Fancy -

Fancy was an English studio project formed by producer Mike Hurst and guitarist Ray Fenwick. Their 1973 remake of “Wild Thing” became a 1974 North American hit and led to two albums. Fenwick and bassist Mo Foster remained from the first session. Singer Annie Kavanagh and drummer Les Binks completed the working lineup.

Members: Helen Caunt (vocals, 1973), Annie Kavanagh (vocals, percussion, 1974–75), Ray Fenwick (guitar, vocals, 1973–75), Mo Foster (bass, vocals, 1973–75), Henry Spinetti (drums, 1973), Alan Hawkshaw (keyboards, 1973), Les Binks (drums, percussion, 1974–75)

Background

In 1973, former Springfields singer Mike Hurst formed the Solid Gold Organisation. His production catalogue already included Cat Stevens and The Alan Bown. Guitarist Ray Fenwick played in The Syndicats and After Tea before two spells with The Spencer Davis Group. Bassist Mo Foster co-founded Affinity.

Hurst asked Fenwick to recast the 1966 Troggs hit “Wild Thing” for a female singer. Helen Caunt, the October 1971 Penthouse Pet of the Month, sang lead on the session. Fenwick and Foster worked with keyboardist Alan Hawkshaw; drummer Henry Spinetti completed the instrumental lineup. Hurst added backing vocals and named the studio project Fancy.

Atlantic issued “Wild Thing” in November 1973 in the UK. The following spring, “Wild Thing” secured a stateside release and ignited FM radio stations. Its North American success prompted Hurst to assemble a touring band. Annie Kavanagh, who appeared in the London production of Jesus Christ Superstar, replaced Caunt. Les Binks took over from Spinetti, while Fenwick and Foster remained from the initial session.

Wild Thing

Fancy released their debut album, Wild Thing, in 1974 on Antic in the UK and Big Tree in the United States.

The album retains Caunt on the title track and assigns seven songs to Kavanagh. Fenwick sings “Move On” and “Between the Devil and Me.” Guitarist Fenwick and bassist Foster form the instrumental core. Drummer Binks supports Kavanagh on the new material, while keyboardist Hawkshaw and drummer Spinetti remain on the earlier title-track master.

Hurst and Fenwick co-wrote seven cuts. Aside from the Troggs chestnut, they cover songs associated with Elvis Presley (“One Night”) and Peggy Lee (“I’m a Woman”).

“Wild Thing” throbs on a lascivious bass figure, a hacking guitar riff, a viscous synth line, and Caunt’s breathy moans. “Love for Sale” grinds through hard-edged crunch as Kavanagh belts across dense accents. “Move On” trudges beneath Fenwick’s plainspoken delivery and a blunt beat. “I Don’t Need Your Love” glides on a slinky acoustic figure beneath Kavanagh’s seductive phrasing.

“Touch Me” struts through a spare riff beneath Kavanagh’s full-throated command. “I’m a Woman” stomps under broad, declarative phrases from Kavanagh. “Feel Good” rumbles through a dense dance pattern and blunt accents.

A1. “Wild Thing” (2:55) – Chip Taylor
A2. “Love for Sale” (4:34) – Hurst–Fenwick
A3. “Move On” (3:15) – Hurst–Fenwick
A4. “I Don’t Need Your Love” (3:27) – Hurst–Fenwick
A5. “One Night” (3:00) – Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King

B1. “Touch Me” (3:46) – Hurst–Fenwick
B2. “U.S. Surprise” (3:36) – Hurst–Fenwick
B3. “Between the Devil and Me” (3:12) – Hurst–Fenwick
B4. “I’m a Woman” (3:30) – Leiber–Stoller; also covered in 1974 by Maria Muldaur.
B5. “Feel Good” (4:05) – Hurst–Fenwick

Fancy recorded the new material in July 1974 at Music Centre, Wembley, with producer Mike Hurst and engineer Dave Hunt. The LP retained the 1973 “Wild Thing” master. During the same Music Centre period, Hurst and Hunt handled the 1974 self-titled debut and the 1975 album Step Two by Showaddywaddy.

Marianne Llewellyn designed the sleeve around a nighttime group portrait by Richard Dunkley. His recent photography included the 1972 Eddie Hardin album Home Is Where You Find It.

Atlantic issued “Wild Thing” in the UK on November 9, 1973 (b/w “Fancy”). Big Tree reissued the pairing in the United States in May 1974, and the a-side reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached No. 9 in Canada and No. 31 in Australia.

Big Tree followed with “Touch Me” in October 1974 (b/w “I Don’t Need Your Love”), which reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The UK release followed on October 25 through Antic.

Something to Remember

In 1975, Fancy released their second album, Something to Remember, on Arista in the UK. RCA Victor retitled the record Turns You On for the 1976 US edition.

The same quartet returns. Hurst and Fenwick co-wrote four songs, spread amid covers of Mose Allison, Stevie Wonder, and Martha and the Vandellas. Tenor saxist Phil Kenzie arranged three tracks; John Cameron conducted “I Was Made to Love Him.” Backing singers Vicki Brown and Liza Strike join the sessions.

“She’s Riding the Rock Machine” barrels through a long instrumental ascent before Kavanagh enters on a repeated chant; Fenwick cuts across with dramatic guitar breaks. “I Was Made to Love Him” churns slowly beneath slashing strings as Kavanagh drives each phrase through turbulent rises. “You’ve Been in Love Too Long” punches through compact accents beneath Kavanagh’s forceful delivery.

“Something to Remember” glides on a sleek dance figure. “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy” smolders through slow, dramatic lines beneath sustained phrasing from Kavanagh. “The Tour Song” careens through fast dance accents as Kavanagh recounts life on tour. “Stop” swells around Kavanagh’s grand, dramatic delivery.

A1. “She’s Ridin’ the Rock Machine” (6:01) – Hurst–Fenwick
A2. “I Was Made to Love Him” (6:19) – a gender-flipped cover of the 1967 Tamla hit, which Wonder co-wrote with Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, and Lula Mae Hardaway.
A3. “You’ve Been in Love Too Long” (5:00) – originated as a 1965 Vandellas single; written by Clarence Paul, Ivy Jo Hunter, and William “Mickey” Stevenson.

B1. “Something to Remember” (3:03) – Hurst–Fenwick
B2. “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy” (6:15) – Allison
B3. “The Tour Song” (4:14) – Hurst–Fenwick
B4. “Stop” (3:35) – Hurst–Fenwick

Fancy recorded Something to Remember at Music Centre, Wembley, with Hurst and Hunt. Designer Richard Drew, credited as Zacron, created the mixed-media Arista sleeve, which places the band amid photographic cutouts and silver foliage.

Arista issued “She’s Ridin’ the Rock Machine” on March 14, 1975 (b/w “She’s Ridin’ the Rock Machine Pt. 2”).

On June 13, the label followed with “I Was Made to Love Him” (b/w “Stop”).

RCA issued “She’s Riding the Rock Machine” in the United States in April 1976 (b/w “Something to Remember”).

“Music Maker”

Arista issued “Music Maker” under the billing Ray Fenwick and Fancy on November 21, 1975 (b/w “Bluebird”). The non-album single marked the final contemporary release by the group. Hurst produced the record with engineer Hunt, retaining the technical partnership from both albums.

A. “Music Maker” (2:44) – Hurst–Fenwick
B. “Bluebird” (3:24) – Fenwick

After Fancy

The group ended after the “Music Maker” single. Fenwick joined the Ian Gillan Band for the 1976 album Child in Time. Foster resumed session work. Binks later joined Judas Priest and debuted with the band on Stained Class. Kavanagh worked briefly with Neil Innes and Ray Russell before returning to Australia.

Reissues

Angel Air paired both albums on the 2001 CD Wild Thing/Turns You On, with bonus tracks appended to the second album. The 2006 Collectables edition returned Wild Thing to CD.

The January 2021 Lemon/Cherry Red set The Complete Recordings expanded the catalogue to three discs. The first two discs add single edits, B-sides, and newly completed recordings. Its final disc contains five songs recorded at Ronnie Scott’s on June 26, 1975, plus a December 1974 interview for Memphis station WLYX.

Discography: