"The Reprise Years 1970-1973" by FANNY – Includes Four Studio Albums Plus Bonuses – Features "Fanny" (December 1970 US Debut), "Charity Ball" (July 1971 US Second Album), "Fanny Hill" (February 1972 Third Album) and "Mothers Pride" (February 1973 Fourth Album) – Band Included June and Jean Millington, Nickey Barclay and Alice De Buhr (August 2024 UK Cherry Red 4CD Clamshell Box Set of 82-Tracks on 4CDs – Reissue Based on a September 2002 US-Only Rhino-Handmade Remastered 4CD 90-Track Box Set called "First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings") - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Rock 'Til The Break Of Dawn…"

RATING: 

Overall: **** to *****

Audio: **** to *****

Presentation: *****

Back in September 2002 Rhino Handmade of the USA issued the 4CD 90-Track compilation "First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings" by FANNY which gave fans of the Classic 70s All-Girl Rock Band a mighty haul. It covered four US studio albums from December 1970 through to February 1973 – each of those Reprise Records LPs bolstered up with wads of rare singles-side edits, studio outtakes, live recordings and previously unreleased (including recordings made by Todd Rundgren in 1973 for the "Mothers Pride" set not heard in nearly 40 years). 

That rare out-of-the-USA-only compilation on Rhino Handmade RHM2 7734 (Barcode 6034977342) was a numbered limited edition of 5000 copies and quickly sold out – and has not surprisingly acquired huge price tags on secondhand auction sites ever since – sometimes up to £150 and more. There were individual album Remasters and Reissues in 2013 and 2016 by Real Gone Music of the USA (close ties to Rhino) but they too have largely disappeared to the mists of the Net and if they are available – all four will cost ya.

Here in late August 2024, reissue heroes Cherry Red Records of the UK come to the shagpad rescue with a re-run and re-name of that 4-Disc 90-Track beast minus just eight cuts (four of which were promotional spots anyway – so not a lot wasted or dropped). At 82 tracks, 4 albums and with some seriously great stragglers on each disc (check out those playing times) – "The Reprise Years  1970-1973" also comes in a Clamshell Box Set with four of those natty Mini LP Repro Card Sleeves we collectors love and a decent chunky booklet with band input (the Millington sisters and Alice de Buhr) from 2024. At a retail push of about £25 or less – we get Mothers Pride indeed. Even sweeter - and as is evidenced by the play when you plough through the discs - this 2024 Cherry Red reissue (officially licensed from WEA) has retained the clear and muscular Rhino Remasters - a shockingly clear and ballsy listen for old material recorded by famed Producer Richard Perry in a hurry (first three LPs and Todd Rundgren for the fourth). 

Fanny were well liked – and when you hear live cuts from 1972 and 1973 – they absolutely rocked when on stage. The albums in fact may feel a tad tame when someone suggests Rawk or Psych – Fanny were a fun Pop and Rock group and wrote some decent tunes. This all-girl four-piece Rock Band out of the USA also set the template for so many to follow - Heart, The Runaways, The Go-Go's, The Bangles and suchlike buddies in Rock and Roll crime.

If Fanny were so good you might say, then how come they were such a commercial failure with five whole studio albums that barely charted ("Charity Ball" made No. 150 on the Billboard US Album charts in October 1971 while its follow-up "Fanny Hill" made No. 135 in October 1972 - their fifth and last "Rock And Roll Survivors" was on Casablanca Records in 1974 but did not register and none of their LPs charted in the UK). As I recall when I worked the counters at Reckless Records for 20 whole years – Fanny albums were notorious four-to-five-pound fodder. 

But – and this is the big but – circling back to our reissue – it’s the Bonuses on each CD that elevate the listen into a better-than-most feast. A lot of these outtakes and single edits are so damn good and at times brilliant (the 1973 cover version of The Supremes Motown No.1 hit "Back In My Arms Again" is quite possibly the best thing on here). The same I'm afraid could not be said of The Steve Gibbons Band Box set put out by Esoteric Recordings in January 2022 (a division of Cherry Red) where seriously lacklustre supposed Bonus material dragged the whole kaboodle down. Here the extras are a celebration and even an indication of what could have been had they been allowed to simply ROCK. A lot to take in, so time to attend the Charity Ball with our My Fair Lady gals once more. To the details…

UK released 28 August 2024 - "The Reprise Years  1970-1973" by FANNY on Cherry Red QCRCD4BOX173 (Barcode 5013929117396) is a 4CD 82-Track Reissued Compilation Based on a September 2002 US set and it plays out as follows:

CD1 "Fanny" + Bonus Tracks (72:41 minutes):
1. Come And Hold Me [Side 1]
2. I Just Realised
3. Candlelighter Man
4. Conversation With A Cop
5. Badge
6. Changing Horses [Side 2]
7. Bitter Wine
8. Take A Message To The Captain
9. It Takes A Lot Of Good Lovin'
10. Shade Me
11. Seven Roads (see NOTES)
Tracks 1 to 11 are their debut album "Fanny" – released December 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6416 (no UK issue). Produced by RICHARD PERRY

CD1 BONUS TRACKS:
12. Ladie's Choice
13. New Day
14. Nowhere To Run
15. One Step At A Time
16. Changing Horses (Single Version)
17. Seven Roads (German Single Edit)
18. Shade Me (B-side Edit)
19. Badge (Live at the Bijou Café, Philadelphia)
20. Candlelighter Man (The Kitchen Tapes)
21. Seven Roads (Second Version)

NOTES on CD1: 
Track 11 "Seven Roads" at the end of Side 2 of the released album is a First Version – Fanny re-did the song and that Second Version is in the Bonus Tracks along with a German Single Edit too (see Track 17); Track 21 is a Second version of "Seven Roads" and at 3:46 minutes is shorter than Version 1 on the LP playing to 4:17 minutes
Tracks 12 and 13 "Ladie's Choice" and "New Day" are the A&B-side of their debut US 45-single released March 1970 on Reprise 0901 (no UK equivalent)
Tracks 15 and 14 (note the sequence) are the A&B-side of their second US 45-single released August 1970 on Reprise 0938; both tracks are covers, "Nowhere Man" is a cover version of the Martha & The Vandellas 60ts Motown hit and "One Step At A Time" by Maxine Brown in 1965 on Wand Records
Track 16 is an 2:15 minute edit of "Changing Horses" (LP runs to 3:44 minutes); it was their third US 45-single released November 1970 (a month before the album) on Reprise 0963 with the LP cut "Conversation With A Cop" as its flipside; it was also their first UK 45 issued July 1971 on Reprise K 14086 with the same edit on the A and the same B-side but put in a rare Picture Sleeve (pictured in the Discography towards the end of the booklet)
Track 17 "Seven Roads" was not issued in the USA, but it was released March 1971 in Germany on Reprise 14 080 as their second 45-single there with "Shade Me" on the flipside. Both were edited for that release – the LP cut of "Seven Roads" (First Version) is 4:17 minutes while the German A-side 45-Edit is 3:03 minutes – the LP cut of "Shade Me" is 4:36 minutes while the German Single Edit B-side is 3:55 minutes
Tracks 5 and 19 are "Badge" – a cover version of the 1969 Cream song written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison; Track 19 recorded live in Philadelphia 21 April 1973 and first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set

CD2 "Charity Ball" + Bonus Tracks (69:53 minutes):
1. Charity Ball [Side 1]
2. What Kind Of Lover
3. Cat Fever
4. A Person Like You
5. Special Care
6. What's Wrong With Me?
7. Soul Child [Side 2]
8. You're The One
9. Thinking Of You
10. Place In The Country (Second Version)
11. A Little While Later
Tracks 1 to 11 are their second studio album "Charity Ball" – released July 1971 in the USA on Reprise RS 6456 and November 1971 in the UK on Reprise K 44144. Produced by RICHARD PERRY.

CD2 BONUS TRACKS:
12. Charity Ball (Single Version)
13. Charity Ball (Live in Cleveland)
14. Place In The Country (Live in Cleveland)
15. Back In My Arms Again (Studio Outtake)
16. Lonesome Pine (Mothers Pride Demo Session)
17. Old Milwaukee (Mothers Pride Demo Session)
18. Place In The Country (First Version)
19. Queen Aretha (The Band Wild Honey, Demo Session)

NOTES on CD2:
Track 12 is "Charity Ball" – their third US 45-single released August 1971 on Reprise 1033 with the LP cut (Second Version) of "Place In The Country" on the flipside; it was also their second UK 45-single issued with the same tracks November 1971 on Reprise K 14109
Tracks 13 and 14 recorded live in Cleveland 11 April 1972 and first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set
Track 15 "Back In My Arms Again" was recorded in 1973 with Todd Rundgren and is a studio outtake first issued in 2002 on the Rhino Handmade 4CD set; it is a cover version of The Supremes fifth number one hit on Motown from 1965
Tracks 16 and 17 are Demo Sessions from the fourth LP "Mothers Pride" recorded in New York in January 1973 and first issued in 2002
Track 19 "Queen Aretha" is by the band Wild Honey (Fanny in their first incarnation) from a Demo Session

CD3 "Fanny Hill" + Bonus Tracks (79:18 minutes):
1. Ain't That Peculiar [Side 1]
2. Knock On My Door
3. Blind Alley
4. You've Got A Home
5. Wonderful Feeling 
6. Borrowed Time
7. Hey Bulldog [Side 2]
8. Think About The Children
9. Rock Bottom Blues
10. Sound And The Fury
11. The First Time
Tracks 1 to 11 are their third studio album "Fanny Hill" – released February 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2058 and Reprise K 44147 in the UK. Produced by RICHARD PERRY – Guest Musicians included Bobby Keys on Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 1, 6 and 9) with Jim Price on Trumpet and Trombone (Tracks 6 and 9). Recorded in London – Fanny cover The Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' song "Hey Bulldog" in which they add a verse, The Fabs gave their OK on this.

CD3 BONUS TRACKS:
12. Ain't That Peculiar (Single Version)
13. Young And Dumb
14. Knock On My Door (B-side Edit)
15. Tomorrow
16. No Deposit, No Return
17. Ain't That Peculiar (Live at the Bijou Café, Philadelphia)
18. Borrowed Time (Live in Cleveland)
19. Hey Bulldog (Live at the Bijou Café, Philadelphia)
20. Knock On My Door (Live in Cleveland)
21. Young And Dumb (Live at the Bijou Café, Philadelphia)

NOTES ON CD3:
Tracks 5 and 9 "Wonderful Feeling" b/w "Rock Bottom Blues" was their fourth 45-single issued June 1972 in the USA on Reprise REP 1097 (no UK equivalent)
Track 12 "Ain't That Peculiar" is a Single Edit at 3:39 minutes while the LP cut runs to 4:05 minutes; it was issued March 1972 in the USA as their third 45 on Reprise REP 1080 with the LP cut "Think About The Children" on the flipside; it was also their third UK 45-single with the same tracks issued April 1972 on Reprise K 14165
Track 13 "Young And Dumb" (3:33 minutes) is a stand-alone 45-single (an Ike Turner cover version, their fifth US 45) with an 2:56 minute edit of the LP cut "Knock On My Door" on the flipside (the LP cut is 3:20 minutes); it was released September 1972 in the USA on Reprise REP 1119 and October 1972 in the UK on Reprise K 14207
Track 15 "Tomorrow" is a studio outtake from the "Fanny Hill" sessions recorded in London at Apple Studios in December 1971 – first issued in 2002 on the Rhino Handmade set
Track 16 "No Deposit, No Return" is an early 1971 recording first issued 2002 on the Rhino Handmade set; some copies of their December 1970 debut album listed this song on the rear cover but it was never issued
Tracks 17, 19 and 21 recorded live in Philadelphia 21 April 1973 and first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set
Tracks 18 and 20 recorded live in Cleveland 11 April 1972 and first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set

CD4 "Mothers Pride" + Bonus Tracks (75:45 minutes):
1. Last Night I Had A Dream [Side 1]
2. Long Road Home
3. Old Hat
4. Solid Gold
5. Is It Really You?
6. All Mine
7. Summer Song [Side 2]
8. Polecat Blues
9. Beside Myself
10. Regular Guy
11. I Need You Need Me
12. Feelings
13. I'm Satisfied
Tracks 1 to 13 are their fourth studio album "Mothers Pride" – released February 1973 in the USA on Reprise MS 2137 and Reprise K 44233 in the UK. Produced by TODD RUNDGREN (sings backing vocals on the last Track on Side 1) – Track 1 is a Randy Newman cover version – all others are originals

CD4 BONUS TRACKS:
14. Summer Song (Single Version)
15. Wonderful Feeling (Single Version)
16. Rock Bottom Blues (Original Version)
17. I Need You Need Me (Single Version)
18. Last Night I Had A Dream (Single Edit)
19. Rock Bottom Blues (Backing Track)
20. All Mine (Mothers Pride Demo Session)
21. Last Night I Had A Dream (Live at the Bijou Café, Philadelphia)

NOTES on CD4:
Track 14 "Summer Song" was issued in the UK January 1973 on Reprise K 14220 with LP cut "Borrow Time" on the B-side (no US equivalent)
Track 15 "Wonderful Feeling" was issued as their fifth US-45 single June 1972 on Reprise REP 1097 with the LP cut of "Rock Bottom Blues" as its B-side
Track 17 "I Need You Need Me" was issued as a B-side 4:53 Minute Edit to their seventh US-45 single released March 1973 on Reprise REP 1148; the A-side was the LP cut "All Mine" – in the UK the song "I Need You Need Me" was issued as the A-side April 1973 on Reprise K 14250 with "Beside Myself" as its B-side
Track 18 "Last Night I Had A Dream" was issued as their eight US-45 single June 1973 on Reprise REP 1162 with the LP cut of "Beside Myself" as its B-side
Tracks 19 and 20 first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set
Track 21 recorded live in Philadelphia 21 April 1973 and first issued on the 2002 Rhino Handmade set

FANNY was: 
JUNE MILLINGTON on Lead Guitar and Vocals
NICKEY BARCLAY on Keyboards
JEAN MILLINGTON on Bass and Vocals
ALICE De BUHR on Drums

The Clamshell Box offers four Mini LP Repro Artwork Card Sleeves (no Lyric Inserts, no Lyrics in the booklet) with a 28-page booklet featuring updated 2024 input from the surviving members of the band. After a few credits pages and track lists – the remainder of the booklet breaks down the June, Jean and Alice reminiscences into discussions on each album – one by one. You get their start as Wild Honey sporting Addie Clement as Lead Guitarist (replaced by Nickey Barclay on Keyboards before recording their first album) stretching right through to weird experiences with Todd Rundgren on a bit of a Producer ego-trip for the fourth studio album "Mothers Pride" (Bernie Taupin of Elton John fame and Denny Cordell who started Shelter Records that featured J.J. Cale and Leon Russell were in the Producer running too). 

Black and White photos abound(one or two colour) of the gals in the studio and on stage, Reprise Records promo shots and even a picture Discography of Albums and Singles across Pages 26 and 27. Jean is particularly vivid when recalling how the band evolved – getting better and better – tapping into cover versions too amidst all the originals. DAVE TURNER did the Mastering and as its Rhino Remasters of old (2002) – the audio is exceptionally good – certainly better than I remember the original LPs sounding.

Disc 3 of the September 2002 Rhino Handmade set "First Time In A Long Time: The Reprise Recordings" introduced eleven live cuts as Previously Unreleased tracks – lucky for us nine are present and accounted for here but have been spread across all four CDs into the Bonuses. They comprise of four in Cleveland recorded April 1972 and five in Philadelphia recorded April 1973 (the two dropped are "Summer Song" and "It Takes A Lot Of Good Lovin'"). And you can hear why they are featured.

Take "Ain't That Peculiar" for instance – Jean Millington is in total blistering form - attacking her axe like she’s Johnny Winter on Slide Guitar speed – fantastic stuff – but then the vocals are off to the side - if at all. It ruins what would have been a fantastic live album. But I can so hear why Rhino and the band included them – to show what a great live act Fanny were when given room to let loose. The four Cleveland cuts have better vocals so Cherry Red mix one after the other – clever. In fact, you cannot help but think that had someone like legendary Producer Ted Templeman been around and miked the band up live – there might have been more to grab the listener on LP. They needed someone to go all Montrose on their sound – but alas. To the LPs…

After building and honing repertoire and settling the line-up from more than a year, the debut album "Fanny" hit the shops in December 1970. There are great Rock Song cuts to enjoy which I am sure would-be mandatory placings on any Best Of - "Candlelighter Man", "Shade Me", "Conversation With A Cop" and their smart covering of the Cream classic "Badge". There is a definite sense of a group finding its feet on songs like "Bitter Wine" juxtapositioned beside the knowing street-sassiness of "I Just Realised" where any man had better watch out. The debut is good – a lost gem even some would say and those extras really make a difference - but the second album is better and more accomplished. 

Both the title track "Charity Ball" and major-fan-fave "Place In The Country" (the more chunky-second-version) were smart choices as a lead off Reprise 45-single – their brand of almost Soulful Funk-Rock helping US Radio use both tracks. It might have lasted only 1 week, but at least "Charity Ball" hit No. 40 on the Billboard US singles chart. Fanny would have to wait until March of 1975 to chart again with Casablanca Records where "Butter Boy" from their final album "Rock And Roll Survivor" did better by going to No.29 and lasting 3 weeks. "What Kind Of A Lover" and "Cat Fever" rank highly by the girls in their "Charity Ball" album liner-notes – and on the money they are too. 

Over on Side 2 both "Soul Child" and "You're The One" show huge leaps had been made in songwriting prowess and it must have peeved Reprise Records UK that the "Charity Ball" LP just didn't take – laminate sleeve and lyric insert or no. The girls also fondly remember the cover artwork shoot - Candice Bergman (yes the actress) taking the photographs - period dresses and costumes from the 'My Fair Lady' film (lent by Warner Brothers) while Nickey (not very comfortable with the whole 'not very Rock 'n' Roll' vibe) hid in a closet (Candice called it unprofessional!). And as already discussed - the Bonuses on "Charity Ball" (CD2) are well tasty - so a forgotten LP with a wad of goodies tacked on - that'll do nicely thank you kindly sir. 

The "Fanny Hill" album did five numbers better on the US Billboard LP charts (No. 135) but at times feels like a band struggling to come up with winners – the pallor of tired and worn out. Still, it opens strongly with a slide-guitar gunslinger version of the Motown classic "Ain't That Peculiar" – an obvious single Reprise threw at the charts in March 1972 with the slow funk LP cut "Think About The Children" on the B-side. How can love grow from pain? A very-Sparks plinking piano introduces "Knock On My Door" – the lady waiting for that tap on wood. Time to Rock with "Blind Alley" – great combo of Guitar and Funky Keys – lyrics about someone getting burned. Acoustic ballad in "You've Got A Home" tells of a story of a single-parent Mom who must tell her unplanned son why Daddy is not around – and why - even if he isn't - at least this beautiful child has a home and love and views of a prettier world outside. Beautiful production, playing, arrangement, it's an unexpectedly poignant moment on an album. 

They were clearly trying for that big chorus winner with "Wonderful Feeling" but it feels like New Seekers Top of the Pops pap – better is the slide-guitar Slade-sounding grunge rocker "Borrowed Time" pumped up with Brass Arrangements. Their cover of The Beatles less-heard classic "Hey Bulldog" was a smart choice for 1972 (the fabs gave the OK and allowed them to add an extra verse) – Fanny giving it their version of Funk-Rock. Are you ready to think about the future they ask in "Think About The Children" – check that mountain beyond the horizon – see that its view remains clear and uncluttered – smart talk for over 50-years hence. Back to fuzzed-up guitar-boogie with "Rock Bottom Blues" – the ladies bemoaning their fate since sweet sixteen – victims of a windy storm – the men letting the gals down. The album kind of peters out with two mid-tempo drips - "Sound And The Fury" and "The First Time". Of the extras "Young And Dumb" feels like a big bad butch retro mistake, but "Tomorrow" is an acoustic winner that could have replaced one of the lesser tracks on Side 2 . CD3 then ends (as already discussed) in a fury of five live tracks that make much of the album output feel tame by comparison even if they are in slightly compromised audio. 

Recorded in England and named after Mothers Pride bread - their experience with Todd Rundgren as a Producer for album number four turned out to be a weird one. But there is no weird in his actual skill behind the console – you can hear an audio lift right away for "Last Night I Had A Dream" – instruments are clear – the vocals layered and cleverly placed. When the pretty acoustic ballad "Long Road Home" floats out of your speakers – it is the best you have ever heard a Fanny album sound. Gorgeous layering of the vocals, a lone floating synth note, warm Bass – all of it giving the overall feel a gentle muscle. "Old Hat" is another mellow slab – a floating organ note anchors wads of acoustic guitars and voices – but you wish there was more of a song amidst all the clarity and melodrama. A parody on chasing chart hits - "Solid Gold" has a weary and sneering vocal with lyrics about the industry they both loath and yet must live with. Better is the piano-soft "Is It Really You?" – a song full of relationship longing vs. the next cheap lay. 

"All Mine" is again beautifully produced but like so many of the others on the album feels like its searching for an actual song. Finally, time to Rock with "Summer Song" – laughing and making out at the picture show – at least this feels like Fanny the band and not Fanny searching for hits. A strangely hissy "Beside Myself" is a poor-me whiner while "Regular Guy" is another plinky-plonky non-event song. Towards the album end, they try one more rocker with "I Need You Need Me" but it is ham-fisted with its echoed screamed lead vocal. A patchy album ends with the upbeat Badfinger vibe of "I'm Satisfied". But again, the extras have goodies that save the day.

Truth be naughtily told, there will undoubtedly be casual observers and listeners in 2024 who will drop any of "The Reprise Years 1970-1973" by FANNY into a CD player and hear great, hear it drop to good, down to plodding, forward to ordinary and flirting around all points in-between. But there will also be those who remember them with affection – and under twenty-five quid – this Cherry Red Clamshell is the Solid Gold they need…