The Animals

Animal Tracks (1965)

Formed in Newcastle, England in 1960, the Animals have since become rock icons. This record, their third, was released (in the States) on the day I was born.

Eric Burdon was a bluesman, pure and simple. This is one of the many British-released albums of the mid 60s that sort of showcased how American blues influenced our counterparts across the pond. It wasn’t just the Beatles and Stones, but the Kinks and this band that led the way.

Opening with “Mess Around,” the piano-driven cover written by Ahmet Ertegun (co-founder of Atlantic Records), the album proceeds through some great 60s standards like Chuck Berry’s “How You’ve Changed” and Ray Charles’ jumping rhythm and blues versions of “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” as well as the tear-jerker “I Believe To My Soul.” This is good stuff, and the Animals covered it perfectly.

Side two kicks off with “I Ain’t Got You” by Clarence Carter (who was responsible for the raunchy “Strokin’” in the 80s). Another familiar track on this record is “Let The Good Times Roll,” also performed by Charles, B.B. King, and Roy Orbison from that era. Recorded originally in 1946, it is essential R&B and has been recorded by over 25 artists through 2001.

Eric Burdon penned the only original on the release, “For Miss Caulker,” a blues-soaked bar song that was adapted by the Stones on one of their first American tours.

The Animals had other hits, including “House Of The Rising Sun,” “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” “It’s My Life” and the psychedelic, seven-minute “Sky Pilot.”

The Animals got back together in 1976 and again in 1983, but their generation had succumbed to disco and pop. In 1994, Burdon and the Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Oh yeah, Go Cubs! (Dennis Donahue)

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