Search - Animals :: Taken Alive

Raw Energy

Freddie Green | Northeastern New Jersey | 12/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They were young, raw, powerful and full of energy.They were The Animals.The year was 1963, and it was the humble beginnings of the British invasion. The Beatles, already huge in England were still a year away from invading America. Waiting in the wings, were the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and many, many others.

This cd is is divided into two seperate shows. The first 7 tracks are from a show from the Crawdaddy Club recorded on March 30, 1963. The influence that American blues musicians had on the band is clearly evident, as the boys tear through numbers by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and John Lee Hooker. After all, these guys, like so many other blues giants were their heros.

The second half of the cd is just as impressive. This show was recorded at The Club A Go-Go in Newcastle, England on December 30 1963. Joining the boys onstage was the one and only Sonny Boy Williamson II. Sonny Boy was touring Europe at the time as part of the American Folk and Blues Festival. ( You have to check those out on DVD. Simply amazing.) Sonny Boy is amazing at this show as his raw style mixes perfectly with The Animals.

After the last song on the cd, Eric Burdon thanks the crowd for comming to the show and supporting the band. He tells the people to "come back and see Sonny Boy again while he's still in town, because he's getting on in years". I had to laugh at that a little, because look who's getting on in years now!!"