Customer Reviews

Absolute Animals 1964-1968

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I had been searching for a comprehesive collection of The Animals for something like 20 years but I never managed to find one that I liked. The only collection I ever saw that included all of their hit singles was a 2 CD set from Britain that contained far more material than I wanted at a price I was unwilling to pay. At long last, in 2003, Australia's Raven records saw fit to release "Absolute Animals: 1964-1968". This impressive single disc collection includes all of the M-G-M hits from the original 1964-1966 Animals as well as hits by the new incarnation of the group known as Eric Burdon and the Animals from 1967-1968. These are all the original recordings you would remember from the radio.

Enjoy once again some of the group's earliest hits including their fabulous debut single "The House of the Rising Sun" which went all the way to the top of the charts in the summer of 1964. Also are included are Top 20 hits like "It's My Life", "See See Rider" and "When I Was Young" from 1967, Perhaps my favorite Animals tune of all time is the 1966 hit "Help Me Girl" which is also included here. After a couple of personnel changes in 1966 and 1967 the group would re-emerge with a somewhat different sound and would be known as Eric Burdon and the Animals. It was this group that produced such great hits as "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" and "Sky Pilot" which are all part of this collection as well.

As a collector I am very pleased to report that "Absolute Animals: 1964-1968" also comes with a neat 12 page booklet describing the history of the group and what various group members are up to today. I had the pleasure of seeing Eric Burden perform at a local festival a number of years ago. He still looked and sounded pretty much the same. If you are an Animals fan or a collector I would snap this one up while it is still available. Kudos to Raven records for a long overdue and well thought out anthology of an important British Invasion group. Very highly recommended!

The Animals, a group that included Eric Burdon and Alan Price, were the first major pop stars to emerge from Newcastle, a city located about 300 miles north of London, therefore far removed from where most talent scouts were searching. It is fortunate for us all that the Animals were discovered because they recorded some of the best R+B music to come of the UK in the sixties.

Their biggest hit was House of the rising sun, a re-working of a folk song (apparently inspired by Josh White's version of the song) that gave them a transatlantic number one hit. They had five other top ten UK hits with Mickie Most, these being I'm crying, Don't let me be misunderstood (a cover of a Nina Simone song), Bring it on home to me (a Sam Cooke cover), We gotta get out of this place and It's my life.

Alan Price departed for a solo career even before the rest of the group split with their producer. After the split, they switched to another record label, where they had some success using the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, including two more UK top ten hits (Don't bring me down, San Franciscan nights) and several lesser hits.

This collection contains all the essential hits from the original Animals and from the later recordings by Eric Burdon and the Animals. As such, it provides a great introduction to the group. Committed fans may prefer to ignore this and go instead for Complete Animals (covering everything they recorded with Mickie Most) and a separate compilation for Eric Burdon and the Animals. Nevertheless, this compilation will be sufficient for most people. In any event, Alan Price's solo recordings must still be acquired separately - they have never appeared on any Animals compilation.

In the Summer of 1964, The Beatles Ruled Supreme, They controled the Pop Charts and Changed the Direction of Popular Music Forever. Then Something Different came along, with the First Notes from THAT Organ, the Sound of The Animals was Born. If you weren't there, it's hard to Imagine today how Big a Deal this New & Gritty Music was. But it was Un-Leashed onto our Little Tinty-Sounding Transister Radios on Glorous AM Waves. "House of the Rising Sun", was Dark, Brooding and Very,Very Cool. These Five Guys From Newcastle were Schooled in American Blues and this Music had an Edge that was lacking from the other Brit-Beat Groups.

From 1964 thru 1966 The Animals used their time well. With Ten Singles Cracking the American Top Forty this Group was Right behind the Fab Four in Popularity. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "We Gotta Get Out of this Place", "It's My Life" and "Don't Bring Me Down are all featured here and it's Still All Good.

In 1967 with the Departure of all the Original Members besides Eric Burdon, The band Became "Eric Burdon and The Animals". The Sound was Different as well with The new tunes "Monterey", "San Francisco Nights" and "Sky Pilot" reflecting what was on Eric's mind during this Period. Too Bad the Song: "Sandoz" isn't included here because that would REALLY show you what Eric was doing during Much of 1967-68.

With 19 Songs, this is the Best Single Disc Collection of this Amazing Band out there right now, Raven Records, Australia has again done a FINE JOB. If you were to own One CD from the Animals this One would do the Job quite well.

A Very Important Part of Sixties Music, The Animals, ABSOLUTELY ... FOUR STARS !!!

With so many Animals compilations out there it's difficult to know what to go for but this is probably the one. Why?... well it includes the best tracks from their first iteration as one of the UK's finest R&B groups and their second as one of the most successful of the West Coast's psychedelic immigrants. All the hits are here, from their brilliantly raw first single "Baby Let Me Take You Home" through to their infectious celebration of San Francisco's summer of '67 "Monterey" festival, with each driven along by Eric Burdon's superb, searingly powerful blues-rock voice that converts even the ordinary into something special. Talented & inspired, history is increasingly consigning them to "also-rans" which is very unfair because, at their peak, which this compilation captures, they were as good as anything on the UK R&B and San Francisco scenes.

Hello Animal fans.....
I work for an Oldies station and bought this Raven C.D. for one reason. The song, "We gotta get out of this place" has not been available in original mono since the Animals Greatest Hits L.P. was released many years ago so I paid the $17.99 expecting to get the original reocording and what I recieved is the same ALTERNATE TAKE as available everywhere.....I cannot understand why Raven did not choose to utilize the original recording as it appears they obtained the other Animal hits from the same source as the older L.P..(all mono recordings) with the exception of "Don't bring me down" which has always been available in stereo, the later hits are a fine mix.....
I am returning my Raven C.D. RVCD-178 to Amazon for a full refund.
I hope someday someone, somewhere will release the original recording of "We Gotta Get Out of this place" and not this same alternate recording in which Eric Burdon sometimes sings out of tune.
Sincerly,
Pat Maestro
KXO Radio
El Centro, California

The Animals are one of the lesser known R&B/psychedelic bands of the 60's, though most everyone knows their big hit "The House Of The Rising Sun". Even though not every song is as great here, they're all good. The worst part about this collection is the audio quality - it's all in mono and definitely needs a remastering. If you can look past this, however, it's still great stuff. Singer Eric Burdon wasn't one of the best singers in the world, but he was still pretty likable. He definitely matched the sort of R&B influenced psychedelic rock that they produced. The lyrics tend to be pretty interesting, but they aren't always so (see "Boom Boom" for an example). However, they're usually fun, memorable and catchy. The musicianship is pretty good, but the production is not - as I said before it needs a remastering. It certainly sounds unique - The Animals, I would argue, have their own sound. Even though The Animals aren't as great as other 60's bands like The Lovin' Spoonful or The Zombies, this collection is definitely still worth checking out. Basically, if you're a fan of psychedelic or R&B rock then you'll probably love this collection by a lesser-known classic 60's band. Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

This band produced alot of good songs back in the 60's.
Their most well known song and a huge hit was House Of The Rising Sun.Thats got a tune that just seems to stick in you head.Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood is another one of my favorites here.Eric Burdon and the band had a special sound.We Gotta Get Out Of This Place is another big hit i love that tune.It's My Life is another well known song from the Animals.San Franciscan Nights is a song i also like.
Bands like this were around for a short time,but made some of the best songs.

ONE OF THE BEST CD'S I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!

I had long been looking for a compliation that had both House of Rising Sun and San Franciscan Nights (original recordings), and found it in this compliation. If you are looking for The Animals and don't want to buy singles, and if your are afraid you will end up with alternative recordings (which there are many) then this the compliation to have.

Great overall album of the Animals. Seller had a good price with fast shipping.