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.
You can also see The Animals on Last.fm.
The House Of The Rising Sun
The Animals feat. Eric Burdon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
Dear God, I know I was one
My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
And my father was a gamblin' man
And the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase in the trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a trump
Oh mother, tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Don't spend your life in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun
I got one foot on the platform
And another on the train
And I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain
There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
Dear God, I know I was one
Dear God, I know I was the one
"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years, but it was popularized by The Animals in the 1960s. The song tells the story of a young man who has grown up in New Orleans and has been led astray by the lure of the city's infamous brothel, The Rising Sun. He warns others not to follow in his footsteps and to avoid the sinful lifestyle that he has fallen into. The song paints a dark and desperate picture of a life that has been ruined by the pursuit of temporary pleasures.
The lyrics suggest that the singer's parents were not able to provide him with the guidance and support that he needed growing up. His father was a gambler who was always chasing his next win, and his mother was a tailor who was likely too busy to pay much attention to her son's behavior. The singer finds himself caught between the two worlds of his parents, trying to make a life for himself while avoiding the pitfalls that they fell into.
The song is a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of living in the moment and ignoring the consequences of our actions. It is also a commentary on the socio-economic realities that cause people to turn to vices like gambling and prostitution in order to survive. The Rising Sun represents a place of both temptation and ruin, a place that has destroyed the lives of many poor boys like the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a house in New Orleans
In New Orleans, there exists a notorious place that people call the Rising Sun.
They call the Rising Sun
The name of this infamous place is the Rising Sun.
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
This place has destroyed the lives of countless impoverished young men.
Dear God, I know I was one
I am well aware that I am one of those poor boys whose life was ruined by this place, and I call upon God for help in my current situation.
My mother was a tailor
My mom worked as a seamstress.
She sewed my new blue jeans
She made me a new pair of blue denim pants.
And my father was a gamblin' man
My dad was a professional gambler.
Way down in New Orleans
He lived and worked in New Orleans, which is located in the southern part of the United States.
And the only thing a gambler needs
The one thing that every gambler requires
Is a suitcase in the trunk
Is a suitcase packed and ready to go in the trunk of his car.
And the only time he's satisfied
A gambler only feels content
Is when he's on a trump
Is when he hits the jackpot, and all the chips are falling in his favor.
Oh mother, tell your children
I plead with all the moms out there
Not to do what I have done
To teach your kids not to follow in my footsteps and make the same mistakes that I have made.
Don't spend your life in sin and misery
Do not spend your precious time on Earth living in sin and misery,
In the House of the Rising Sun
By visiting the infamous establishment known as the House of the Rising Sun.
I got one foot on the platform
I am standing with one foot on the platform
And another on the train
And my second foot is already getting onto the train
And I'm goin' back to New Orleans
I am on my way back to the city of New Orleans, for reasons unknown.
To wear that ball and chain
I am going to that miserable place again, where I will be forced to wear the ball and chain of my ill-fated destiny.
There is a house in New Orleans
There is still that infamous place located in the city of New Orleans.
They call the Rising Sun
It's still known as the Rising Sun.
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
It continues to be responsible for the downfall of many impoverished young men.
Dear God, I know I was one
Once again, I pray to God, admitting that I was one of them.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alan Price
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HolidayMusic
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@ederryco
Elvis P. In Las vegas 1970 suspicious mind😊😊
@n_hasss4280
No easy way out
@mfouad6443
Elvis - Rubberneckin' from the original scene in the movie " Change of habit "
@beatricecavanna4303
Don't stop me now..... all the queen's songs!!
@user-md2zz3er6f
~х
@ROCKAlEX-zl5hb
Don't worry you are not the only one listening to this masterpiece in 2024.
@BiGgUsGaMiNg
Let’s go my boi! Still one of my favourite songs ever since I was 5
@MusicGamer1235
Same
@ROCKAlEX-zl5hb
@@MusicGamer1235so cool man!!!