Fanny's Second Album Charity Ball Was Released 51 Years Ago Today

Earlier this year, I did a retrospective review of Fanny's third album Fanny Hill to commemorate its 50th anniversary. 

Today marked the 51st anniversary of the release of Fanny's second album Charity Ball and would like to offer the same treatment. Featuring an album cover shot by actress Candice Bergen, Charity Ball contains 11 songs of which 10 were originals.

"Charity Ball" - Canadian listeners got a sneak preview the year before on the pressing of their debut album Fanny which was mistakenly released north of the border. In my review of Fanny's "Secret Canadian Album", I noted that the initial version of "Charity Ball" had a jingle jangle feel to it and was a work in progress. There was a void and it was filled courtesy of a blistering June Millington guitar solo. The result was Fanny's first of two Top 40 singles.

"What Kind of Lover" - This was the first of three consecutive songs penned by Nickey Barclay on Side One. In all she wrote or co-wrote, six of the eleven songs on Charity Ball. "What Kind of Lover" features hard edge vocals by Barclay and yet another prominent June Millington guitar solo.

"Cat Fever" - As soon as Alice de Buhr yells, "Cat Fever!!!", Barclay's piano leads a three and a half minute jam. While June Millington has said this is not among her favorite Fanny songs you wouldn't know it from her guitar playing. 

"A Person Like You" - This Barclay composition has a bit of a country flair with June Millington throwing some slide guitar into the mix evoking a "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow pedal steel guitar kind of sound.

"Special Care" - Penned by Stephen Stills, this was the only cover on Charity Ball. Originally appearing on Buffalo Springfield's final album Last Time Around, Fanny turns a good song into an all-time great highlighted by Jean Millington's gritty lead vocal. 

"What's Wrong With Me" - This song has three particular distinctions. First, it is the first Fanny song written entirely by Jean Millington. Second, it is Fanny's first all acoustic ballad. Third, at 1:42, it is also the shortest song in Fanny's entire catalogue. Despite its brevity, "What's Wrong With Me" says a great deal.

"Soul Child" - Side Two begins with an unusual collaboration between Barclay and the Millington sisters. The result is the funkiest song on Charity Ball. Its most notable verse is, "Well she says she won't but you know she will/'Cause she's going to school on her daddy's bill/And she knows she's cool 'cause she's on the pill," sung defiantly by Jean Millington. It represented Nickey Barclay and June Millington's Lennon-McCartney moment. It was also a radical statement to make in 1971 and if Republicans have their way it will be taboo again. 

"You're The One" - Written by the Millington sisters, this song also contains the rather sassy lyric, "Ooh, baby I can make you follow me/Ooh, baby I can make you come." If there is a song on Charity Ball that should have hit the Billboard charts this should have been the one.

"Thinking of You" - While Fanny put their own spin on Buffalo Springfield's "Special Care", this June Millington composition has a very strong Buffalo Springfield vibe to it. The elder Millington sister has made no secret of her admiration of Buffalo Springfield and it shows here.

"Place in the Country" - Along with the title track, "Place in the Country" was first heard by Canadian ears albeit at a more languid pace. Here the tempo picks up slightly and so does the energy in Barclay's vocals.

"A Little While Later" - In my opinion, the closing track is Nickey Barclay's masterpiece. At 5:15, it is the longest song in the Fanny canon. Although it takes a while to build up, never before and never again is she so emotionally raw and vulnerable especially with the verse, "Ooh - And I ain't got a hand to guide me/Ooh - And I ain't got a friend beside me/And I do need a place to hide me/From all of the troubles that bother my head". After building to a crescendo, it and the album closes with a harpsichord which fades out but never fades away.

For your listening pleasure, I have affixed a link to Charity Ball. So go ahead. Dance, stand and move to Charity Ball.