The Animals Album: “Best Of The Animals”

Why can't record companies get is straight???...or am I the only one on the planet who knows that this CD's version of "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place" is NOT the version we all heard on the radio in the 60's, nor is it the version which is included on the vinyl edition of this very album... For those who don't know, in the ORIGINAL version of the song, Eric B. sings: "My little girl you're so young and pretty"...not "Now my girl you're so young and pretty...", which is what he says on the wimpy version of the song which is on this CD. The original has much better production and much better vocals. This CD's version is the one you'll hear on oldies radio...since most DJ's don't know the difference either. Message to the record company: stop pulling this garbage--there are folks who know the difference and we want the ORIGINAL version...not some crummy version you paid Eric to re-record for God-only-knows what reason.

I remember the first time I heard the Animals, it was the summer of '66. I was just out of gradeschool and attending a friend's backyard party. Somebody had a copy of "The Best Of The Animals". When they put that record on and "House of the Rising Sun" came out of the loudspeakers I was hooked. I had never heard what you would call rock music before that night. I had only heard top 40 pop and the Beatles before that. But this group was different. This was some seriously good blues based rock and R&B. I didn't know what it was called at the time, I only knew I loved it. I never forgot this album, and when I got old enough and saved a few bucks up, this became one of the first records to start my extensive record collection. And since I've worn out a couple vinyl copies of this, it's nice to finally have the CD version. And it sounds as good to me today as it did 35 years ago. When you have as high a caliber of musicians as these guys were, with a phenominal lead singer who was born to sing the blues, the music is always going to hold up well with time. Besides the popular "Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", most of my favorites by the Animals were written by the old blues greats. I loved their refreshing updates of the John Lee Hooker songs "Dimples" and "Boom Boom". But my favorite cover that the Animals did was Al Kooper's "Bury My Body". That's a great song with a sped up organ line in the middle that reminds a little of the song "Shout". The album closes with "Bring It On Home To Me", a great R&B song written by Sam Cooke. This is just a great album all the way through. It has a lot to offer, and it's a good place to start listening to the Animals.

"Best of the Animals" would be 100% wonderful except for one thing: "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" on this 1987 CD is not the same version that appeared in 1967 or on the original 1960s Best of the Animals vinyl album (with Eric Burdon's wonderful roars and inflections). So why did the record company replace it with the 1987 dud? And prospective buyers won't know this because you can't listen to an excerpt first. The other songs are the original 1960s hits -- House of the Rising Sun, I'm Crying, It's My Life, etc., so I don't understand the "switch and bait." Fans, go and burn your own copy and get the genuine original!

The original american hits, by Eric Burdon & his Animals. Songs included like "House Of The Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "It's My Life", "Dimples" and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place". In a CD compilation originally recently released in 1965. Lineup of performances is strong, sound quality is good not indifferent. Best of The Animals covers every territory to a much finest effect with superior sound and a few liner notes with it includes the british bands own historical personal profile interview of themselves!

Two songs stand out for all Vietnam Veterans, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "House of the Rising Sun". In two reunions of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, I had the pleasure of hearing the voices of 1000 veterans and family rattleing the rafters of the ballrooms in Orlando and Nashville Renaissance hotels singing these songs. At the Orlando Hotel there was a piano bar where a young lady sang requests. One of the pilots ask her to do "We Gotta Get Out of This Place". She didn't know it but was advised by theold warrior to learn it if she really wanted to earn some tips. The next night and for the rest of the reunion, the young singer sang it three out of every five songs and her tip glass was exchanged for a beer mug and remained full. This album brings back memories both glad and sad. Eric attended the reunion in Fort Worth but sadly I was unable to make that one.