So much of touring and recording back in the day was “hurry up and wait.” We spent a lot of time in airport boarding areas and in studio control rooms. I used to carry an art box, full of drawing materials, etc, and I also kept a journal through the first year or so. As the author, I’m taking license to edit out the sappy poetry and am leaving out names of personal friends, but I do want to share a glimpse of what our lives were like (obviously from my viewpoint) in those early Fanny days. I hope you enjoy it!
Alice
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Friday, January 1, 1971 Whiskey A Go-go, L.A
Hopefully this can be the beginning of a good dynamic sound musically. We’ve begun to dig into our total sound, and dynamics are first on the list. I’m playing at ½ my usual volume. Still, I am told I’m too loud.
Saturday, January 2, 1971 – Whiskey
I’ve cut my volume in ½ again, and I’m still too loud at the beginning of the night. The second set improves, but I’m not getting off nearly as much as I used to. There’s something very physical about beating my drums, and I miss the feeling of exhaustion after a hard set, but at the same time it’s nice not to be as sweaty. It takes almost as much work concentrating on keeping the dynamics down; enough to exhaust me it the end of a night, but it’s more of a head tired that a body tired. Somewhere I must find a happier medium.
Sunday, January 3, 1971
Closing night at the Whiskey and two of our finest sets. Leon Russell & Co and one of Chicago’s members were among the audience, and were all duly stunned. My volume was finally perfect as I was too soft the first set.
Tuesday, January 5, 1971 – practice at Fanny Hill
A draggy day today, as practice gave me no feelings. The girls were into new material (Soul Child) and my brain had just begun to beam into the feeling when both June & Jean suggested two different drum parts. That blew it, and my mind drew a total blank until we managed to get into something else.
Wednesday, January 6th, 1971 – practice at Fanny Hill
Practice was much better today, after publicity shots with Don Lewis. We listened back to the tape of us at the Whiskey, and I really got a lot from it. There were parts in some songs where I’m still playing too much, and messing up the flavor of the tune. Nickey was in a bad humor, but we pierced through the bullshit and got a lot done on “Young and Dumb” and “Place in the Country.
Thursday, January 7th, 1971
11:00 meeting to sign publishing and management contracts with Richard and Roy at Abe’s office. He came in with the picture of his baby daughter. He was so proud. I guess he’s getting his children that he’s wanted for so long? Cocktails at Mouling’s and I was gone for the day.
Friday, January 8th, 1971
Practice is dragging along, but we’re getting it together more every day. Radio commercials were done by Roy, Richard and Murray Roman, who, by the way, is a very “weird” person.
Monday, January 11, 1971
Practice was precise, if a little starting, and we accomplished a lot. Shopping, and a late trip to Studio Instrumental, but I ended up on Marmont at 9:00, so I waited and drove Nickey & Jeannie to the Whiskey. What can I say? The sets were “very” satisfying.
Wednesday, January 13, 1971
Addie and I got together this afternoon and wrote the beginning to “Wizard Pie.”
Friday, January 15, 1971
A waste of valuable time at practice. “Come & Hold Me” was their choice, and the strangest vibes were in the house…..from Jeanie and June and even little Nickey was pissy – on the whole, a fucked day.
Saturday, January 16, 1971
“Rolling Stone” interview and my foot got stuck in my mouth when she asked each of us if being a chick musician made us more sexually vulnerable or independent, and I answered, “I’d say that would be a pretty close draw.” For some reason, she jumped on that and really dug into me for an explanation.
Thursday, January 21, 1971
Practice was much better today. Even if we started later, we got more done because everyone was into it for a little while at once – for once. Maybe things will pick up better tomorrow…..
Friday, January 22, 1971
I revisited Mason City, 1890, and Balzac reigned “Queen Supreme” on my head. Candice Bergen took pictures of us and a health foods picnic lunch at Greystone Mansion. We were all, Nickey too, after much coaxing, dressed in “My Fair Lady” dresses with hats and parasols from “The Music Man.” A fantastic afternoon, and I’m sure the pictures were unbelievable. I was the least inhibited I’ve ever been in front of a camera. Candice put us at ease, and later said to Roy, “I love the way they love each other.”
Sunday January 24, 1971
We discovered at practice today that we have 3 new tunes ready for the Whiskey. I find that impressive after the last two weeks of frustration, depression and un-inspiration. Two of the three are original as well. Will wonders never cease?
Tuesday, January 26, 1971
12 – 7 practice & nothing of significance to feel.
Wednesday, January 27, 1971
We had a sound check from 12:30 to 3:00, and as usual, Nickey was “off”, but at least we know what to expect from her. Barbra Streisand was at the first set, and she & Ryan O’Neil came up after and talked for a few minutes before they split. I was nervous, but didn’t show it too badly.
Monday, February 1, 1971
I started my publishing company today.
Wednesday, February 3, 1971
Promotion tour for the day in San Francisco, and I saw Abbie and met Carp for Chinese dinner with Roy and the group. We visited two FM stations and were interviewed on both.
Friday, February 5, 1971
Private party at the Factory for the Fig. The sound was of course hard to get used to, but the audience was impressed and happy with our sound. Roy & Richard were happy with the sound, but as usual, with my drums falling apart, I seemed to be swimming in the middle of June’s guitar. (Editor’s note: I turned 14 on this day!)
More to Come!