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.
Loose Change
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Having fun and making noise
I'm looking good, feeling fine
I'm number one and I don't lie
Ah, life is but a cocktail bar
Pretty girls, Jaguar
Who said that money can't by me love
Everybody wants to be a movie star
Don't want to spend my life rubbing on the bar
It's only game
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
I push it in, I pull it out
Is this what my life's about
Getting drunk and beeing stoned
Give her your money and you take her home
Suing you, suing me
I just want my money
Who said that money can't by me love
Everybody wants to be a movie star
Everybody can remember who they are
Don't want to spend my life rubbing on the bar
It's only game
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh
Yeah, Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change, loose change
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change, haha
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose change
Loose change, loose change
All I ever get is loose ...
Women get their men
The buried gold of their lives
But if they ever think they want it back
Love, they want some loose change
It's the only thing you can count on
Love ain't never gonna change
Loose change
The Animals's song "Loose Change" portrays the carefree lifestyle of hanging out with the boys, partying, and having fun. The lyrics use vivid imagery to paint a picture of a world with pretty girls, expensive cars, and an excess amount of cash. The singer is portrayed as being good-looking, feeling fine, and being number one. However, the chorus of the song brings a reality check as the singer realizes that all he ever gets is loose change. The verse that follows depicts the darker side of the singer's life as he questions if his life is all about getting drunk, being stoned, and paying for sex. Despite all the luxuries, the singer still feels unfulfilled.
The repeated line "Who said that money can't buy me love" brings The Beatles' song "Can't Buy Me Love" to mind, indicating that money cannot necessarily buy happiness or love. The repeated use of "loose change" could be interpreted as the singer being paid minimal attention and the world around him changing rapidly without him noticing or being able to control it. The song embodies the idea of the hedonic treadmill, where people constantly strive for monetary and material gains but are never satisfied, leading to an unfulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hanging out with the boys
I'm spending time out with my male friends
Having fun and making noise
We're enjoying ourselves and being loud
I'm looking good, feeling fine
I believe I look and feel great
I'm number one and I don't lie
I'm the best and I'm not being deceitful
Ah, life is but a cocktail bar
Life is like a place where you can get mixed drinks
Pretty girls, Jaguar
There are attractive women and fancy cars around
Who said that money can't by me love
Someone claimed that money cannot purchase love for me
Everybody wants to be a movie star
Everyone desires to be a famous actor/actress
Everybody can remember who they are
Everyone is able to recall their identity
Don't want to spend my life rubbing on the bar
I don't want to waste my life working as a bartender
It's only game
Life is like a game that we play
Loose change, loose change
I only receive small amounts of money
All I ever get is loose change
The only money I ever receive is in small amounts
I push it in, I pull it out
I gamble by putting money in and taking it out
Is this what my life's about
Is this the purpose of my existence
Getting drunk and being stoned
Drinking alcohol and using drugs
Give her your money and you take her home
Paying a woman to engage in sexual activities
Suing you, suing me
We're all in danger of lawsuits
I just want my money
I simply want my money back
Women get their men
Women are able to find men
The buried gold of their lives
Their significant other is their greatest treasure
But if they ever think they want it back
If they reconsider their decision to be in a relationship
Love, they want some loose change
They only want love in small amounts
It's the only thing you can count on
Love is the only thing we can rely upon
Love ain't never gonna change
Love will never change
Contributed by Matthew G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.