Customer Reviews

Retrospective

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those who have suffered through not so great to just plain terrible compilations (including some of those old LPs with almost unrecognizable versions of the old Animals standards) there is finally a compilation that you can trust, and is well done, plus pretty comprehensive. Most of the debate has been on the early songs, and "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place" in particular. This IS the US version of that song (with the lyric "My Little Girl You're So Young and Pretty"). All of the other early singles check out pretty much right in line with the times on the original MGM label 45 rpm records, with one (good) exception: "House of the Rising Sun." This CD is an ABKCO release, and they also re-released most (if not all) of the early Animals 45's sometime in the 70's or 80's on light blue abkco labels. "House of the Rising Sun" came back there as the UK single version (4:18) with the long organ solo and ending intact (House also charted two additional times in the UK in 1972 and 1982). The original US MGM single (K13264) and radio play version chopped out most of the organ solo plus faded out the end before the final verse for a total time of 2:58. The playing time of 'House' on this CD is 4:31 (the song is exact, the 45 rpm disc just tracks 13 seconds faster). I think most fans prefer the "full length" version as presented here, but for the adamant (US) original singles collector, you now know.

I'm not as familiar with the Eric Burdon & War era singles (except to note that "Sky Pilot" is the full 7 minute version, and for the 45 single, the song was split into part 1 on one side and part 2 on the other), so hopefully someone else will comment on that.

This is a great collection, get it and enjoy!

There are so many greatest hits collections of the best of the Animals that at first glance "Retrospective" just seems like the latest in a long line of such albums going back to ABKCO's 1966 collection of "The Best of the Animals." A reasonable person could be content as long as their CD has "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and "We've Got to Get Out of This Place." But for fans who see the Animals as the second best English R&B group of the British Invasion after the Rolling Stones, this 22-track collection deserves prime consideration if no other reason than all of the tracks come from the ABKCO masters and utilize Direct Stream Digital (which is what ABKCO successfully used in the Rolling Stones albums reissued in 2003). Yes, it is a pain when you get albums and then a few years later they are digitally remastered or whatever to make them sound even better than before, but maybe your dog will eat your Animals CD or you will lend it to a friend who never returns anything and you will need a new one, which will justify your picking up "Retrospective."

Of course the Animals were more than their three greatest hits (but those are three really good songs for one group to have recorded), and "Retrospective" is a reminder of that. They had "Baby Let Me Take You Home" (#21 in the U.K.) before "House of the Rising Sun" hit #1 in the U.S., and while Eric Burdon was always the group's front man it is Hilton Valentine's guitar riff and Alan Price's organ playing that really makes that song work. In terms of U.S. chart success the group had "I'm Crying" (#19) in 1964 and then in 1965, "Boom Boom" (#43), "Bring It On Home to Me" (#32), "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (#15), and "We've Got to Get Out of This Place" (#13), which in this collection is the original U.S. single version. The follow year they charted "Don't Bring Me Down" (#12), "Help Me Girl" (#29), "Inside-Looking Out" (#34), "It's My Life" (#23), and "See See Ryder" (#10).

By 1967 Eric Burdon & the Animals were clearly into their psychadelic phase (if this were an LP you would think it was time to flip over to the B Side). "San Fransiscan Nights" (#9) was the last Top Ten hit for the Animals, followed by "When I Was Young" (#15), and then in 1968 "Anything" (#80), "Monterey" (#15), and "Sky Pilot (Part One)" (#14), and "White Houses" (#67). The album ends with a radio edit of "Spill the Wine" as a sort of musical answer to the question, "Whatever happened to Eric Burdon?" after the group essentially broke up in 1969. So, overall, "Retrospective" does have all of the group's hits, at least those defined by making the Billboard singles chart, which explains why I have started listening to more of their songs than the big three.

Okay, first off I remember the British Invasion. Guess that makes me at least as old as dirt! This is a great album! One of the biggest pro's for the album is that it's done sequentially, so you can follow the change in sound The Animals created from their 1st hit all the way through and it's the first cd to include "Spill the Wine" (E.B. & War) as part of the package, which I though was about time! The only nit I have is the last song The Animals put out as a single (The Night) was not included as worthy of listening to. Otherwise, if you're as old as I am and you want all the singles, or if you're new to The Animals and looking for a good place to start, this cd is it! Let me put it this way, this cd is so good, I'm getting another copy for another rock fossil I know!

The album "Restrospective" is NOT an SACD anymore! However the mfr Abkco has tried to "hide" that fact by not changing the cover and/or even the Part Number from when it WAS an SACD. As many know, record companies have spent large $$$ to remaster records for SACD high-def format, which was introduced around 2002. Unfortunately, due to slow sales they are no longer promoting this format, and Abkco took the dis-ingenuous step of deleting the SACD-layer from this formally Hybrid disc after just one year. Since about 2005, when you buy this (as well as Abkco's Stones discs) all you'll get is CD layer, as they've downgraded these products without telling buyers. A bad business practice for sure! Last, this record IS remastered so its CD sound is probably better than other Animals discs, but don't expect SACD (for that you need to find one produced from 2004-2005 on Ebay perhaps).

I was so tired of seeing ABKCO's BEST OF being the only US CD in the Animals section. FINALLY they come through with a comprehensive collection of hits. They have all 10 Top 40 hits from the 64-66 lineup as well as hits from Eric's later psychedelic incarnation. I can't really understand why they would put Eric's work with WAR on an ANIMALS CD, but it is a great song nonetheless. The bonus to this CD is that it contains the US version of We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.

The kids now-a-days don't know what great music is! Oh no--I'm starting to sound like my parents...! This CD is a great introduction of what us "boom boom" boomers use to groove on! I do remember the 60's and it's great sounds!

I've been a big fan of Eric Burdon and the Animals since the release of "House of the Rising Sun." It's great finally have a CD with the complete span of Burdon's work for a great price! Eric Burdon and War played at my high school prom back in 1971! (He was so cool!) Eric Burdon is one of rock's most identifiable signature vocalists. Mick Jagger has got nothing on him! The sound quality is fanastic! (It must re-mastered)

Of the 22 tracks, my favorites are "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "It's My Life," "When I Young," "San Franciscan Nights," "Sky Pilot," "White Houses" and "Spill the Wine."

Take out the love beads, comb your hair down, and light this one up! This CD is a must have!!!!!

I was looking for a good retrospective of the ANIMALS when I ran across this CD. Of course I was familiar with HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, DONT LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD, and WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE. When I put this disc in my player, was I in for a real surprise. I love the early ROLLING STONES albums, the real blusey type early works, and when I heard BOOM BOOM, IM CRYING, BRING IT ON HOME TO ME, GOONA SEND YOU BACK TO WALKER, I was blown away. The music has feeling and the music moves you, something that is missing with the music scene today. Thats one reason I am listening to so much early rock lately. Of the 22 tracks on this disc, I dont think I skipped over any of the first 13 songs or so. Towards the end the disc kind of winds down energy wise, but SPIIL THE WINE helps to end the disc on a high note. I am very glad that I decided to add this disc to my collection.

As others have noted, FINALLY we have the U.S. single version of "We Gotta Get Out of This Place!" I have searched in desperation for this track for years. My last attempt was jumping on ebay and getting a vinyl version of GREATEST HITS and to my dismay, "We Gotta..." was horribly scratched! Thanks to ABKCO for finally giving us here in the States the record we remember and love. And of course, the remastering on the rest of these tracks is fantastic. I don't have SACD capability so I cannot comment on that, but (hope of hopes!) when I finally DO have SACD, I pray to be in Animals' heaven!

The Animals rode the crest of the British Invasion in 1964 and topped both the U.K. and U.S. charts with "The House of the Rising Sun." Over the next four years, they would reach the Top 40 a total of fourteen times, and they're all here along with additional tracks like their first U.K. hit ("Baby Let Me Take You Home"), a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" from their debut EP, and the No. 3 hit "Spill the Wine" that Eric Burdon recorded with the funk band War in 1970.

When looking at these songs, it's evident that there are distinct stages to the group's career. The original group only lasted through 1966 (and keyboardist Alan Price left by the end of 1965). During this period, the band was a hard-edged R&B group and mostly covered other writers' songs. "I'm Crying" was the only group-penned hit from this period.

By 1967, the only original member was vocalist Eric Burdon, who became the group's principal songwriter. In the liner notes, Burdon admits "we were knee-deep into (LSD) at the time" and this is clearly evident on the psychedelic-tinged hits like "When I Was Young," "San Franciscan Nights," "Monterey" and "Sky Pilot."

The only noticeable ommision is there are no tracks from 1983's reunion album ARK. Otherwise, this is an essential look at one of the era's most influential bands. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Animals' new "Retrospective" is a marvelous collection. It includes the amazing sound of the band. The technical aspects of the remastering make the recordings crisp and almost pop out of the speakers. Their first big hit was the excellent "House of the Rising Sun" with its crying organ and Burdon's powerful emotional vocals, "The only thing that gambling is is a suitcase & a trunk; and the only time that he is satisfied is when he's on a drunk." And then Alan Price's organ wails. Classic and crisp, it pours from the speakers reborn. My favorite Animals track is the wild "It's My Life" with unique guitar part, the thumping bass and the tap of the sticks on the cymbals flying out of the speakers, "There'll be women & misfortune." One of the favorites from the Vietnam era and probably one of the most popular oldies for our soldiers in Iraq is the classic "We Gotta Get Out of This Place." On "Retrospective," the bass thumps infectiously, the cymbals clang, and Burdon's vocals goes through the roof, "My little girl you're so young & pretty; and one thing I know is true, you'll be dead before your time is due." These are some of the finest moments in classic rock. Other highlights include the churning "Inside--Looking Out," the smoky "San Franciscan Nights" and of course "Boom Boom." This package has great notes, a great selection of the Animals' best, but most of all the high standard of technical excellence in remastering makes this an essential disc even for those who have these tunes on vinyl or earlier CD releases. Wow!