Fanny Adams


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1 (1970-71)

- Johnny Dick (RIP 2007) -- drums, percussion

- Vince Melounery -- lead guitar

- Doug Parkinson (RIP 2021) -- vocals, rhythm guitar

- Teddy Toi -- bass

 

 

 

 

- The "A" Sound (Doug Parksinon)

- Australia Too (Doug Parksinon)

- The Aztecs (Vince Melounery and Teddy Toi)

- The Bee Gees (Vince Melounery)

- Johnny Dick (solo efforts)

- Duck (Teddy Toi)

- The Life Organsation (Doug Parksinon and Teddy Toi)

- Little Sammy and the In People (Teddy Toi)

- Vance Maloney (solo efforts)

- Max Merritt and the Meteors (Johnny Dick)

- Doug Parkinson (solo efforts)

- Doug Parkinon In Focus (Johnny Dick and Doug Parksinon)

- The Questions (Doug Parksinon)

- The Southern Star Band (Doug Parksinon)

- Sonny Day and the Sundowners (Teddy Toi)

- Tall Poppy Syndrome (Vince Melounery)

- Johnny Thorpe and the Aztecs (Johnny Dick, Vince Melounery

  and Teddy Toi)

- The Vibratones (Vince Melounery)

- Vince and Tony's Two (Vince Melounery and Teddy Toi)

- The Vince Maloney Sect (Vince Melounery)

- The Wild Cherries (Johnny Dick and Teddy Toi)

 

 

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Fanny Adams

Company: Kapp

Catalog: KS 3644
Year:
 1971

Country/State: Australia / New Zealand

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $80.00

 

The short-lived Fanny Adams is one of those bands that deserved better.  Formed in London in 1970, the band brought together the talents of drummer Johnny Dick, lead guitarist Vince Melounery, vocalist Doug Parkinson and bassist Teddy Toi. Playing under the name "Vince Maloney", Melounery was probably the best know of the four, having provided lead guitar on a series of three mid-'60s Bee Gees albums.   He'd previously played  with a number of popular Australian bands including Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, the post-Thorpe The Aztecs and he fronted The Vince Maloney Sect.  Dick and also been a member of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, The Aztecs, Max Merriitt and the Meteors and played with singer Doug Parkinson in the group In Focus.  Parkinson played in Questions and fronted In Focus.  The only New Zealander in the line-up, Toi had been a member of Little Sammy and the In People, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, The Aztecs and Max Merriitt and the Meteors.  While hardly known outside of Australia, the four still had an impressive professional musical pedegree.

 

The band's roots tie back to Melouney who after recording three album with The Bee Gees, quit the group in 1968.  After a short stint supporting Ashton Garner and Dyke, MCA Records signed him to a solo contract.  For his part Melouney was interested in leaving his pop roots behind and forming a hard rock band.  His first move was to recruit buddy and ex-Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs drummer Toi who also happened to be living and working in London as a sessions player. His next two recruits, Parkinson and Dick were working in the Melbourne-based Doug Parkinson In Focus. In Focus had  just won an Australian "battle of the bands" competition (Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds). With Melouney asking them to join Fanny Adams, the pair took their prize money and bought plane tickets to London.

 

Recorded in London with Melouney producing, 1971's "Fanny Adams" featured a collection of seven group composed originals.  Anyone expecting to hear a litany of Gibbs Brothers-styled ballads was in for a major shock.  Melouney was clearly serious in his desire to record a hard rock album and while numberous eviews draw parallels to Led Zeppelin, to my ears the album's blues-rock moves have always reminded me more of Paul Rodgers and Free, or Rodgers' work with Bad Company. Exemplified by tracks like the blazing opener 'Ain't No Loving Left', 'Got To Get A Message To You' and 'You Don't Bother Me' it wasn't a particularly sophisticated album, but that barebones approach reflected some of the most energetic performances I've heard in a long time. As lead singer Parkinson had a deep, growling voice that was perfectly suited for these blues-rock numbers.  He wasn't the most versatile, or subtle singer you've ever encountered, but to my ears he could have given Rodgers a run for his money.  The album's other standout characteristic came in the form of Melouney's guitar.  Clearly his years with The Bee Gees had been frustrating.  Those frustrations came flowing out throughout the album including the crackling opener 'Ain't No Loving Left' and the fuzz powered closer 'They're All Losers, Honey'. 

 

After finishing the recording sessions the band returned to Australia where they attracted some attention with performances at a couple of rock festivals.  Unfortunately taking a page out of the John Lennon "we're bigger than God" book of self-promotion, Parkinson gave an interview to an Australian music newspaper where he boasted about the band's musical talent.  Australian music fans were not too pleased with the band's high opinion of their talents.  Band in-fighting subsequently erupted with various members criticizing one another's skills - Parkinson and Melounery particularly venomous in their commentary.  The final blow came when a fire in a Sydney discothèque destroyed all of the band's equipment.  Within a couple of months and ahead of the release of their album, they formally called it quits. That left MCA/Kapp to release an album without a band to support it.  Needless to say, the label didn't waste a lot of energy promoting the collection.

 

"Fanny Adams" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Ain't No Loving Left (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) -  6:45 rating: **** stars

Darn !!!   'Ain't No Loving Left' started out sounding like a bunch of folkies trying to get in tune and suddenly exploded into a driving '70s blues-rocker.  Powered by Parkinson's massive, growling voice and Melounery's molten guitar riffs (great solos too boot), the song's always reminded me a bit of a top-notch Bad Company performance.  It's one of those performances where you are left to wonder how its been so overlooked.  Loved Parkinson's SOS rhythm guitar contibutions.

2.) Sitting On Top Of The Room (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) -  9:48   rating: *** stars

To my ears the acoustic guitar opening and Parkison's bluesy, forlorn vocals screamed Bad Company.  Clocking it at almost ten minutes, this one clearly overstayed it's welcome, but I have to admit I liked every minute, including the breezy mid-section where Toi got to showcase his melodic bass runs.

3.) Yesterday Was Today (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) -  4:08  rating: *** stars

While sticking with blues-rock, 'Yesterday Was Today' found the band picking up the pace and giving the Dick and Toi rhythm section a chance to showcase their talents. Nice tune, but docked a star for the unnecessary drum and bass solos.

 

(side 2)
1.)
Got To Get A Message To You (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) - 4:38 rating: **** stars

My initial reaction was to cringe thinking they'd elected to do a cover of The Bee Gees' 'I've Got To Get a Message To You'.  Remember Maloney's career having included three years with the Gibbs brothers.  Thankfully it wasn't a cover, rather was another band original.  With Parkinson shifting into a higher vocal register, this one initially reminded me of Black Sabbath trying to emulate Paul Rodgers and Free. It wasn't the most sophisticated or elaborate arrangement you've ever heard, but powered by Maloney's guitar darn if it didn't smolder.   Kapp also tapped an edited version of the song as a single:

 

 

 

 

- 1971's 'Got To Get A Message To You' b/w 'They're All Losers, Honey' (Kapp catalog number K-2120)

 

 

 

 

 

2.) You Don't Bother Me (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) - 4:40 rating: **** stars

'You Don't Bother Me' was still a heavy rocker, but the additional of acoustic twelve string guitar and a nifty chorus, gave the song a more melodic edge.  One of my album favorites.

3.) Mid Morning Madness  (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) - 5:25  rating: **** stars

Lots of reviews compare Melouney's guitar to Jimmy Page and I can kind of hear it on the meltdown solos that power the rocker  'Mid Morning Madness'.  As mentioned, elsewhere his work reminded me more of the late Paul Kossoff, or perhaps Mick Ralphs.  I guess the comparisons ultimately aren't that important as the man could play !!!  Good luck shaking the refrain out of you head.

4.) They're All Losers, Honey (Vince Maloney - Doug Parkinson - Johnny Dick - Teddy Toi) - 4:23  rating: **** stars

In comparison to the six earlier songs, the melody that propelled 'They're All Losers, Honey' was almost breezy ...   Yeah, it was still blues-rock and featured a fantastic, extended Melouney fuzz guitar solo - probably his best work on the whole album. Nice way to end the album.

 

 

Melouney is still active in music and has a website at: Vince Melouney

 

Parkinson went on to a lengthy career in music and acting, before passing on in 2021.  His website is at:

Doug Parkinson Official

 

 

 

 

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