Nickey Barclay – Diamond In A Junkyard (1976) LP

Gravelly of voice and glum of demeanor, Nickey Barclay turned in one convincing solo album before disappearing. Barclay was a particularly prominent member of the all-female rock band Fanny (her songwriting, vocals, and keyboards underpinned all their albums), and she adjusts to the solo record format with ease. Without the scene-stealing guitar work of June and Jean Millington, Barclay's music is more introspective and sad. Her songs are mainly sound portraits filled with lovers, friends, and even a sadomasochism fetishist for good measure ("Mountains of Madness"), but the overall impression is of a rather lonely woman; it's a feeling compounded by the musical settings -- mainly Barclay's own passionate piano work, supported by a four-piece band and occasional orchestral flourishes. Even her celebrations of love and friendship, like the bouncy, major-key title track, still leave a bittersweet aftertaste. Following the album's release and subsequent commercial failure, Barclay dropped out of sight, emerging at one point in London, where she played small, tawdry pubs and other venues distinctly beneath a performer of her skills. Diamond in a Junkyard remains her only solo recording.