Customer Reviews

My Secret Life

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Eric Burdon has traveled a jagged road from the early fame of the Animals, and then War, to his solo career, which seemed to find him on a new label with each album, and with album titles and artwork that convinced you there was no compelling reason to pick them up (with minor exceptions--check out Sun Secrets). Even though the Animals were one of my favorite groups of the British Invasion, I would have probably not even have considered his new album, or been aware of it, except that I saw a positive review somewhere, and when I checked out the Animals bin at the record store, which I often do, there it was, and it was on sale, so, I thought, what the...let's give it a shot. My chance buying of this album has been rewarded with one of the absolute best new albums I have heard in years. To use a sixties phrase, this record has blown me away. Mr. Burdon has put together a varied mix of songs, from sensitive to rollicking to burning. He has picked some great songs by people like Leonard Cohen and David Byrne, but the seven or so songs self-penned are every bit as good as the outside selections. He is in strong voice throughout (at one point even sounding like Louis Armstrong), and is provided with tremendous musical and vocal support by his band. The record was produced by the drummer, who deserves his share of credit for an outstanding listening experience, with perfect settings for virtually every single tune. In addition, the package (insert and artwork) is very nicely done. I have enoyed listening to this album so much that I even tried to get my wife to listen to it, and, believe me, that is done at my peril!
I could name some favorite songs, but, honestly, the whole album is great, and I find myself skipping not a single tune when I listen to this.
I humbly recommend that you give this album a chance, even if it is not on sale, and find your your own favorites. I don't think this purchase will disappoint you.

Yowza~I bought this cd specifically because of Leonard Cohen's song, "Secret Life" being covered. And would have been happy with just a satisfactory version of that song.

First off, Burdon does a fantastic job with Cohen's song. But then...it turns out the rest of the cd is phenomenal!

Jazzy. Bluesy. Rock. Burdon's singing is wonderful.

I caught Eric live in concert in Henderson NV.a short while back. Prior to the show I was expecting another 60's artist trying to pay the rent drolling out his hits from the past. What I found was an incredible talented stage performer backed by a great band blowing the audience away with class and style. The old songs were there, but the songs were interpretations, not imitations. The old songs sounded new and alive. When Eric came out with this new CD I was again a skeptic. I knew the concert was great, but new material from this legend from so many years past. I bought the new CD and now realize how great Eric still is. The music is great, every single song. The band backing Eric is superb. Eric still has that incredible voice. We all know often it is hard to listen to new songs on a new album from any artist at first, until we get use to the songs. Not here, every song is instantly familiar and delightful. The CD is simply enjoyable, and Eric Burdon is apparently just reaching the prime of his life.

Play this CD 3 times and you are forever addicted to it. It is a combo of rock, blues and a jazz sound. It is the best CD I have heard in 5 to 10 years. I bought the CD because it said it was the first new recordings in 20 years. Before this CD all I wanted to hear were the old hits but now all I want to hear are the new songs and I want more of them. He might not be able to hit the notes from his early days and that may be why he doesn't sing some of his old hits "straight up" but this may also be why he has improved in other ares. His voice is so powerful, hard driving and unique that you just have to hear more.

It is a sad commentary on the state of radio programming in the United States that I had to stumble upon this jewel by accident! Mr. Burdon's voice remains strong, but it is only one element that makes this an extroadinary CD. The music is diverse with rock, soul, blues and jazz influences. From start to finish the compositions are distinct without a "clunker" in the bunch. The song writing, musicianship, arrangements, background vocals and sound quality are at the highest level. This is one of the best CDs I have purchased in the last five years. Any mature music fan would be rewarded by investing in this collection. Thank you Mr. Burdon for such an enjoyable treasure.

I was, and still am, a big fan of The Animals. The whole band fit together perfectly for 60's Brit blues-rock and made music better than any other of the kind.

But the band broke up. The late Chas Chandler deserves great thanks for Jimi Hendrix. Alan Price meandered into middle of the road blandness, and Hilton Valentine and John Steel more or less disappeared.

Like so many of the time, Eric Burdon went somewhere else. I never felt so happy with his work in the years after the Animals.

But he's back. This album shows that, some forty years on, he has far more than it takes to do the job. You know he's older, but at over 60 he's better than he ever was.

According to the credits, he worked on most of the songs, and in some ways they are a tribute to his musical influences over the years.
For example, there's a tribute to John Lee Hooker (Can't Kill The Boogieman), and some Memphis style guitar work (Factory Girl). Blues, soul, jazz, a list of musicians as long as your arm, and with lyrics that fit him like a glove.

As well as a treat for early fans, though, the whole album's got more than enough good music to bring him some new ones.

Eat your heart out, Steve Winwood and the rest. Eric Burdon might have been away, but he's back. Secret Life, maybe, but not secret music. Nobody I've played it to thinks it's anything less than great music. By far his best work.

"Once Upon a Time" reflects on how life was simpler when Eric was a younger man. It has a nice bluesy feel to it. Burdon's weathered vocals help the listener contrast between the two time periods. Subtle drum beats and serene mandolin work blends well with Eric's fevered vocal delivery on "Motorcycle Girl". It's a tale of heartbreak and regret. "Over the Border" is the heaviest rocker, with its chunky muted riffs and piercing organ tones, as it tells the story of drug runners on the lamb. The female back-up singers help drive the catchy chorus home.

Twangy guitars and bluesy harmonica dominate the mid-tempo track "Highway 62". "Jazzman" has Eric switching up his style a bit. Perhaps it's a nod to the olden days when Sinatra was the man. It's heavy on the brass and piano and has a great swing to it. "Devil's Slide" is ironically loaded with plenty of slide guitar work. It has a spoken-word intro that gives way to a soulful execution. The blues boogie riff on "Can't Kill the Boogieman" sure does sound familiar.

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
You don't have to be an undercover agent to explore this `secret life'. Burdon lays it all out on the table for you with his tales of life on the open road, love, danger, and loss. Eric's `secret life' is worth taking the time to listen to.

WOW! Been a fan of Eric Burdon's like forever it seems, been collecting his music from each turn of his career, and the first word that comes to mind about this new recording is WOW!
Not that it will "replace" my old EB favorites... but this is the kind of album in particular where one feels the overwhelming desire to roll down the windows and crank up the volume! The style, variety, quality of voice and sound is astonishingly good. This is music that keeps playing over again in your head long after the stereo has been shut off. Brilliant effort by EB and a MUST HAVE not only for hardcore fans but anyone who can appreciate great music and pure TALENT. The sound clips just can't do this album justice... you have to buy it, listen, and be blown away. We fans eagerly await the next musical journey from Eric Burdon, he doesn't have to "top" this cd, just more of the same please will do!!!

i haven't really heard anything from eric burdon in more than 35 years. i saw this in a cd store and it intrigued me, so i bought it on a dare. it is simply the best cd i've heard in a long time. his voice is better than it was when he was with the original animals...that's 40 years ago, for you young whippersnappers. the songs range from jazz to blues to boogie to rhythm and blues to rock to stuff you've never heard from anyone...stuff that's hard to categorize. his phrasing is impeccable. the songs he wrote will blow you away, especially "can't stop the boogieman," his homage to john lee hooker. and the songs he interprets, well, they'll blow you away too. if i could give six stars, i would. amazing!

With the title,I don't mean to imply that he has ever left us, but we finally have the album most of us have been waiting for him to make. It's got a laid back kind of groove that packs a subtle punch. I want to compare it to a good Van Morrison or Dr. John album, because it's in that class. Its like a good vintage wine. I've been playing the hell out of it.