Fanny's fourth long-player would also be the last to include the original quartet, as
June Millington (guitar/vocals) and
Nickey Barclay (keyboards) would be replaced by
Patti Quatro (guitar/vocals) and
Brie Howard (percussion) on the band's final album,
Rock'n'Roll Survivors (1974). Under the production of
Todd Rundgren,
Fanny pulls out one of their most ambitious efforts, while retaining their abilities to mix anthem-esque rock with increasingly introspective ballads. Likewise -- with the notable exceptions of the obscure cover of
Uncle Dog's "Old Hat" and
Randy Newman's "Last Night I Had a Dream" --
Mothers Pride consists of some of the group's best original material. There is a darker and more pensive edge pervading much of the album, perhaps suggesting the internal struggles that were beginning to divide and ultimately conquer the group. There is a definite sense of longing on "Is It Really You" as well as the two rare
June Millington/
Nickey Barclay co-compositions, "Beside Myself" and "Feelings." Contrasting those works are the decidedly amplified "I Need You Need Me" -- which is also one of
Barclay's most powerful contributions to
Fanny -- and the feel-good rocker "Summer Song." There is also a rare lead vocal from percussionist
Alice de Buhr on the tongue-in-cheek "Solid Gold." In 2002, the Internet-only audio boutique Rhino HandMade compiled all four of
Fanny's albums as well as unissued live tracks, demos, and previously unearthed studio outtakes for a four-disc collection titled
First Time in a Long Time: The Reprise Recordings.