The Animals - Absolute Animals 1964-1968

Title: Absolute Animals 1964-1968 Artist: The Animals Release Date: 10/14/2003 Re-Released On: 11/4/2003 Label: Raven Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 612657017821 Genre: Rock Styles: Rock & Roll, Blues-Rock, British Invasion, Psychedelic, Contemporary Pop/Rock, British Blues, British Psychedelia, AM Pop, Regional Blues Moods: Confident, Freewheeling, Passionate, Rollicking, Bravado, Dramatic, Fiery, Intense, Raucous, Swaggering, Urgent, Angry, Eerie, Reckless, Rowdy, Visceral, Volatile, Yearning, Angst-Ridden, Brash, Confrontational, Earthy, Menacing, Street-Smart, Tense/Anxious, Reverent, Druggy, Brooding, Malevolent, Rebellious, Rousing Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 15 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. House of the Rising Sun
2. Boom Boom
3. I'm Crying
4. Baby Let Me Take You Home
5. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
6. Bring It on Home to Me
7. We Gotta Get Out of This Place
8. It's My Life
9. Inside, Looking Out
10. Don't Bring Me Down
11. See See Rider
12. Help Me Girl
13. When I Was Young
14. San Franciscan Nights
15. Monterey
16. Sky Pilot, Pts. 1-2
17. Ring of Fire
18. Good Times
19. Coloured Rain
20. Animal Interviews

Year Type Label Catalog # 2003 CD Raven 178

No other editions were found for this album.

As hard as it is to believe, there was no single-disc collection that contained all of the Animals' greatest hits until Raven Records released Absolute Animals 1964-1968 in 2003. Prior to this, compilations were devoted to one of three distinct eras. First, there were the first recordings that they made with producer Mickie Most, which included "House of the Rising Sun," "I'm Crying," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," and "It's My Life." Then, they severed ties with Most, recording the acclaimed Animalisms album and having hits with "Inside, Looking Out," "Help Me Girl," and "Don't Bring Me Down" before imploding. Lead singer Eric Burdon then assembled a new version of the group, putting his name above the Animals in their official billing, and cut several psychedelic recordings and singles, including "San Franciscan Nights," "Monterey," and "Sky Pilot." Since each of these three eras were owned by different labels, there were many legal obstacles to assembling a definitive comp with all three eras being represented equally, but Raven managed to do an excellent job with the 20-track Absolute Animals (note: the final track is four minutes of interviews, bringing the total songs to 19). All of the singles mentioned above are featured here, along with other highlights like "Boom Boom," "Bring It on Home to Me," "See See Rider," and "When I Was Young." Perhaps some of the early recordings are glossed over -- "Gonna Send You Back to Walker," "Story of Bo Diddley," and "Bury My Body" all arguably hold up better than some of the later psychedelicized tracks -- but frankly, it's a relief to have one compilation that has all the hits from all the incarnations on one disc. Not only that, but it's hard to imagine a single-disc that would tell a complete Animals history as succinctly as this essential disc. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Price Arranger, Interviewee, Group Member Andy Summers Guest Appearance Dave Rowberry Arranger Eric Burdon Interviewee, Group Member Glenn A. Baker Liner Notes, Release Preparation, Compilation Ian McFarlane Release Preparation Kevin Mueller Release Preparation, Compilation Peter Shillito Release Preparation, Compilation The Animals Arranger Warren Barnett Mastering