Fanny Hill (album)

Fanny Hill is the third studio album by American rock band Fanny, released in February 1972 by Reprise Records. It was recorded at Apple Studios in London and reached No. 135 on the US Billboard 200 charts. A single from the album, a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar", became a minor hit, peaking at number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is named after Fanny Hill, a 1748 erotic novel which was, in the 1960s, repeatedly prosecuted and republished.

Fanny Hill
Studio album by
Fanny
ReleasedFebruary 1972
RecordedDecember 4–18, 1971
StudioApple Studios, London
GenreRock
Length41:13
LabelReprise
ProducerRichard Perry
Fanny chronology
Charity Ball
(1971)		 Fanny Hill
(1972)		 Mothers Pride
(1973)
Singles from Fanny Hill
  1. "Ain't That Peculiar"
    Released: 1972
  2. "Wonderful Feeling"
    Released: 1972

Background and recording

By late 1971, Fanny had achieved some critical and commercial success, with the title track to the album Charity Ball reaching the Billboard top 40.[1]

Fanny Hill was recorded at Apple Studios in London and produced by Richard Perry. Former Beatles associate Geoff Emerick engineered the album. Regular Rolling Stones sidesmen Bobby Keys and Jim Price performed on several tracks,[2] particularly the Stones-influenced "Borrowed Time".[1]

The opening track was a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar", which was rearranged to include Latin-influenced percussion and a slide guitar solo from June Millington. It was released as a single, reaching No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group also covered the Beatles' "Hey Bulldog". Their arrangement included different lyrics to the original, which were reportedly approved by the Beatles.[1]

Release

The album was originally released in February 1972 by Reprise Records.[3] It reached No. 135 on the Billboard 200 chart.[4] In 2015, an expanded version was released on CD by Real Gone Records, including out-takes and backing tracks.[5]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Robert ChristgauB-[7]

The album received a good review in Rolling Stone, who said "the number of groups that can inspire affection the way Fanny have with this album, simply from the pure exuberance of their music, are far and few between".[8] Robert Christgau had mixed opinions on the album, saying half of the original material was reasonable but that the group "give themselves away" by the two covers that opened each side.[7] In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Mark Deming called it the group's "strongest and most exciting work."[6]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocals[9]Length
1."Ain't That Peculiar"Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, Robert Rogers, Marvin TarplinJune Millington4:05
2."Knock on My Door"Nickey BarclayJean Millington3:20
3."Blind Alley"Barclay, Alice de BuhrBarclay, Jean Millington4:15
4."You've Got a Home"June MillingtonJune Millington3:50
5."Wonderful Feeling"Jean MillingtonJean Millington3:19
6."Borrowed Time"BarclayBarclay3:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocals[9]Length
7."Hey Bulldog"John Lennon, Paul McCartneyMillington, Millington, Barclay3:56
8."Think About the Children"June MillingtonMillington, Millington4:02
9."Rock Bottom Blues"Millington, Millington, Barclay, de Buhrde Buhr (harmony vocal by Barclay)3:07
10."Sound and the Fury"June MillingtonJune Millington3:05
11."The First Time"BarclayBarclay4:49
Total length:41:13
2015 expanded edition CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Tomorrow" (album outtake)June Millington2:16
13."Young and Dumb" (non-album single, 1972)Ike Turner3:33
14."No Deposit, No Return" (unissued recording, circa 1971)Barclay2:27
15."Wonderful Feeling" (single version; remix)Jean Millington3:17
16."Rock Bottom Blues" (backing track)Millington, Millington, Barclay, de Buhr3:08
17."Rock Bottom Blues" (original vocal)Millington, Millington, Barclay, de Buhr3:14
Total length:59:50
Notes
  • Tracks 12, 15–17 from Fanny Hill sessions; recorded at Apple Studios, December 1971.
  • Track 13 produced by Roy Silver, Mark Hammerman and Lord Trenchtown, engineered by Robert Appère.
  • Track 14 recorded at Village Recorders, Hollywood. Produced by Richard Perry, engineered by Richard Moore.[10]

Personnel

Taken from the album's sleeve notes.[9]

Fanny

Additional personnel

Technical personnel

References
  1. "Fanny – Fanny Hill". Rebeat Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. "Fanny Hill – Fanny – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  3. "How Warners Plans on Beating The Odds Again : February 72 releases". Billboard. March 4, 1972. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  4. "Fanny Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  5. "Fanny Hill [Expanded Edition]". AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  6. Deming, Mark. "Fanny Hill". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  7. "Fanny". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  8. Edwards, Gavin (June 11, 2015). "20 Rock Albums Rolling Stone Loved in the 1970s That You Never Heard". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  9. Fanny Hill (Media notes). Reprise Records. 1972. K 44174.
  10. Fanny Hill (Expanded Edition) (Media notes). Real Gone Music. 2015. RGM-0369.
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