The Animals are a British band that has changed the traditional idea of blues and rhythm and blues. The most recognizable composition of the group was the ballad The House of the Rising Sun.
The history of the creation and composition of the group The Animals
The cult collective was created on the territory of Newcastle in 1959. At the origins of the group are Alan Price and Brian Chandler. Before creating their own project, the musicians played in The Kansas City Five.
The guys were united by a common love for blues and jazz. On the wave of musical preferences, they created their own project. Later drummer John Steel joined the musicians.
Initially, the musicians performed under the creative pseudonym Alan Price Rhythm & Blues Combo. The new team did not fit into the classical description of the ensemble. Some clubs required strict adherence to these ideas from the performing groups. Sometimes the guys took their acquaintances and friends with them to the performances.
For example, Eric Burdon often performed with the team. The young man had an extraordinary voice. At one time he was a member of The Pagans. For some time, Hilton Valentine from The Wild Cat project was listed as a vocalist and guitarist in the band.
The Animals group favorably differed from other bands of that time. Their repertoire included rhythm and blues and blues songs by American bluesmen.
Search for like-minded people
At first, the team performed in various bars, restaurants and nightclubs. These performances not only enriched the musicians, but also allowed them to hone their skills. Actually, then they had an urgent need for a permanent guitarist.
It didn't take long to look for those who wanted to join the young group. Permanent members of the team worked with Burdon and Valentine. After an offer from regular musicians to join the band, they accepted.
In 1962, the musicians finally determined a permanent venue for concerts. That place was the Downbeat nightclub. Then the group began performing under the already well-known name The Animals.
The change of the creative pseudonym did not happen by chance. The musicians relied on the original manner of presenting musical compositions. They relied on keyboards, not on the guitar. In addition, Eric Burdon's vocals added fuel to the fire, literally shouting words into the microphone.
The restrained and calm British were pleasantly shocked by what they heard. And the journalists called the group "animals" (animals).
The creative path of The Animals
In 1963, the team already knew the status and popularity. At home, they were the favorites of the public. The band members decided to expand their horizons. In late 1963, the group performed on the same stage with Sonny Boy Williamson.
The Animals did not perform at Sonny's "heating". It was a full-fledged musical association, where each of the participants was able to show their strengths.
In the same year, the musicians gave a concert at the Newcastle club A Go-Go. This performance was a turning point for the group. Part of the concert was recorded. Later came the first mini-EP. Today, collectors are "chasing" the collection, since the debut EP was released in only 500 copies. It was later re-recorded as In the Beginning.
The second part of the concert (with a performance by Sonny Boy Williamson) was published in 1974. The collection was called The Night Time is the Right Time. Those wishing to listen to the entire concert should pay attention to the compilation Charlie Declare (1990).
One of the collections fell into the hands of the popular London manager Giorgio Gomelsky. In 1964, the musicians moved to London to sign a recording contract with Columbia Records.
Presentation of the debut single of the group Animals
Since that time, the group has been produced by Mickey Most. In the mid-1960s, the band's debut single was released - a track from the repertoire of Bob Dylan Baby Let Me Take You Home. The song took an honorable 21st position in the music chart. Unexpected popularity fell upon the members of the group.
In support of the single, the guys toured with The Swinging Blue Jeans for a whole year. Then they went on their first tour to Japan. On June 11, the single The House of the Rising Sun was released.
The musical composition has not become a novelty for music lovers. The track was first heard in 1933. Numerous cover versions were created for the song, but it was only performed by The Animals that it became a mega hit. The track took an honorable 22nd position in the list of the 500 best songs (according to Rolling Stone magazine).
Music critics were genuinely delighted with Burdon's vocals and Alan Price's unusual arrangement. Later, the musicians said that they recorded the song in 15 minutes.
After the presentation of this musical composition, the musicians became the No. 3 group in world music. From now on, the concept of "British Invasion" is an association with Burdon's vocals.
Debut album presentation
In the same year, the band's discography was replenished with the first full-length album. The album includes cover versions of tracks by Fats Domino, John Lee Hooker, Larry Williams, Chuck Berry and some other artists. The only exception was the track Story of Bo Diddley. The song was written by Burdon with music by Elias McDaniel and performed in the "recitative blues" style of Bob Dylan.
The debut album was warmly received by music lovers and music critics. It took the highest position in the country's music charts. Later, the musicians released an American version of the collection, which differed from the classic version.
Only two years was enough for the group to reach the top of the musical Olympus. The increase in popularity was facilitated by the release of cover versions: Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by Nina Simone. For two years, the musicians actively toured. At the same time they presented their second studio album The Animals on Tour.
The team was very popular among the black population of the United States. The band's popularity was so huge that Ebony wrote 5 pages about the band in their magazine. At the same time, the group performed at the Apollo site. No white-skinned group has been marked at such a high level.
The breakup of the Animals team
In 1965, the musicians released another album. The group reached the peak of popularity, but at the same time, conflicts began to increase within the team. Each of the musicians saw the band's repertoire in their own way. Also, Price and Burdon could not share the lead.
After the next tour, Alan Price left the band. The result of his departure was the creation of the Alan Price Set. Alan's place was taken by keyboardist Dave Rowberry, who was similar in style to Price.
But these were not the last changes. The musicians have terminated their contract with Columbia Records. Soon they signed an agreement with Decca Records with the condition of creative freedom in the choice of material.
After the changes, the band started recording the next album. The new collection was called Animalism. But in 1966, in the midst of recording the record, drummer John Steele left the band. Soon a new member, Barry Jenkins, joined the team.
The new album repeated the success of previous works. Among other tracks, fans singled out the composition Inside Looking Out. The song took an honorable 4th position in the music chart. For a short time there was a truce in the group. But in 1996, conflicts flared up again, and fans learned that the group was breaking up.
Reunion of The Animals
A few years after the official dissolution, The Animals appeared at a Christmas show in Newcastle. Then they broke up again, but in 1976 they reunited under the leadership of Price and Steele. After that, the musicians recorded a new album under the label The Original Animals.
The collection was called Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. The record went on sale a year later, after Chandler (dissatisfied with his playing) re-recorded the bass guitar part.
The album was very coolly received by music lovers and music critics. It peaked at number 70 on the music chart. "Failure" pumped up the mood of the musicians. In the late 1970s, the team once again broke up.
The musicians united only in 1983. This year they presented a new single, Love Is for All Love, which hit the US Top 50. Then came the album Ark.
In 1984, the musicians released another live album. They recorded the collection at Wembley Stadium. All attempts to return to its former glory "failed" miserably. The group broke up again.
At the initiative of Hilton Valentine, the team reunited in 1993. Hilton managed to get Chandler to play with Hilton Valentine's Animals. Steel joined the band a year later. The team began performing under the creative pseudonym The Animals II.
Basically, the repertoire of the new team consisted of hits from The Animals. However, in the mid-1990s, Chas Chandler died of acute heart failure. The team members decided to stop their creative activity for a while.
In 1999, Rowberry joined the group. Tony Liddle did not take the place of the vocalist, and Jim Rodford did not take the place of the bassist. The presented composition returned the former creative pseudonym. In the early 2000s, Rodford left the band and was replaced by Chris Allen. In this composition, the musicians released a live album. Further work of the group was focused on concert activities.
