Search - Animals :: Animalism

One of the Animals' Best Albums

R. A. Burke | 12/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Animalism offers no specials or tunes that didn't make the cut the first time around and the album's length is just a bit more than 43 minutes or so. And you won't find "House of the Rising Sun," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "It's My Life," or any of the other well-known Animals' hits on it. So why add it to your collection? For the simple reason that this is one of the most interesting and coherent albums the Animals ever made and also because, as an earlier reviewer noted, it gives Hilton Valentine a chance to show off his talents as a lead guitarist. With keyboardist Alan Price and drummer John Steel leaving the group, Dave Rowberry took over on piano and organ and Barry Jenkins came in as drummer and the group sound changed. Rowberry's organ playing is somewhat more jazzy and laid back than Alan Price's massive R and B and gospel influenced keyboard work. The new group sound comes off very effectively on this album and it's really great that Hip-O-Select has made this recording available on CD. Although there aren't any hit singles on Animalism, there are quite a few highlights especially for blues lovers. For my money, the two best numbers are "Smoke Stack Lightning" (a wonderful rave-up of the old Howlin' Wolf tune) and "Going Down Slow" (an incredible guitar workout by Hilton Valentine). Eric Burdon more than does justice to B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby." It's cool to hear Frank Zappa's guitar work on "All Night Long." Unless I'm mistaken, I think he also plays on The Animals' definitive version of "The Other Side of This Life." Speaking of definitive versions, you won't go wrong with The Animals' take on Donovan's "Hey Gyp" with Barry Jenkins' drumming being a particular highlight. "Outcast" is an interesting cut as well. To these ears, it sounds like the closest Eric Burdon ever came to going the Motown route. Overall, I give Animalism 4 out of 5 stars: as with many albums from this period, there are a couple of throwaway numbers. Bottom line: if you're a fan of Eric Burdon or the Animals, you definitely need to have Animalism in your collection."

Track Listing

jonifan | AURORA, CO USA | 01/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1. All Night Long

2. Shake

3. The Other Side Of This Life

4. Rock Me Baby

5. Lucille

6. Smoke Stack Lightning

7. Hey Gyp

8. Hit The Road, Jack

9. Outcast

10. Louisana Blues

11. That's All I Am To You

12. Going Down Slow"

Last Effort By New Castle's Favorite Sons

Marley | Long Island, NY | 04/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Animalism marked the final studio recording by perhaps the preeminent British blues band ever. With its predecessor Animalization, the group had changed slightly. They replaced Alan Price on keyboards with Dave Rowberry and Barry Jenkins, took over the drum kit for John Steel. This new lineup favored a jazzier, more R&B influenced sound, somewhat less raw and traditional, but hard-edged and driving just the same. With Animalism they took aim at soulful covers of BB King's, "Rock Me Baby", Sam Cooke's, "Shake", Little Richard's "Lucille", Howlin Wolf's "Smoke Stack Lightning", Ray Charles smash "Hit The Road Jack" and Donovan's "Hey Gyp". Try stumping your friends by asking them, who penned the opening track "All Night Long"?...Yeah, none other then that old Mother of Invention himself, Frank Zappa. In fact Frank had a prominate role, playing lead guitar on several tracks. The results are tremendous as Eric Burton's powerful and inspired vocals rivaled the sheer passion and verve of the aforementioned originals. Animalism was indeed a fitting swan song for New Castle's favorite sons.



Unfortunately, Burton's decision to form a new group called...You guessed it, "Eric Burton & The Animals", ventured into waters virtually uncharted with eclectic elements such as psychedelic rock, funk, Jazz and even traditional Indian raga. They did however manage to score several top-forty hits like, "Sky Pilot", "When I Was Young", "Monterey", and "A Girl Named Sandoz". And, Eric Burton's collaboration with the Los Angles funk band "War" produced his biggest hit ever, "Spill The Wine". But much of his original compositions were lyriclly mediocre, even downright silly. Remember the famous line from "Monterey", "If you want to know the truth in life, don't pass music by and you know I would not lie". Come on now Eric!. Had those crazed San Francisco hippies actually exorcised the blues from your very soul?



Thankfully Hip-O Select had the good sense to release this long out-of-print gem. I'm wearing out the grooves, just as I did my old vinyl Lp years back. Now if they'd only dust off Animalization, I could get back into "Don't Bring Me Down", "See See Rider", "Inside Looking Out" and Oscar Brown's old classic, "One Monkey Don't Stop The Show". Now that would really make my day!"