little bit of work but I got all their stuff. Bowie was a big fan and dated June for a while, June went on to marry Bowie's guitarist Earl Slick and had kids with him. There is an excellent documentary about Fanny that came out in the past few years, you should check it out. I agree with Pete's ranking. Or maybe I might put Fanny Hill a little higher, it was recorded at Abbey Roads with the Beatles engineer. Great review. Thank you.

[@mikewest1542]

Indeed , Butter Boy is about Bowie .

[@kayfimt7769]

It was June’s sister Jean who Bowie dated and married Earl. June is gay.

[@JoeDibiase386]

Somehow, I’d never heard of this band. Went back and checked out some stuff on KZbin. Very cool.

[@ritaenjoytheday5015]

They were on the Sonny and Cher Tv and a Millington sang background for Bowie on Fame

[@dr.s.]

Great you show those ladies some love. Their best recording is still the stuff they did live for Beat Club in Germany. None of their albums captures that energy.

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

That’s how I discovered them. Really a great performance. They have said that they were a little bit disappointed with their albums because they didn’t capture the energy they had on stage. I think the performance on Beat Club shows just that.

[@dr.s.]

@@bjornjagerlund3793 same here, KZbin did its best to recommend it to me, third time I finally click the video. And then watched all of them. I watched a couple of interviews with he ladies and they said a few times that those are likely to be the best recordings of them in existence.

[@docdeens4030]

Beat Club was the venue for a lot of classic, definitive performances by various bands...Fanny is definitely one that benefitted greatly

[@dr.s.]

@@docdeens4030 Beat Club was a show on public German television, so the could get quite a few bigger acts. They also had the resources to record them in great quality, specially for the late 60s/early 70s. A bit of what Rockpalast became later when the recorded stuff like Rory Gallagher and ZZ Top.

[@oliviertruchon5648]

Some of the best performances by early prog, krautrock and metal groups of the early 70's (Deep Purple, Yes, King Crimson, Warhorse, Amon Duul II, Popul Vuh) had happened at the Beat Club at a time when US tv will welcome the likes of the Carpenters and Donnie Hathaway.

[@mgerometta]

Nice! Giving the girls some love today. Keep it up mate!

[@malcolmarmstrong7761]

Your review of each album is spot on!

[@SwanShadow]

On any list of underappreciated rock bands, Fanny should be near the top. Tremendously talented musicians -- it's a shame they never really gained traction or got the attention their abilities deserved.

[@gregorypegg7402]

LOVE Fanny! Thanks for the great review Pete! My fave is Mothers Pride, but I wouldn't advise anyone to start there. I think Fanny Hill or Charity Ball are perfect for someone wanting a taste of the band. You are right: Seven Roads is a stomper!

[@jordanmoran1983]

Discovered the documentary this year. Gem of a band

[@gwts1171]

I just watched the documentary today, so I figured I'd rewatch this recent video. My ranking is the same as yours. "Rock Bottom Blues" is probably my favorite song of theirs. Thanks, Pete!

[@independenceltd.]

I'll have to fix a cocktail for this one. Bottoms up!

[@garyjoyce2160]

I knew not one song 🎵 prior to Pete mentioning this ranking. I’ll say this / right off the bat/ very , very good musicians with their instruments/ including the ones replaced etc. I’m. Ten spins in already of the 6️⃣ albums ( 2018 Fanny walked the EARTH 🌎). Totally, totally enjoyed. Spins more over weekend. Give my ranking before ten AM Sunday. Again, Pete thank you for this. I 💯 get into these rankings 👍💯

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Check out those beat club performances Especially their take on Hey Bulldog

[@garyjoyce2160]

@@truckerkevthepaidtourist yes. Kev. I did. Tremendous

[@wolf1977]

@@truckerkevthepaidtourist Much much better (the studio version anyway) than their take on "Let's Spend The Night Together". Also a nice take on "Badge" from their s/t album

[@garyjoyce2160]

Useless TRIVIA lol. Brie HOWARD/ drummer & vocalist on the 7️⃣5️⃣& 1️⃣8️⃣ albums =. Nikki SIXX / ex Mother - in law !! 👍💯

[@garyjoyce2160]

Sorry. 7️⃣4️⃣ album. Rock and Roll Survivors

[@andrewcarr5923]

Thanks for shining a light on this most underrated band Pete, I mostly agree with your ranking although I would flip the debut with Charity Ball.

[@albertocravalho3282]

Fantastic. Great girl band 😍. Before Fanny there was Joy of Cooking, a band from Berkeley fronted by two talented women, guitarist Terry Garthwaite and pianist Toni Brown, who shared lead vocals.

[@SH-ud8wd]

The Beat Club gig on german television is worth checking.

[@skabde]

Both drummer Alice de Buhr and keyboardist Nicky Barclay later said they didn't have strong enough vocalists in the band, which is mind-boggling. They had three lead vocalists and all of them were damn good. No idea what they are thinking there...

[@tomsuzyinfluencerinfj2712]

I saw them live 1972 opening for Slade. Both were excellent. Still got the ticket, and yes, they are mentioned on it (Slade + Fanny in concert)

[@iangelling]

Some great live KZbin stuff of this band.

[@mattshaw5179]

Next week on ranking the albums... Baha Men! Great video Pete, I absolutely love Fanny, massively underrated! My ranking... 5 - Rock and Roll Survivors 4 - Mother's Pride 3 - Charity Ball 2 - Fanny 1 - Fanny Hill The top two could easily be the other way round if I was to rank them tomorrow!

[@JimiKool]

There is a video of them singing "A Place In The Country" from their 2nd album, and is awesome. Those girls rocked back in the day!🔥🔥

[@jazzpunk]

I read CIRCUS magazine, 1972-1975-ish...they popped up in the Record Reviews. I eas aware of them, never bought anything. The Beat Club videos are great. Ramatam was another of those "underground" groups. Mitch Mitchell on drums and a girl with chops on guitar, April Lawton. Saw Suzi Quatro open for Alice's Welcome To My Nightmare tour in the '70s.

[@wolf1977]

Ramatam had some good stuff, also contained the great Mike Pinera (Blues Image, Thee Image, New Cactus Band). He also guested on a couple of Alice Cooper records. Lawton was friends with June Millington, Fanny's guitarist. She formed the April Lawton Band that didn't last long - not sure if they ever put out anything

[@michaelmiller7574]

Nice ranking Pete. I like their first three albums way more than anything kiss did. Gee they should have had a GIMMICK!!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Very cool you ranked them in order from bottom to top 5 4 3 2 1 👍🤠 I definitely agree about the Todd production polish on the one for sure

[@TheRealDannAlexander]

June and Jean…. A dynamic duo.

[@pokerface8242]

I agree with Pete's ranking and totally agree that their records only minimally showcased how good the original band was live. Seven Roads from the s/t debut was, and is, my absolute favorite and I remember thinking 'where are the more hard rocking songs like this? All 4 ladies were top tier musicians and nice to hear Pete give special props to June Millington. You could do a lot worse than spending some time discovering the influential band called Fanny.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

There's Fanny Nice that's going to be a good one June and Jean Millington and Alice the drummer are still very active on social media too. A lot of people forget before The runaways there were a couple of hard-rocking women bands Although one thing you'll find when you watch some of their stuff on KZbin are the best club performances are just awesome even Alice's mentioned that in past I'll be curious to know is this one of those later discoveries for Pete or is he been a Fanny fan for some time.

[@wolf1977]

Birtha!!!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

​@@wolf1977indeed

[@daishi4531]

Have always loved the lady rockers, from The Runaways on up 👍

[@robertmiller2965]

There was a good documentary on them earlier this year. I can't remember what it was on. I think PBS but...

[@matthewclark9652]

The late 1974 album "Rock And Roll Survivors" on Casablanca Records is out on Apple iTunes BUT the last song on Side 2 "From Where I Stand" is missing!!

[@wolf1977]

IMO their worst album by far

[@Rabant777]

Casablanca were being distributed by Warner Bros for the first half of 1974, and Warners offered Casablanca two of their acts from Reprise ..... Fanny and T.Rex. Both released albums on Casablanca, and then the label split with Warner Bros, so both albums were issued as a second pressing before the end of 1974. Obviously, it wasn't until around Christmas 1975 into New Year of 1976 when both Kiss Alive! and Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby both exploded within a few weeks of each other, that Casablanca became profitable and Fanny had already (sort of) split. BTW. Brie had been in the original incarnation of the band, and was living with the band, so she wasn't really a 'new' member.

[@irishflink7324]

Here in Sweden we heard of Fanny coz of Patti Quatro

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

Interesting, I never heard of them back in the days. But I recognized one of their songs that must have been played on radio in Sweden back then.

[@YouDummy]

Look up the live version of Blind Alley. Scorching!

[@mikewest1542]

I believe the version from The Beat Club is the best version!

[@bjornjagerlund3793]

All four members appeared on Barbras album “Barbra Joan Streisand “ from 1971.

[@brucybabyy7355]

wow! didn't know that.

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Not a band followed too much back in the day even though Todd Rundgren had his hand in their production. Just didn't catch my attention. But based on your ranking, will go back and listen to the first couple of albums. Thanks for the ranking, Pete.

[@kennethschultz4910]

David Bowie loved Fanny.

[@mikewest1542]

No innuendos please 😂😂😂

[@kennbrown4638]

I've Had It wasn't typical girl pop. Originally by a band (all male) called The Bell Notes in 1958. It reached #6 on the charts. 🙂

[@MichaelABruce-ew8zs]

1 Fanny 2 Fanny Hill 3 mother's pride 4 charity ball 5 rock and roll survivors. They didn't like rock and roll survivors at all. But I quite fancy Mother's pride. They're really fun band to listen to though.

[@ritaenjoytheday5015]

Fanny Walked The Earth is a reunion album of sorts and worth checking

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

The live TV show appearances show the band at their best: Beat Club and Midnight Special. They were always frustrated with the production on the albums which tended to downplay their rock power. Todd Rundgren was hired to correct this. However, that album has his signature production techniques which I never liked such as the cardboard compressed flange drums. Nicky thinks "Charity Ball" is the best album and I agree with her. She was treated poorly by the music industry post Fanny. Rest of the band is fairly active on social media. CDs are available directly through the band web site.

[@davidprice7162]

Only just discovered Fanny recently, in 2024 by a video of them on Beat Club popped up on my KZbin feed. They were really rockin and tight, though I get why they never made it, none of their songs were super catchy hit material, but a solid band nonetheless.

[@wernermoritz882]

Show suggestion: Album classics we don‘t get/like, no matter how hard we try Could be in a special genre or all over the place. I am sure it would make a fun show for an episode eith Martin, the HSV or the UKC.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

We've already covered this across a few shows on the channel.

[@romelovesdan]

Should have stayed together to record a 1974 live album- It could have been their KISS Alive! moment to gain a wider audience. It could have provided a representative of how they really sounded heavier live.

[@zlatanfilipovic8798]

Came across their music some years ago thanks to KZbin, as one of their TV appearances was offered. Liked them, bought first albums issued as kind of a box set (five albums on 3 CDs in fat jewel case issued as The Ultimate Collection, not really good sounding) and still have not heard the last album, Fanny Walked the Earth from 2018. Sorry I have not heard of them earlier. My wife knew nothing of them and did not like them. I tend to like their earlier albums more than the later ones.

[@jimmycampbell78]

I was trying to get that boxset, it was in my Amazon wantlist but it sold out before I pulled the trigger. Later I did find a CD jewel case copy of the Fanny Hill album. Its a good album, but I did not feel inspired to hunt down anything else.

[@GeoffreyGamage]

Bought as released on american import in the esrly 70's , saw them 4 times live, I have Charity ball 4th .Mothers Pride was more of a commercial sound, God knows how All Mine wasn't a hit single, Think timing did them as Heavy metal and glam rock certainly here in England not to mention ABBA. Badge on french tv was exact what they were like lije, rougher and edgier. Def deserved bigger success.

[@bigvrocks2480]

Without a doubt, Fanny never made an ass out of themselves. I actually had the white Fanny lp back in the day.

[@wolf1977]

Apparently in Britain "fanny" has an alternate meaning to that here in the US...🤦‍♂

[@bigvrocks2480]

@@wolf1977 I'm unaware as to what 'fanny' means in Britain. What is the 'alternate' meaning? Inquiring minds need to know...

[@wolf1977]

@@bigvrocks2480 This is a family show - better look it up😎

[@wernermoritz882]

Show suggestions: Bands I should like in theory (because they are totally in my wheelhouse) but I don‘t : )

[@ralphfiligenzi6180]

Please rank the albums from Dozer Dozen.

[@josiesiudut-bf2rj]

All were good singers including alice

[@MrAurelius77]

The first female rock band were ACE OF CUPS .

[@mulicuy]

Pete, are you going to do a rant about Rolling Stone's new Top 250 Guitarists list? I can think of at least twenty ridiculous omissions 🤔

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Probably not....we all know their 'lists' are historically bad.

[@wernermoritz882]

@@seaoftranquilityproggood decision, it saved time. Usually lists done by multiple people are not that good…In the end nobody feels responsible and the list does not represent anything but randomness. I like lists done by individuals giving reasons for their choices.

[@wolf1977]

@@wernermoritz882 Explanations as to why the picks were made are essential (not just in polls like this but also here on SoT to explain one's picks - often it gives insight into whether you might like that pick or not)...Haven't paid attention to RS in a LONG time (if ever), to me they're on the same level as The Grammys/RR HOF (Jann Wenner of RS was integral to that institution & was just removed from its Board last September)

[@matthewclark9652]

They were way better than The Go-Go's or The Bangles!! Their 3rd album "Fanny Hill" from 1972 is their best album!!

[@wolf1977]

Of course...Check out Birtha, also early 70's (and I think more unknown - but shouldn't be)

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

​@@wolf1977exactly The other ones that fly under the radar Most people want to mention chick Rock not being the Brownsville station, but in rock and roll they always go to either Susie Quattro or The runaways and it's like no there were two other great ones that preceeded them

[@skabde]

Re: 3rd album, yes, I first thought that one was the best, too, but then there's the 2nd half of Charity Ball (2nd album), which is just excellent (What's wrong with me! Place in the Country! A Little While Later!). So I'd split my best "album" right in the middle, from about the 2nd half of Charity Ball and 1st half of Fanny Hill.

[@terryrusso3262]

What about Suzi Quatro ranking the albums?

[@James-ht3lu]

Love Fanny I do agree Rock And Roll Outlaws sucks my least favorite been a fan since I was 6 in 1975 Charity Ball is my favorite album Ain't That Peculiar is my favorite song very underrated band imo no Fanny no Runaways go go's or Bangles

[@ricardorusca8190]

Why their catalog is out of print!!! So pricey to get their albums.and the box set ...forget it....super pricey.. this band deserves a great affordable set for all!!!

[@guessundheit6494]

Their albums never got the production they needed or deserved. Watch the Beat Club videos of Fanny, songs like "Blind Alley", "Young And Dumb", "Hey Bulldog", and others. Those live in the studio recordings show the band at their best, they could stand toe to toe with ANY band. But please say "All ~WOMEN~", not "female".

[@kennbrown4638]

5. Fanny 4. Mothers Pride 3. Fanny Hill 2. Charity Ball 1. Rock & Roll Survivors

[@atlasking6110]

I've tried with this band, but despite the talent it all comes down to the lack of high quality songs. There's a reason they did so many covers: they just weren't capable of writing world-class songs, and their lack of popularity reflects that. Even their one semi-hit "Butter Boy" was a really lame song (and a stupid title.) You just can't make it to the top without good songs and they didn't have 'em. Just my opinion.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

This true and The Runaways had the same problem.

[@tonyd.944]

Ye cannae call yer band "Fanny"

[@user-JnyRock]

Ha! I know they made at least one trip to the U.K. Wonder how that went over with the different meaning for the band name.

[@JosieSiudut]

Good band. But Nicki barclay the better song writer

[@wolf1977]

Good band, I like 4 of their 5 albums (for me Rock and Roll Survivors/their last is clearly at the bottom). My ranking: 1. S/T, Fanny Hill and Mother's Pride - that's right, a 3-way tie (maybe Mother's Pride by a toenail...?) 2. Charity Ball. 4 good tracks. That only leaves... 3. Rock and Roll Survivors - didn't like this much (supposedly reviewers didn't either - for what it's worth), two original members are gone. Kinda lame cover of the Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together" Their collection First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings is also good & a great place to start (also includes a few non-album tracks)...To me the 2nd best all female rock band ever - that title goes to Birtha with 2 tremendous early 70's albums (s/t & Can't Stop The Madness)