Fanny were probably the first all female out and out rock band to break through to commercial chart success. OK there had been all girl singing groups and significant rock drummers such as Maureen Tucker in The Velvet Underground, and rock session players such as Carol Kaye. But the touring hard rockin band was in the early seventies a quintessentially all male preserve. Until Fanny came along and broke into it.
Now, it has to be said that apart from their gender as a rock band, their is nothing particularly groundbreaking about their sound. Charity Ball is a very good example of the rollicking rocking American style honky tonk, it neatly fits into this conventional rock genre. But it is a catchy old tune and one that builds nicely through its guitar riff breaks, and chanting exchanges.
In the UK they were unable to capitalise on Charity Ball's success, and even back in the US they only had two chart hits before disbanding in 1975. The significance of what they achieved should not,however, be underestimated. Nor their influence and encouragement to subsequent all female bands like the Go Go's, The Bangles and The Runaways, which was huge.
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