Rock & Roll Survivors (Reis) [Import]

Fanny | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Cherry Red UK
• ASIN: B0029LJ9YG
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,078 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rock 'N' Roll Survivors

2. Butter Boy

3. Long Distance Lover

4. Let's Spend the Night Together

5. Rockin' (All Night Long)

6. Get out of the Jungle

7. Beggar Man

8. Sally, Go 'Round the Roses

9. I've Had It

10. From Where I Stand

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered reissue of the female Rock quartet's fifth and final album, originally released in 1974. It can't be underestimated how important the band are in Rock music history. They're reputation was as musicians first and women second. Their ability, creativity and the level of success they achieved in this field was unprecedented. This album was made without two of the original members, June Millington and Alice de Buhr, who'd moved on and they were replaced by Brie Howard and Suzi Quatro's sister Patti. One of the band's fans was David Bowie, who, during an interview with Billboard in 1999, stated "One of the most important female bands in American Rock has been buried without a trace. And that is Fanny. They were one of the finest...Rock bands of their time, in about 1973. They were extraordinary... they're as important as anybody else who's ever been, ever, it just wasn't their time". Cherry Red. 2009.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The end of the line for Fanny still managed a top 40 hit, nicely remastered for CD, August 13, 2009

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rock & Roll Survivors (Reis) (Audio CD)

It's unfair that Fanny's albums are out of print. A terrific rock 'n' roll band from the 70's the original line up made four strong albums. This the band's fifth and last saw a shift in the personnel; guitarist/vocalist June Millington and drummer Alice de Buhr left the band. Keyboardist/vocalist Nickey Barclay and bassist/vocalist Jean Millington were joined by Patti Quatro on vocals/guitar(The Pleasure Seekers)and Brie Howard on drums(who would leave after the completion of the album).

Bolstered by a top 40 hit "Butter Boy" (written about David Bowie by Jean), "Rock 'n' Roll Survivors" is a good album that sounds extremely good in its CD debut. This isn't the band's best album but it's a very good grand finale for Fanny. Cherry Red has done a nice job of remastering this from the original master tape and includes an informative booklet covering the band's history. Among the other highlights are a dramatically rearranged version of the Stones "Let's Spend the Night Together" which alters the meaning of the song.

It's a pity that there are no new interviews or info about the making of the album. Nevertheless, Cherry Red has done a terrific job of making sure albums that were MIA finally make the transition to CD. I'm happy to finally have this on CD.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars These SURVIVORS Deserve To Be Recognized, September 16, 2009

By 

Jef Fazekas (Newport Beach, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rock & Roll Survivors (Reis) (Audio CD)

Firstly, I have to start off by saying that I'm not a Fanny snob; I consider ROCK 'N' ROLL SURVIVORS as much a part of the band's history as their four previous albums. The fact that it's the only album without core members June Millington and Alice de Buhr is just that....a fact.
That said, it's also a fact that SURVIVORS is the group's weakest album...there are some huge holes in the production (Vini Poncia just was not a strong enough choice to helm the production chores), some spotty lead vocals and some sub-par material. On the flip side of the coin, there are a number of tight, together songs that have really stood the test of time.
The disc opens with the album's propulsive title track. It's synth/percussion/vocals opening is still breath-taking, while Jean Millington's bass lines brilliantly anchor the song. However. the cut's true star is new drummer Brie Howard. While not as strong a drummer (at this point) as de Buhr, Howard was a much better all-around percussionist. Along with solid drumming, congas, timbales and other percussive toys are vividly used throughout the track, culminating in an explosive little solo. Not so great? Keyboard player Nicole Barclay's lead vocal. Most of it is slurred, with roughly 75% of the lyrics being undecipherable (That said, it's VERY easy to make out "They're the only ones who made it/Others couldn't take it/Oh, had to go, had to go", a lyric that, 35 years later, I'm more positive than ever was directed at de Buhr and June Millington). All in all, a good way to kick things off.
In retrospect, it's easy to see why "Butter Boy" was Fanny's biggest hit...the song's absolutely infectious! From the toy piano and finger-snapping opening to the suggestive, thinly veiled lyrics, this is a pop masterpiece. Add a killer lead vocal and powerhouse bass chords from Millington, amazing harmony vocals and a killer sax solo that seems totally organic....well, all I can say is, I'm shocked this little gem hasn't been covered in the past 30+ years ~ there's a dance hit here, just waiting to happen! Mark my word....if the band hadn't broken up and Casablanca hadn't pulled the plug on their efforts to work the single, this baby would have soared into the Top 10!
Not nearly as strong is "Long Distance Lover." I didn't like this song 35 years ago, and I don't like it now...guitarist Patti Quatro's vocal is weak at best, the la-la chorus is horrible and the arrangement is flat. RnRS's low point.
Almost as bad is the band's take on the Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together." Sporting Jean Millington's only questionable lead vocal to date, the arrangement is timid and uninspired, with the instrumentation ordinary and safe. Simply put, Fanny's only misstep when it came to covering a song.
"Rockin'(All Nite Long)" is a nice little jam, but you can't help but feel that Poncia's light touch is holding the band bank...while things burst here, they should have exploded. Quatro's lead vocal is spirited and edgy, with a decent amount of grit, and Howard, Millington and Quatro all have nice, albeit short, solos (where's Barclay's?), but this track should have been a centerpiece instead of just the closer for side one.
"Get Out Of The Jungle" is one of the album's top tracks, with all four musicians in fine form. Everything just comes together...Quatro's lead vocal is earthy and raw, while the arrangement is crisp, the instrumentaion smart and inventive (Barclay's keyboards just sparkle, while the Millington/Howard rhythm section is at it's absolute best). In a just world, this would have been the follow-up hit to "Butter Boy!"
And then there's the smooth, sultry funk of "Beggar Man." The song is still totally hypnotic, but I now wish they had gone a little lighter on the synths here... a little more percussion, a stronger bass presence from Millington, some dirty horns....all of this would have given the track a little more of a "street" vibe. Still, it's a strong cut that hints at what could have been if the band hadn't broken up a little more than a year later.
While "Sally Go Round The Roses" is one of SURVIVORS best tracks, and certainly it's best cover song, there's just something missing. Anyone who continued to follow Brie Howard's career as a drummer/percussionist/vocalist with such bands as American Girls and Boxing Gandhis, or as a much-in-demand session and touring musician, knows that. Even Jean Millington recently stated that she can't get over how reined in Howard sounds here on her sole lead vocal. Nice enough, but barely a hint of the great things yet to come!
The band caught a lot of heat over their take of "I've Had It", with even Nickey Barclay eventually dissing the track. The fact of the matter, though, is that it's one of the album's best cuts. Barclay's lead vocal is one of her best ever, while the band is a BAND, blending together beautifully vs. battling each other. The rhythm section is brilliantly bouyant, Quatro's guitar is tight and taut and the backing vocals are harmonic heaven. Another "Shoulda-been-a-hit!"
Closing things out is "From Where I Stand", a nice enough duet from Barclay and Howard. Once again, I wish things had been punched up a bit....this cut could've REALLY rocked if it had been given the chance. Still, the vocals are good (particularly Howard's), the arrangement is smart and the lyrics are thoughtful ("My friends are closing in on my world/They want to tell me how to live").
So where does ROCK 'N' ROLL SURVIVORS stand....REALLY stand!...35 years down the line? With some definite hits ~ and some major misses! ~ it is clear that this is indeed Fanny's spottiest album. But it also proves that the group was, and still is, the premiere all-female rock band, in EVERY incarnation. We can only guess what this line-up could have accomplished if they had stuck around a little bit longer (As with all my reviews, I'm docking the disc half a star for not including the lyrics, an oversight 35 years ago that should have been corrected with this reissue).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars review, December 28, 2009

By 

Scott Blackerby (Reston, Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rock and Roll Survivors (Vinyl)

You'd think there was some sort of curse on Fanny's final studio collection. Critics have routinely slammed 1974's "Rock and Roll Survivors" labeling it as a desperate slice of corporate sellout, while Fanny's own website doesn't make mention of the album. Could it possibly be that much of a dog?

First a little bit of biographical background. This wasn't a product of the original Fanny. In fact by the time it was released, this was essentially Fanny mark II with original keyboardist Nicole (Nicky Barclay) and bassist Jean Millington being supported by newcomers Brie Brandt-Howard (drums) and Patti Quatro (lead guitar). Signed by Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records, their fifth studio set saw the revitalized band teamed with producer Vini Poncia. In spite of the personnel shake up, musically the album wasn't a major departure for the band. Quatro picked up the writing slack, contributing four tracks to the collection. She also exhibited a likeable voice with a commercial edge and judging by tracks like 'Long Distance Lover' and 'Rockin' (All Nite Long)' was a more than proficient lead guitarist.

- Opening up swathed in cheesy synthesizers (courtesy of James Newton Howard), 'Rock 'n' Roll Survivors' morphed into a strange start-and-stop rock number. With Barclay handling the lead vocal, the up-tempo sections of the song weren't half bad (overlooking the horribly clichéd lyrics). rating: ** stars
- I've always been puzzled by Casablanca's decision to release 'Butter Boy' as a single. With Jean handling lead vocals the song had a very retro-feel to it almost doo-wop - hardly the rock and roll outlaws image these ladies had long cultivated. rating: ** stars
- One of the album's most conventional and commercial tracks, 'Long Distance Lover' sported a radio-friendly chorus and hook, to say nothing of a nice Quatro lead guitar solo. This one would have made a far better choice as a single than 'Butter Boy'. rating: *** stars
- Given the number of times it's been covered, you wouldn't think there was anything left to do with The Stones 'Let's Spend the Night Together'. Well give Fanny credit for turning in one of the better versions. They didn't mess with the melody all that much, rather Jean and company removed all of the original's underlying sense of threat in favor of a playful, upbeat delivery. rating: *** stars
- Written by Quatro and kicked along by her fuzz guitar, 'Rockin' (All Nite Long)' was a decent, if somewhat pedestrian slice of hard rock. The big surprise here was Quatro's voice which proved every bit as good as June Millington's had been. rating: *** stars
- 'Get Out of the Jungle' was a plodding, AOR number that seemed written for commercial exposure, rather than anything else. Thoroughly forgettable. rating: ** stars
- Another Quatro contribution and one of the best songs on the album, 'Beggar Man' boasted a nice Millington bass line that gave the song what was almost a funky edge. Very commercial and catchy. Another one that would have made a nifty single. rating: **** stars
- For my money 'Sally Go 'Round the Roses' was easily the best song on the album. Harmonically rich and sporting an instantly memorable melody, the song's resemblance to The Bangles was stunning. I've actually played this one for friends who've been amazed to learn it wasn't The Bangles. rating: **** stars
- 'I've Had It' found the group taking a stab at Brit-pop a-la something out of the Chinn-Chapman catalog. Kind of a poppy slice of glam rock, I have to admit this one's always been a guilty pleasure to my ears. Always loved the mindless la-la-la-la chorus. rating: **** stars
- 'From Where I Stand' was an interesting blend of 1960s girl group and breezy tropical pop. Barclay seldom sounded as good on lead vocals with the song serving as a showcase for the group's glorious harmony vocals. One of the my favorite performances on the set.

As mentioned, Casablanca tapped the album for a pair of singles in the form of:

- 1974's 'I've Had It' b/w 'The First Time' (Casablanca catalog number NEB 0009)
- 1974's 'Butter Boy' b/w 'Beggar Man' (Casablanca catalog number NEB 814)

Most bands would be thrilled to have recorded such a good album at their creative zenith. Given the circumstances surrounding this one the results were all the more impressive. Well worth looking for since you can still find it fairly cheap.

"Rock and Roll Survivors" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Rock 'n' Roll Survivors (Nicole Barclay) - 4:27
2.) Butter Boy (Jean Millington) - 3:22
3.) Long Distance Lover (Patti Quatro) - 3:35
4.) Let's Spend the Night Together (Mick Jagger - Keith Richards) - 3:31
5.) Rockin' (All Nite Long) (Patti Quatro) - 2:38

(side 2)
1.) Get Out of the Jungle (Patti Quatro) - 3:58
2.) Beggar Man (Patti Quatro) - 4:05
3.) Sally Go 'Round the Roses (Z. Sanders - L. Stevens) - 3:30
4.) I've Had It (R. Ceron - C. Bonaura) - 3:02
5.) From Where I Stand (Nicole Barclay - 6:47

Things continue to go south for the band. Drummer Brandt quit after getting married to keyboardist James Newton-Howard (who'd supported the "Rock and Roll Survivors" sessions). She was quickly replaced by Cam Davis. Unhappy with the band's musical direction and apparently unhappy with Patti Quatro's growing influence, original keyboardist Barclay then headed out the door. Davis and Quatro left in early 1975. Ironically the defections took place just as the single 'Butter Boy' was beginning to gain some airplay. That left Jean without a band to promote the single. She approached sister June about touring and together with keyboardist Wendy Haas, Brie Brandt-Howard back on drums, and Patti Macheta on percussion undertook a brief supporting tour. Complying with June's conditions for a reunion the band played little of no material from the Fanny catalog and began performing as the L.A. All-Stars. Based on the Millington's pedigree major labels began courting the band. In Arista planned on signing them in 1976, but backed out when the Millingtons refused the label's demand that they record and tour under the old Fanny nameplate. And that was it for the Fanny legacy ...