History
First incarnation
Formed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne during 1962 and 1963 when Burdon joined the existing Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass). The Animals' moderate success in their hometown and a connection with The Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964, in time to be grouped with the British Invasion. They performed fiery versions of the staple rhythm and blues repertoire (Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Nina Simone, etc). Signed to the Columbia Graphophone subsidiary of EMI, a rocking version of the standard "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (retitled Baby Let Me Take You Home) was their first UK hit single.
It was followed in June 1964 by the huge transatlantic hit "House of the Rising Sun". Burdon's howling vocals and the dramatic arrangement created arguably the first folk rock hit. Whether the arrangement was inspired by Bob Dylan's version of the song (which in turn was inspired by folk singer Dave Van Ronk) or by blues singer Josh White's (who recorded it twice in 1944 and 1949) or by singer/pianist Nina Simone (who recorded it in 1962 on At The Village Gate, predating Dylan's interpretation) remains a subject of dispute, as does whether all five Animals deserved credit for the arrangement and not just Price.
The Animals' two-year chart career, masterminded by producer Mickie Most, featured singles that were intense, gritty pop covers such as Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me and the Nina Simone number Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. In contrast their album tracks stayed with rhythm and blues, with Hooker's Boom Boom and Ray Charles' I Believe to My Soul being notable examples. Burdon's powerful, deep voice and the use of keyboards as much or more than guitars were two elements that made the Animals' sound stand out.
By May 1965 the group was starting to feel internal pressures. Price left due to personal and musical differences as well as a fear of flying on tour; he went on to a successful career as a solo artist and with the Alan Price Set. Mickey Gallagher filled in for him on keyboards for a spell, until Dave Rowberry replaced him and was on hand for the hit working-class anthems We Gotta Get Out of this Place and It's My Life. Around that time, an Animals Big Band even made a one-time appearance.
Many of The Animals' hits had come from Brill Building songwriters recruited by Most; the group, and Burdon in particular, felt this was too restrictive. As 1965 ended the group switched to Decca Records and producer Tom Wilson, who gave them more artistic freedom. In early 1966 MGM Records, their American label, collected their hits onto The Best of The Animals; it became their best-selling album in the U.S. In February 1966 Steel left and was replaced by Barry Jenkins; a leftover cover of Goffin-King's Don't Bring Me Down and the powerful hard rock tune See See Rider were the last hits as The Animals.
By this time their business affairs "were in a total shambles," according to Chandler (who would go on to manage Jimi Hendrix), and the group disbanded. Even by the standards of the day, when artists tended to be financially naïve, the Animals made very little money from their successes, eventually claiming mismanagement and theft on the part of their manager Mike Jeffery.
Second incarnation
A group with Burdon, Jenkins, and new sidemen John Weider (guitar/violin/bass), Vic Briggs alias Antion (guitar/piano), and Danny McCulloch (bass) was formed under the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals (or sometimes just Eric Burdon & the Animals) in October 1966, and changed direction. The hard-driving blues was transformed into Burdon's version of psychedelia, as the former heavy-drinking Geordie (who later said he could never get used to Newcastle, "where the rain comes at you sideways") relocated to California and became a spokesman for the Love Generation, but also a former heavy metal act and one of the upcoming stars of the genre such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple..
Some of this group's hits included "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" (a tribute to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival), and the anti-war "Sky Pilot". There were further changes to this line-up: George Bruno (a/k/a Zoot Money, keyboards) was added in April 1968, and in July 1968 Andy Summers [sic] (guitar)—later of The Police—replaced Briggs and McCulloch.
By 1969 these Animals had dissolved, and Eric Burdon joined forces with a Latin group from Long Beach, California called War.
The first hit under Eric Burdon & War was the funky/chill-out song Spill the Wine. The Group with 8 members disbanded in July 1971.
Later incarnations
The original Animals line-up of Burdon, Price, Valentine, Chandler, and Steel briefly reunited for a benefit concert in Newcastle in 1968, for an album in 1977 and again for an album and tour (supplemented by Zoot Money on keyboards and Steve Grant on guitar) in 1983. Chandler died in 1996.
In the 2000s Burdon has toured with a new set of musicians under the name "Eric Burdon and the Animals". Periodically during the 1990s and 2000s Valentine, Steel, and Dave Rowberry toured under the name "(Hilton Valentine's) The Animals" and Valentine and Steel under the name "Animals II". Rowberry died in 2003. As of 2005 "Animals & Friends" was also active, consisting of Steel and Mickey Gallagher; this group frequently play gigs on a Color Line ship that travels between Scandinavia and Germany.
Legacy
The original Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Their influence can be heard in artists as varied as The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Canned Heat, David Johansen, Joe Cocker, Fine Young Cannibals, Iggy Pop, Mando Diao and many, many more.
Anything
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shine your shoes, anything
Lose your blues, make love to you
Take you under my wing, anything
For you, my hero, I'd do anything
Paint your picture, anything
Kiss your photograph even though I know you'd laugh
And for you, my love, I would do anything
Kiss your feet and everything
Suffer your pain but I'd ride your train
Spread our tiny wings, baby, anything
And for you, my son, I'd do everything
Protect your mind from everything
I could read your lies, dry tears from your eyes
Spread your tiny wings, anything
'Cause everything is anything
And everything is anything
The Animals' song "Anything" is a testament to the unconditional love and commitment one has for their loved ones. The song is structured as a series of verses, with each one being dedicated to a different person in the singer's life. The first verse is dedicated to the singer's friend, stating that he would do anything for them, be it shining their shoes, making love to them or taking them under his wing. The second verse is dedicated to the singer's hero, whom he would paint pictures for, kiss photographs of and stand beneath their wings. The third verse is directed towards the singer's love, who he would be willing to do anything for, even kiss their feet and suffer their pain. The final verse is dedicated to the singer's son, who he would do everything in his power to protect and support.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the message that everything is anything and vice versa. This could be interpreted as a message of unconditional love and dedication - that there are no limits to what one is willing to do for those they love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Anything" convey a strong sense of commitment and loyalty towards the people who mean the most to us. It showcases how one would do anything, no matter how small, to make their loved ones happy and support them through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
For you, my friend, I'd do anything
I am willing to do whatever it takes to help you.
Shine your shoes, anything
I am willing to perform even the most menial of tasks for you.
Lose your blues, make love to you
I am willing to help you forget your troubles and am even willing to be intimate with you.
Take you under my wing, anything
I am willing to protect and look after you in any way I can.
For you, my hero, I'd do anything
I am willing to go to great lengths to help someone who I consider a hero.
Paint your picture, anything
I am willing to use my artistic abilities to create something special for you.
Kiss your photograph even though I know you'd laugh
I am willing to express my admiration for you, even if it might seem silly or embarrassing.
Stand beneath your wings, Oh, anything
I am willing to support and learn from you, even if it means putting myself in a subordinate position.
And for you, my love, I would do anything
I am willing to make great sacrifices for someone I love deeply.
Kiss your feet and everything
I am willing to show the utmost respect and devotion to someone I love.
Suffer your pain but I'd ride your train
I am willing to endure hardship if it means being there for someone I love and supporting them through difficult times.
Spread our tiny wings, baby, anything
I am willing to take risks and try new things with my loved one, no matter how daunting they may seem.
And for you, my son, I'd do everything
I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect and help my child.
Protect your mind from everything
I am willing to shield my child from negative influences and help them develop a healthy worldview.
I could read your lies, dry tears from your eyes
I am willing to listen to my child, even when they might not be truthful, and comfort them when they are upset.
Spread your tiny wings, anything
I am willing to encourage my child to take risks and explore, even if it means they might fall or make mistakes.
'Cause everything is anything
I believe that there are no limits to what I am willing to do for those I care about.
And everything is anything
I believe that even the smallest gesture can have a big impact and make a real difference in someone's life.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY MCCULLOCH, ERIC VICTOR BURDON, JOHN WEIDER, VICTOR BRIGGS, BARRIE ERNEST JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@intex-lv6od
GOD BLESS YOU, FOR SAYING AND MEANING SUCH PRESICOUS WORDS TO YOUR LOVELY LADY!
@eastwing22
Grown ass man here who loved their music, and here i am shedding tears because I'm immersed and completely relate to this beautiful song. Everything in it speaks for me and a life ...😢
@BootLeggerGuitar
A different time in love and space. Wonderful
@Chuttanooga
It is so great this part of the 60s. I never forget that moment catching Eric into my both arms during a concert in Bonn/Germany in 1991.
@paulabuontempo6436
Chuttanooga you are so lucky .Could you speak with him? Is nice?
@lesliegrace5681
If you're a true friend, I'd think of some of these things 💛 a hero, certainly. Some people need to hear this song.
@cam8520
This is the most beautiful song
@Fatima-Gatti2409
Прекрасно! Впрочем,как и всё,что поёт Эрик Бёрдон!
@earthlove6908
This song is soooo, SOOOO Beautiful....💞💟
@J.A.Hansen
Wonderful