The Animals
The Animals were a British rock band of the 1960s, formed in Newcastle. The… Read Full Bio ↴The Animals were a British rock band of the 1960s, formed in Newcastle. They were part of the British Invasion, being one of the most popular bands of their era. Known for their gritty, raw, bluesy sound and hard-voiced frontman Eric Burdon, as exemplified by their signature songs House of the Rising Sun and Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, the band underwent numerous personnel changes, while influencing the later heavy metal music with the riffs of their rock songs such as We Gotta Get Out Of This Place and It's my Life. They emerged as an exponent of psychedelic music before dissolving at the end of the decade. In 1983 they had a comeback and toured for six months before disbanding forever.
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.
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.
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The Animals Lyrics
A Girl Named Sandoz Well I met a girl called Sandoz And she taught me…
Ain't Got You I got a sixty-five Cadillac Sparetyre on the back I got a…
Ain't That A Shame if you have a look around you can you see a…
Aint Got You I got a sixty-five Cadillac Sparetyre on the back I got a…
All is one We are one We are one I'm a part of you you are…
All Night Long I ain't got nobody In this world alone I have nobody to…
Animals There's a little voice underneath the sand It'll shake you o…
Anything For you, my friend, I'd do anything Shine your shoes, anythi…
Around And Around Have you ever got the feeling That they're coming after you?…
As the Crow Flies As the crow flies, baby Will I ain't so far from…
Baby Let Me Take You Home Baby can I take you home Baby let me take you…
Baby What's Wrong Oh baby, honey what's wrong with you? Well now baby, honey…
Baby What's Wrong? One of these days and it won't be long Youre gonna…
Big Boss Man Big boss man Can you hear me when I call Big boss…
Blue Feeling Sit here and wonder what am I so blue Is it…
Bo Diddley Now listen here to the story of Bo Diddley The rock…
Boom Boom Boom, boom, boom, boom Gonna shoot you right down Take…
Bright Lights Big City Bright lights, big city they've gone to my baby's head Brigh…
Bring it On Home If you ever change your mind About leaving, leaving me behin…
Bring It On Home to Me If you ever change your mind About leavin', leavin' me behin…
Brother Bill Some People say it was cocaine Some people say it was…
Bury My Body Bury my body Lord, I don't care where they Bury my body Lord…
Bye Bye Sonny Bye Bye What's gonna happen to you? You have woke up too soon And…
Cheating Oh see, see see rider Girl see, what you've done Oh, oh,…
Clapping There are no lyrics on Clapping. Just clapping hands.…
Club A Go-Go My baby found a new place to go Hangs around town…
Club Au Go Go My baby found a new place to go Hangs around town…
Club-A-Gogo My baby found a new place to go Hangs around town…
Club‐a‐Gogo My baby found new place to go Hangs around town at…
Dimples I love the way you walk Said I'm crazy 'bout your…
Don It feels different You look at me and say I've changed Would…
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Baby, can you understand me now? Sometimes I get a little…
Don't Bring Me Down When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Don't Let Me Be Baby, do you understand me now? Sometimes I feel a little…
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Baby, can you understand me now? Sometimes I get a little…
Don't Me Bring Down When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Don't Want Much Well I don't want much I just want a little bit…
dont bring me down When you complain and criticize I feel I'm nothing…
Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood Baby, can you understand me now? Sometimes I get a little…
F-E-E-L I feel alright, feel alright, feel so good, feel so…
Fake Plastic Trees Warm spring tides with an afternoon breeze Eyes lie still at…
Fattening Frogs for Snakes It took me a long time, to find out my…
Favorite Enemy Well, I′ve been looking around I get the feeling that someon…
Fire On The Sun All the shame you gave me just won’t ever be…
For Miss Caulker Well, you've been gone, For fourteen long days Yes, you've b…
Gin House Blues Stay away from me everybody, 'cause I'm in my sin …
girl can't help it She can't help it, the girl can't help it She can't…
Going Down Slow I have had my fun if I never get well…
Gonna Send You Back To Georgia Oh-oh-oh-oh You know that you had nothin' when I met you,…
Good Times When I think of all the good times that I've…
Gotta get out of this place In this dirty old part of the city Where the sun…
Gratefully Dead There are things I have to say that must be…
Hallelujah I Love Her Let me tell you bout a girl I know She my…
Hard Times Baby, it's the hard times that are putting you down To…
Heartbreak Hotel Since my baby left me I′ve found new place to…
Help Me Girl Girl have you ever been hungry So hungry that you had…
Hey Gyp I'll buy you a Chevrolet, I'll buy you a Chevrolet,…
Hit the Road Jack (Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no…
House of rising sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising…
How You've Changed Oh, how I've loved you Since the day you first told…
I (Don't wanna talk baby, I just wanna dance) (I don't wanna…
I Ain't Got You I got a sixty-five Cadillac Sparetyre on the back I got a…
I Believe to My Soul One of these days and it won't be long You're gonna…
I Can Ever since I was a little kid, I liked to…
I Can't Believe It Why am I lonely, why do I cry, Am I gonna…
I Don't Care No More When we first met, I know what it was A stranger…
I Just Wanna Make Love To You I don't want you to be no slave I don't want…
I Put a Spell on You I put a spell on you because you're mine You better…
I'm a Animal I'm an animal I'm an animal I'm an animal...here to blow you…
I'm Crying I don't hear your knock upon my door I don't have…
I'm Going To Change The World I don't hear your knock upon my door I don't…
I'm in love I'm not in love So don't forget it It's just a silly…
I'm In Love Again Yes it means I'm in love again Had no lovin' since…
I'm Mad I had a friend one time, at least I thought…
I've Been Around I've been around the world, it's true Searchin' for someone …
i´m gonna change the world I don't hear your knock upon my door I don't…
Immigrant Lad And here I sit with a tear in my eye The…
Inside 7. The Animal Inside I'll put my hands on the wall after…
Inside Looking Out Sittin' here lonely like a broken man Servin' my time an'…
It's All Meat The sound of Muddy Waters and the voice of Jimmy…
It's All Over Now Baby Blue You must leave now Take what you need, you think will…
It's All over Now, Baby Blue You must leave now, take what you need, you think…
It's My Life It's a hard world to get a break in All the…
It's Too Late Money, money, money, I gotta find a job It's not very…
Its All over Now Baby Blue You must leave now Take what you need, you think will…
I´m Gonna Change The World I don't hear your knock upon my door I don't…
Jackson I have reasons to run take me away Cause I'm in…
Just A Little Bit I don't want much just want a little bit Don't want…
Let It Be Baby, can you understand me now? Sometimes I get a little…
Let It Rock You know you want it You know you got it You know…
Let the Good Times Roll Come on baby, let the good times roll Come on baby,…
Lonely Avenue Now my room has got two windows but the sunshine…
Loose Change I'm hanging out with the boys Having fun and making noise …
Louisiana Blues I'm going down in Louisiana, baby, behind the sun I'm…
Love Is for All Time Were you and I just an overnight sensation An over-due relat…
Lucille Ah Lucille Baby do your sister's will Ah Lucille Baby do you…
Magic Mountain Well, I'm goin' up, up on Magic Mountain. Well, I'm goin'…
Mama Told Me Not to Come Will you have whiskey with your water Or sugar with your…
Many Rivers To Cross Many rivers to cross But I can`t seem to find…
Maudie "This song was written by John Lee Hooker About his wife,…
Melt Down I won't give up your love Just because the last one…
Memphis Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee Help me…
Mess Around Now there's a dance I can see that the kids…
Monterey The people came and listened Some of them came and played Ot…
Mother Earth Mother Earth is waitin’ for you, yes she is She is…
My Babe My babe, she don't stand no cheatin', my babe My babe,…
My Baby Baby, baby, baby. Baby ate my eight ball. Frothing at…
My Favorite Enemy Well, I've been looking around I get the feeling that someth…
My Favourite Enemy Well, I've been looking around I get the feeling that somet…
New York 1963 Swallow depression like an adult I fucking hate songs about …
Night Time Is The Right Time You know the night time, oh, is the right time To…
Nights in White Satin Nights in white satin, Never reaching the end, Letters I've …
No More Elmore No more running Says my mind All this movement Has just prov…
Nobody But You You're sexy... But I'm not You're ass is hot, my ass…
O Lucky Man! If you have a friend on whom you think you…
Oh My Love I was always able to write my way out Song always…
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show You know I got a letter from a friend of…
Outcast Girl, what have I done? For you to mistreat me this…
Paint It Black Hmm, aahhhh I see a red door and I want to…
Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Baby, can you understand me now? Sometimes I get a little…
Please Send Me Someone to Love Heaven please send to all mankind Understanding and peace of…
Pontiac Blues I found out, What my baby likes. I found out, What my bab…
Pretty Thing You pretty thing, Let me buy you a wedding ring, Let me…
Prisoner of the Light Everlasting, my past song, to my friends Even policemen on t…
Right Time You know the right time (night and day) Is the night…
Ring of Fire (Aaaa...) (Aaaa...) Love is a burnin' thing And it makes a f…
River deep Mountain high River Deep, Mountain High Lyrics When you were a young girl …
Riverside Country Oh baby, stroll with me down by the riverside Oh baby,…
Riverside County Riverside County (Eric Burdon/Alan Price/Hilton Valenti…
Roadrunner Yeah, baby, come one baby, Oh, oh I'm a roadrunner baby,…
Roberta I ain't mad at you Don't you be mad at me I…
Rock Me Baby Baby can I take you home Baby let me take you…
Rosie As I walked across the bridge With a backpack cross my…
San Franciscan Nights This following program is dedicated to the city And people…
San Francisco This following program is dedicated to The city and people o…
San Francisco Night This following program is dedicated to the city and people…
San Francisco Nights This following program is dedicated to The city and people o…
San Fransican Nights This following program is dedicated to the city And people…
See See Rider Oh, see, see see rider Girl, see, what you've done Oh, oh,…
Shake Shake shake shake Listen while I talk to you I'm tell…
She She's got spies and they're looking out for me But it's…
She Sad Yeah Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom Little girl where did you come f…
She Said Yeah Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom Little girl where did you come fr…
She Said Yean Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom Little girl where did you come f…
She'll Return It Hey! Love her in the evenin' Show your home at night Always …
Sky Pilot He blesses the boys as they stand in line The smell…
Smoke Stack Lightning Oh, yeah, smoke stack lightning Hum, hum, shine down on me…
Spill the Wine I was once out strolling one very hot summer's day When…
Squeeze Her Squeeze her, tease her Hey listen fellows You wanna get tha…
St. James Infirmary I went down to Old Joe's Bar On the corner by…
Story Of Bo Diddley Now listen here to the story of Bo Diddley The rock…
Sweet Little Sixteen I put a spell on you because you're mine You better…
Take It Easy If you take your time, you'll get what you want, If…
Talkin Who knows how to love me (talkin' about you) In my…
Talking About You Who knows how to love me (talkin' about you) In my…
That Ain't Where It's At if you have a look around you can you see a…
That's All I Am to You Blackwell-Scott Like old piece of rat That's faint head …
The Animals There's a little voice underneath the sand It'll shake you o…
The Fool Love looks good on you Love looks good on you Love looks…
The Girl Can She can't help it, the girl can't help it She can't…
The house Of Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising…
The Mess Around Now there's a dance I can see that the kids…
The Night Well, here comes the night Its dark shadows passing over me…
The Other Side of Life The Other Side Of This Life To lie, to know a…
The Other Side of This Life To lie, to know a secret just between you and me I…
The Real Me I've been here a million years, You know who I am. Sing…
The Right Time You know the night time, oh, is the right time To…
The singles In this dirty old part of the city Where the…
The Story of Bo Diddley Now listen here to the story of Bo Diddley The rock…
To Love Somebody You don't know what it's like You don't know what it's…
Tobacco Road Oh, I was born in a dump My mama died, daddy…
Tryin To Get To You Well I've been traveling over mountains Even through the val…
We ขอบคุณเรื่องราวที่เคยผ่านมา เวลาที่ดี และร้ายที่เราได้มี ที่…
We Gotta Get Out of This Place In this dirty old part of the city Where the sun…
We've gotta get out of this... In this dirty old part of the city Where the…
What Am I Living For Well, what am I living for if not for you? What…
When I Was Young 'The rooms were so much colder then My father was a…
White Houses White houses in neat little rows, Contrasting against the s…
Wild Thing Wild thing, you make my heart sing You make everything groo…
Winds Of Change 'There are winds of changes blowing Gathering leaves up in i…
Work Song Breakin' up these rocks on-a chain gang …
Worried Life Blues Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord It hurts me so bad…
Year Of The Guru My leader told me to jump in the river The river…
You're on My Mind Monday Friday Weekday Holiday Yeah Every single empty day …