The Animals - Retrospective

Initially, the Animals' Retrospective looks like just another greatest-hits compilation recycling the same old tracks already easily available elsewhere. Yawn! Yet, on closer inspection, there's a big difference with this particular set. These 22 tracks are taken from the ABKCO masters and utilize Direct Stream Digital (DSD), containing both CD and Super Audio CD layers. ABKCO initially previewed this technology with much fanfare on the Rolling Stones' reissues of 2003. That excellence is again applied here and the material undeniably sparkles. The first incarnation of the band with Mickie Most's production is represented by what have to be the cleanest recordings heard yet of favorites like "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," and "Don't Bring Me Down." However, it's the psychedelic phase of the band, when they became Eric Burdon & the Animals, that the DSD really kicks. Every nuance present, and sometimes hidden, on a song like "San Franciscan Nights," or "Monterey," in which the horns noticeably jump out at you, or the battle sequence on "Sky Pilot," is incredibly vivid whether you're using high-tech gear or an average playback unit. Even if you've heard these tracks a zillion times, this ABKCO release gets you as close to hearing studio playback as you're likely to get! ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Price Keyboards, Musician, Piano, Organ Alisa Ritz Art Direction Barry Jenkins Musician, Percussion, Drums Bob Ludwig Mastering Brian Fitzpatrick Design Bryan James Chandler Bass, Musician Charles Miller Flute, Musician Chris Huston Engineer Danny McCulloch Musician, Bass Dave Rowberry Musician, Organ, Arranger Dave Siddle Audio Engineer, Engineer Dick Bogart Engineer, Audio Engineer Don Paulsen Cover Photo Ed Hadani Engineer Eddie Kramer Engineer, Remixing Eric Burdon Vocals, Musician Every One Of Us Producer Gary Kellgren Remixing Gus Skinas Engineer Harold Brown Musician, Drums Hilton Valentine Musician, Guitar Horace Ott Conductor, Arranger Howard H. Scott Musician, Guitar Iris Keitel Art Direction Jack Hunt Engineer Janessa Gursky Art Coordinator Jerry Goldstein Audio Production, Producer Jim Bessman Liner Notes, Essay Jody Klein Producer John Steel Musician, Drums John Weider Violin, Guitar, Musician Jon Paul LoMonaco Design Laura Walton Production Coordination Lee Oskar Harmonica, Musician Lenne Allik Concept Lonnie Jordan Organ, Musician Maria Papazahariou Session Research Matt Boynton Assistant Engineer Mickie Most Audio Production, Producer Morris Dickerson Musician, Bass Peter Mew Digital Transfers Royal Scots Guard Pipe And Drum Marching Band Musician, Percussion, Bagpipes Stacin Gregson Assistant Engineer Steve Rosenthal Archives Coordinator, Audio Restoration Teri Landi Digital Transfers, Producer Thomas R. Allen, Jr. Percussion, Musician Tom Psipsikas Assistant Engineer Tom Wilson Producer, Audio Production Vic Briggs Vibraphone, Piano, Musician, Guitar, Arranger, Remixing