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.
Talkin' 'Bout You
The Animals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my way (talkin' about you)
Nobody but you (talkin' about you)
Talkin' about you (talkin' about you)
You know how to love me
In my way
Nobody but you
I do mean you, you, you!
In my way
You're always there
Every night and day
Nobody but you
I do mean you
Talkin' 'bout you
Whoa-oh yeah
I'm gonna talk
Talk about you
Every day
Every night
You know on Monday
I'm gonna talk
On Tuesday
I'm gonna talk
All day Wednesday
I'm gonna talk
Every day (hey)
Every night (hey)
It's alright (hey)
Gonna talk (hey)
Talkin' 'bout (hey)
Tell my brother (hey)
Tell my mother (hey)
Tell my sister (hey)
Tell my father (hey)
Come on (shout)
You make me (shout)
You make me (shout)
You're makin' me (shout)
Feel like I want to (shout)
Jump up now (shout)
Come on now (shout)
Everybody (shout)
Everybody (shout)
I'm feelin' (shout)
That I want to (shout)
The lyrics to The Animals' song "Talkin' 'Bout You" appear to be an ode to a lover who is treasured for understanding and loving the singer in their own unique way. The repetition of the phrase "talkin' 'bout you" emphasizes the importance of this person and their role in the singer's life. The line "nobody but you" further emphasizes their one-of-a-kind nature.
The singer goes on to proclaim that this love is present both day and night, and that they feel the need to talk about this person constantly to their family and friends. The repeated exhortation to "shout" suggests an exuberant celebration of this love, and the desire to jump up and dance underscores the joy that this person brings to the singer's life.
Overall, the song "Talkin' 'Bout You" seems to be a tribute to the kind of love that is rare and special, and that brings an incomparable level of joy and excitement to the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Who knows how to love me (talkin' about you)
I'm referring to you, the one who knows how to love me.
In my way (talkin' about you)
You love me the way I need to be loved.
Nobody but you (talkin' about you)
No one else loves me the way you do.
Talkin' about you (talkin' about you)
I'm talking about you, the one I love.
You know how to love me
You understand how to love and care for me.
In my way
You love and care for me in a way that I need.
Nobody but you
No one else can replace you in my life.
I do mean you, you, you!
I am emphasizing that it is you who I love and care for.
You're always there
You are always present for me whenever I need you.
Every night and day
You are there for me both day and night without fail.
Talkin' 'bout you
I'm referring to you, the one who has captured my heart.
I'm gonna talk
I am going to speak about you.
Talk about you
I will speak about how much I love and value you.
Every day (hey)
I will speak about you every day.
Every night (hey)
I will speak about you every night.
It's alright (hey)
It's alright for me to talk about you all the time.
Gonna talk (hey)
I will talk about you.
Tell my brother (hey)
I will even tell my family members about how much I love and value you.
Come on (shout)
Let's do this.
You make me (shout)
You make me feel so good that I want to shout about it.
Feel like I want to (shout)
I have so much love and excitement in me for you that I feel like shouting.
Jump up now (shout)
I am so excited that I want to jump and shout.
Come on now (shout)
Join me in expressing our excitement and love for each other.
Everybody (shout)
Let's all express our love and excitement together.
I'm feelin' (shout)
I have so many emotions that I need to express through shouting.
That I want to (shout)
I want to shout out my love and excitement for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Charles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind