During the British invasion, the two groups that seemingly towered over all other were The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. There were many who followed in their wake during the mid-60's. One group in my opinion that never received the accolades deserving them was The Animals. Part of this might be due to the fact that the original group were only together a few years, not to mention the fact that the first charting single was, "House of the Rising Sun" which seems to be about the only thing you ever hear on the radio from them anymore.
The story of The Animals is truly a tale of two bands, the first steeped in R&B had it's heyday for a three year period (64-66), the second was more adventurous and psychedelic in nature. (67-69) Both are worth checking out, but as the latter was more experimental, the first incarnation was great quality R&B and something you need to check out, especially if you thought the Stones were the only ones doing this kind of stuff.
It was difficult to pick just three songs for the blog, because but you can't go wrong with any of their albums during the 64-66 period. I am a bit partial to Alan Price on the keyboards, but Mick Gallagher fit in well after Price's departure in 1965. The first video we are to hear is a song written by John Lee Hooker in 1961 and was released as a single in December of 1964....here is "Boom Boom" (MGM 13298)
The second song was the follow up to "House of the Rising Sun" and didn't do nearly as well, but that doesn't mean the quality was any less. Here was the Sept. 1964 release of "Gonna Send You Back To Walker" (MGM 13242)
The last of our three songs this morning was the "B" side to "Help Me Girl" (MGM 13636) which was released in November of 1966. This was after the "first" Animals had broken up and technically was an Eric Burdon solo release. (on the album "Eric Is Here")...here is "That Ain't Where It's At"
I would be remiss to mention a couple of songs from the "second" Animals period. The first is one of the more heart wrenching songs written about the Vietnam war (or any war for that matter). There were a lot of anti war songs, and flag waving music as well during that era, most of it now all pretty laughable. "Sky Pilot" (MGM 13939) however, is a one that you have to listen to. It's experimental (especially with it's use of bagpipes), but well worth a listen. By the way, don't listen to the single...check out the full version off of the album, "The Twain Shall Meet"
The second one isn't one his best, and some might not say it's good at all, but if you were wondering the lengths that Burdon would go in his experimentations musically, check out "River Deep Mountain High" (yep...that's the Ike and Tina cover.). It's on the album "Love is" and was on the "B" side of "White Houses" (MGM 14013) here in the states. You may hate it, you may love it (with it's over 7 minute running time you might have both emotions), but it's a great period piece that would have never been done anytime except the late 60's.
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