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.
Club-A-Gogo
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hangs around town at the Club-a-gogo
Takes all my money for the picture show
But I know she spends it at the club-a-gogo
Let's go babe, let's go, I love you, come on, yeah!
It's one of the coolest spots in town
You take too much tho' it's bound to get you down
He's a big shot at the club-a-gogo
Babe, come on, let's go, let's go babe, yeah!
Now they play the blues there every day and every night
Everybody monkeys and they feel alright
Ask my friend, Meyer he'll tell you so
That there ain't no place like the club-a-gogo
Let's go babe, ah let's go, come on it's alright, s'alright, s'alright
yeah!
I guess I can't blame her for goin' up there tho'
The place is full of soul, heart and soul, baby
It's alright dad, John Lee Hooker, Jerome Green,
Rolling Stones, Memphis Slim up there, Jimmy Reed too baby,
Sonny Boy Williamson baby
(Burdon/Price)
The Animals' song "Club-A-Gogo" is about the singer's lover who has found a new place to go, the Club-a-gogo, which is located in town. The singer is evidently not pleased that his lover is spending all his money there, but he seems to recognize that the Club-a-gogo is one of the coolest spots in town. The place is full of soul, and it's not hard to see why his lover is drawn to it. They play the blues there every day and every night, and everybody monkeys and feels alright. The song suggests that the Club-a-gogo is a place that offers a unique experience that simply can't be found anywhere else in town. The singer seems resigned to the fact that his lover will continue to spend his money at the Club-a-gogo, but he also seems to recognize that it's a place that brings joy and happiness to those who go there.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby found a new place to go
My girlfriend has discovered a fresh club to visit
Hangs around town at the Club-a-gogo
She loiters in the Club-a-gogo in the city, probably often
Takes all my money for the picture show
All my cash goes to watching movies (which she might have spent at Club-a-gogo)
But I know she spends it at the club-a-gogo
I believe she squanders my money at Club-a-gogo
Let's go babe, let's go, I love you, come on, yeah!
I would love to go anywhere with her as I am in love with her
It's one of the coolest spots in town
Club-a-gogo is among the trendiest hangout spots in town
You take too much tho' it's bound to get you down
If you overdo things (like partying) common at Club-a-gogo, it's sure to affect you adversely
She's got a boy-friend they call Big Joe
My girlfriend is seeing someone called Big Joe at Club-a-gogo
He's a big shot at the club-a-gogo
He is very popular at Club-a-gogo
Babe, come on, let's go, let's go babe, yeah!
I urge her to move on, and we should go somewhere else
Now they play the blues there every day and every night
Blues music is played non-stop in Club-a-gogo
Everybody monkeys and they feel alright
Everyone fools around and feels happy in Club-a-gogo
Ask my friend, Meyer he'll tell you so
My friend Meyer can vouch for it (that Club-a-gogo is great)
That there ain't no place like the club-a-gogo
There is no other place like Club-a-gogo
Let's go babe, ah let's go, come on it's alright, s'alright, s'alright yeah!
I excitedly invite her to go anywhere out of Club-a-gogo, but assure her that everything will be alright
I guess I can't blame her for goin' up there tho'
I think I can't fault her for going there
The place is full of soul, heart and soul, baby
Club-a-gogo is a soulful place and full of emotions
It's alright dad, John Lee Hooker, Jerome Green,
Famous musicians such as John Lee Hooker and Jerome Green play in Club-a-gogo
Rolling Stones, Memphis Slim up there, Jimmy Reed too baby,
Other famous musicians like Rolling Stones, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Reed play there too
Sonny Boy Williamson baby
Even Sonny Boy Williamson performs at Club-a-gogo
Writer(s): Burdon, Price Copyright: Carbert Music Inc.
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@muppetrowlf1473
The Genius of Girls Aloud songwriting team. Biology is a brilliantly crafted record.
@thetriumphofthethrill2457
The way the stomping beat alternates with the boogie is music of the highest order. And with Eric Burdon's voice sheer magic.
@meloland5649
That voice... Great Eric Burdon.
@andresjmb
This is where Girls Aloud took the Biology intro from
@jamesmurdoch9805
Place to be in Newcastle in the 1960s!
@wildbillfirehands
Can't help but smile. I had a transistor radio when The Animals topped the charts for record time with House of the Rising Sun. And I lived When I was young, and loved Monterey, etc, etc, etc...Bring It On Home To me....
@izzy_is_oran9eyt694
Izzy loves British rock 🎸 💘 Enjoy 1965.
@alauraroarialis8815
where has this been all my life??? HOTDAMN!
@Fernangelist
Why don't you fool me, feed me, say you need me without wicked games?
Come on and hold me, hug me, say you'll love me and not my dirty braaain.
@belindadevery1053
That is, gelmann B side of Don't let me be misunderstood on my 45!