Search - Eric Burdon :: Absolutely the Best

So many things are not right about this recording

Michael J. Austin | Portland, OR USA | 06/02/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"1. Absolutely lacks the fire of the originals; it sounds tired.

2. At best, the packaging is misleading; at worst, it is fraudulent. Name another "greatest hits" recording that did not consist of the originals?

3. The background vocals sound lame - see #1 above.



The Animals did some great stuff, especially some of their covers of Howlin' Wolf and Little Richard. It's too bad that this tired re-hash is being pawned off as their best."

Absolute dissapointment.

mixer | Spring City, USA | 05/20/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD hoping for the real, original sound of the works of Eric Burdon, but I was wrong. All of the songs were re-recorded,poorly, with synthisizers and modern studio equipment. The songs "Don't Bring Me Down"and "When I Was Young" didn't sound AT ALL like the original songs. If you want to listen to the works of Eric Burdon, be sure that the music is original."

Nice UP-TO-DATE remake by Burdon...NOT the Animals

Jimbo | In The Catskills | 04/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The name of the artist on this CD is ERIC BURDON, not the Animals. It doesn't pretend to be by them.
The title refers to the song list because it is, simply, a run of some of the best material Burdon's been involved with over his career. That's why he chose the material.
People like these songs and, as both a fan and a collector, I can say they also like legitimate alternate versions.
These are relatively new re-makes, in being only less than five years old, compared to their 30-odd-year-old originals. This site says the CD was released in 1999, but the copyright on my CD (Fuel Records) is 2000, so to me they're only four years old. Counting from the 60s, that's new.
They're extremely respectful to the originals and don't try to replace them, but simply present faithful, contemporary renditions of them. I like them a whole bunch.
There are times when one or the other, in certain parts, may not seem as full as the originals, and I guess some folks dislike them for that. I kind of look at them as semi-unplugged, but not in the sense that they're acoustic. In the sense that they're sometimes lighter or more open in the background feel of the recording. Less muffle, better technology.
There are a lot of songs on here that have really nice spirit to them. For instance, the end of San Franciscan Nights has a nice mini-instrumental extension to it that is, to my taste, far better than the original's quick duck and bow out the 45-rpm door. Also, Eric Is Here is one of my favorite albums, and the version of Help Me Girl on this CD is superb to hear after all these years. Likewise for the other mid-60's West Coast cuts When I Was Young and Monterey.
Anybody who likes Dave Rowberry's organ work from Animalization will find that both Don't Bring Me Down and See See Rider are well executed renditions that do his talented memory justice. Rowberry's rolling organ at the beginning of Rider is, for me, as synonomous with the name Animals as Price's sound in the original House. To hear someone perform his style, covering his keyboard licks, is very nice.
Which reminds me. The big drawback on this album is that it doesn't name any of the other performers. That's neither fair to the buying public nor those musicians.
However, Burdon's vocals, with the exceptions of House and Place, are very inspired. He truly SINGS them. Unfortunately, House starts the CD off and may set the wrong tone for some. It's a good version, but somehow feels lackluster in parts. I think he's a little tired of it.
But songs like White Houses, Boom Boom, Misunderstood, Wine, for those he's pumping out true Eric Burdon. "The fact that me, a long-haired, over-fed leaping gnome.." The man can still do it.
The only reason this CD doesn't get five stars is because they should have announced with a starburst on the cover something like "At Last! After 35 years! NEW versions of the SONGS YOU LOVE!"
This CD has a lot going for it, and rather than allow itself to be confused with the slew of poor, mediocre, and great compilations that are out there, pains should have been taken to ensure that the buyer knew exactly what the package was.
Also, I think the cover picture of a younger Burdon helps create the confusion as well. Marketing strategies are never a good idea. Just let the music sell itself."