Earl Slick: It’s always the ones that start it gets f**ked
David Bowie: They were one of the finest fucking rock bands of their time, they were extraordinary: They wrote everything, they played like motherfuckers, they were just colossal and wonderful, and nobody’s ever mentioned them. They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever; it just wasn’t their time.
When you hear about an all-female band…the Bangles, Runaways, and Go-Go’s come to mind but this band was completely different. These women rocked…not pop rock but some hard blues rock. They were pioneers and had a huge impact on those other female bands…and those bands all cited Fanny as an influence.
They had a blues edge about them and weren’t as commercial. They never got that one big hit single to break them to the masses. They had a few songs with a pop flavor that really should have made it such as All Mine… that would get my vote.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings:
They were formed in the late sixties in Sacramento by two Filipina sisters (their family left the Philippines in 1961 while kids), Jean and June Millington. June Millington was the lead guitar player and her sister Jean was the bass player. They started out in high school with the name The Svelts and then Wild Honey but the band was then renamed Fanny, not with a sexual connotation but to denote a female spirit.
Career
Fanny released their self-titled debut album in 1970, making them one of the first all-female bands to be signed to a major label and record a full album with complete creative control. Their blend of rock, funk, blues, and pop set them apart. They would be the first all-female band to release an album on a major label (Reprise) and land four singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and two in the top 40.
Like any other band, they had to pay their dues. They opened up for artists such as Jethro Tull, Humble Pie, Slade, Leon Russell, Van Morrison, Chuck Berry, Deep Purple, and many more. When you are opening for artists of that caliber you are very good. Their range was incredible… they played on Barbra Streisand’s 1971 album Barbra Joan Streisand. So they could play almost anything.
They went on to release an album every year from 1970 to 1974 making it 5 studio albums in total in the 1970s while touring relentlessly. By their third album Mother’s Pride, guitarist June Millington quit after it was released because she felt restrained by the band. After some changes with her sister Jean still playing bass, the band released their last 1970s album Rock and Roll Survivors. The album contained their highest charting single with Butter Boy which charted at #29.
Fanny broke up in 1975, reunited in 2018, and released an album titled Fanny Walked the Earth. I simply adore these women because they could keep up with anyone in any field. One night Deep Purple missed a gig and Fanny filled in for them for that night without complaints.
Discography: (wiki)
Studio Albums
• Fanny (1970)
• Charity Ball (1971) (No. 150)
• Fanny Hill (1972) (No. 135)
• Mothers Pride (1973)
• Rock and Roll Survivors (1974)
• Fanny Walked the Earth (2018, as Fanny Walked the Earth)
Live Albums
• Fanny Live (1998; recorded 1972) (reissued as Fanny: Live in 1972)
• Live on Beat-Club '71-'72 (2024)
Singles
• "Ladies' Choice" / "New Day" (1970)
• "Nowhere to Run" / "One Step at a Time" (1970)
• "Changing Horses" / "Conversation with a Cop" (January 1971)
• "Charity Ball" / "Place in the Country" (September 1971) (No. 40)
• "Ain't That Peculiar" / "Think About the Children" (March 1972) (No. 85)
• "Wonderful Feeling" / "Rock Bottom Blues" (July 1972)
• "Young and Dumb" / "Knock on My Door" (October 1972)
• "All Mine" / "I Need You Need Me" (January 1973)
• "Last Night I Had a Dream" / "Beside Myself" (April 1973)
• "I've Had It" / "From Where I Stand" (June 1974) (No. 79)
• "Butter Boy" / "Beggar Man" (January 1975) (No. 29)
In recent years, Fanny has participated in reunion events, introducing their songs to new audiences. These performances have served both as a tribute to their historical impact and as a celebration of their music. They have a documentary out…watch it! It’s called FANNY: The Right To Rock.
I want to take a moment to thank Max Gower, whose blog, Power Pop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture has a wealth of music, icons of pop culture, and even episode by episode of the priceless favorite TV classics, The Twilight Zone and Star Trek: The Original Series. Max’ blog is a community hub of conversation, where music lovers gather to talk music. I visit Max’ site every day, excited to see what he will post and to read the dialogue between friends afterwards. Lots of very knowledgeable music folks gather here! Please take a moment to visit Power Pop… if you haven’t already.
Fanny even has their own area, here.
Thank You, Max, for doing honor to Fanny.
Tao Talk 
June Millington (guitar) was instrumental in the Women’s Music world of the 70s, featured as a session musician on a lot of Olivia Records releases.
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Additional info much appreciated, Steve. I have a feeling a lot of the WMM women have similar “under the radar” influence in the musical world. I’m seeing it again and again in my research.
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Thanks so much for inviting me and the kind words. I love these ladies and if life was fair…they would be on a reunion tour coming to a town near you right now instead of bascially unknown. If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesnt’ induct them…something is seriously wrong. Without them…the Runaways and others might not have been.
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Max you are welcome and thanks again for taking time to write up a post for WMM.
I agree they need to be on a reunion tour, just like a lot of these musicians from an earlier era. Speaking of the Runaways, I certainly didn’t plan it, but last year I must have looked at their roster over time and added all of them to my list for this year. You’re going to see several of them in the next days. Maybe even knowing you were going to write Fanny up and mentioning them inspired me to look at them closer.
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I’ll gladly do it next year if you are still willing. It was a lot of fun writing this because I think so much of them. Just like Big Star…if one person listens…I have done my job.
Yea….if people listen closely to them…they will hear that they played with the big boys. No rock band at the time had anything on these ladies talent wise. Women doing blues rock? It just didn’t happen back then until Bonnie Raitt…and yes she was influenced by them as well …plus they were versatile…backing up Babs.
Oh cool! I like the Runaways as well…
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Awesome on Next Year :) I know I never would have heard of Fanny if it wasn’t for you. I wonder if Bonnie has ever given them the nod?
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Yes she did….she talked about how it was a seminal moment when they came out. Seeing women do this just didn’t happen. I found this if you can see it
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Yes! and Yes! Strange I can since I don’t have a fb account anymore.
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It must be a public view
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Lisa…you have done a hell of a job with this Women Music March…I sent an email. I remember when you started and look at it now. When Fanny gets this many comments…you are doing something right!
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I just emailed you back. I got about halfway through the Fanny spotify playlist. I’ve added it to my playlists. There are *so*many* good songs on it. Favorite one so far is Conversation with a Cop (something like that.) Thank you for saying so on WMM :) <3
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They also did a good song called All Mine…it’s pop but it should have been a hit. I don’t think it’s on there but they have so many good songs. Thank you Lisa
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YW
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That’s a great look at a band that really should be better known. I watched that documentary and learned so much I didn’t know about how talented they were and all the behind the scenes so to speak stuff that goes on in the business.
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Randy, I need to watch the doc.
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I hope that documentary wakes people up so they can be put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Pioneers need to be recognized, particularly if they are as good as Fanny.
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Trent, 100% in agreement. They are fabulous and need to be recognized. Maybe if they are, more people will start listening to them and they can get their reunion tour going…
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Here are the facts, Trent: Bottom line is Jann Werner, a major league asshole, runs the hall of fame and I don’t care how many people on the committee votes somebody in, if Werner doesn’t want you then you’re out. He puts his personal feelings into it and that’s wrong, all wrong, as half the people in don’t deserve to be there and the ones that do, regardless of votes, aren’t in. He’s a schmuck!
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That is very sad. The name is only semi-familiar so I Googled it. He was removed from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s board in 2023, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t dictate who makes it and who doesn’t. Hopefully it means his say is minimized… Hopefully his influence is growing less as he is farther removed….
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Thanks to that update, Trent. I hadn’t realized he was no longer at the helm. I hope things will change but I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s unfortunate that things are this way. The R&R Hall of Fame needs a transfusion of new, fresh and unbiased blood.
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I posted this also before reading all other comments. Sorry for duplication of info. Jann was a mean-spirited individual and the reason I stopped subscribing to RS.
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Thank you…”Jann Werner, a major league asshole,”…Nancy that is all that needs to be said…oh yea…he IS a schmuck. He has kept people out because he didn’t like them.
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I’m glad to know you realize this also, Max. It’s infuriating, isn’t it? So many deserving artists have been overlooked for years! Thanks, Max.
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Oh yes….he has been on my list for a long time for being an elitist snob. I started a book about him and it might be the only time I ever stopped reading a book less than halfway…I couldn’t stand him that much.
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Nancy take a look at this:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/17/entertainment/jann-wenner-comments/index.html
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Thanks, Lisa. I subscribed to Rolling Stone last year. After Max told me that Werner was removed in 2023, I wanted to read more about it because I hadn’t heard of that action.
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Great choice Lisa. Fanny were a pioneering band that’s for sure. I have all four of their albums.
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They made six not four. I’m missing two in that case :)
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They made one in 2018… great band though.
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Yes. I’ve seen that documentary. I’ve not got the 2018 album though
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I want to get it as well.
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Oh, no, you better get your fanny in gear also! ;)
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Lol! True. It’s embarrassing when I go into a record store and ask if they have any Fanny cd’s or vinyl albums.
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lol!
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Glyn, Max chose Fanny to write about. I guess you are a fan, with all four of their albums! Looks like I need to get my fanny in gear and listen to more Fanny :)
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Excellent pick. Fanny were real trailblazers for women’s rock.
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Christian I’ve been listening to their spotify playlist tonight. So good!
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I had forgotten all about them…(of course…) Thanks for the refresher! so versatile, and it was fun to see them still so vibrant and alive. (K)
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