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.
Pretty Thing
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me buy you a wedding ring,
Let me hear the choir sing,
Oh you pretty thing.
You pretty thing,
Let me walk you down the aisle,
Darling, it's where our love is found,
Oh you pretty thing.
Squeeze and hold you tight,
Let me give all my love,
The rest of my life.
You pretty thing,
Let me hold you by my side,
And become my blushing bride,
You pretty thing,
Pretty thing,
Let me dedicate my life,
You will always be my wife,
Oh you pretty thing.
The Animals's song, "Pretty Thing" is a love song that expresses the singer's desire to marry the person they love. The lyrics focus on the proposal and the wedding ceremony, with the singer expressing their willingness to buy a wedding ring, walk down the aisle with their beloved, and dedicate their life to them. The repeated use of "pretty thing" is a term of endearment, emphasizing the singer's love and admiration for their partner.
The first stanza of the song is a bit of a proposal, with the singer asking to buy their partner a wedding ring and hear the choir sing. The second stanza describes the wedding ceremony and where their love is found - a clear indication that the singer believes that marriage is where true love lies. The third stanza is a more intimate portrayal of the singer's love, as they express the desire to kiss, hold, and love their partner for the rest of their life. The final stanza is a declaration of the singer's love and their desire for their partner to become their wife.
Overall, the song is a sweet and romantic declaration of love, highlighting the importance of marriage and commitment. The repeated use of "pretty thing" throughout the lyrics adds a layer of affection and devotion to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
You pretty thing,
Addressing the woman he's singing to.
Let me buy you a wedding ring,
Offering to buy an engagement ring to propose with.
Let me hear the choir sing,
Looking forward to the wedding ritual of hearing the choir sing.
Oh you pretty thing.
Complimenting the woman's beauty.
Let me walk you down the aisle,
Asking to escort the bride on her wedding day.
Darling, it's where our love is found,
Believing that the wedding ceremony is where their love is complete.
Oh you pretty thing.
Repeated compliment.
Let me kiss you gentle,
Asking for permission to kiss her in a tender way.
Squeeze and hold you tight,
Embracing her in a passionate and loving way.
Let me give all my love,
Pledging to give all his love to her.
The rest of my life.
Forever.
You pretty thing,
Repeated compliment.
Let me hold you by my side,
Asking to be by her side and protect her throughout their lives together.
And become my blushing bride,
Proposing for her to become his wife and stand with him on their wedding day.
You pretty thing,
Complimenting her again.
Let me dedicate my life,
Offering to dedicate his life to her and their future together.
You will always be my wife,
Declaring that he will always consider her his wife, no matter what.
Oh you pretty thing.
Final, repeated compliment.
Contributed by Zoe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.