docroc967 | new bedford, ma United States | 08/14/2000
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I really bought this cd only for Sky Pilot. I was extremely dissapointed to find that not only was it not the full length version, but was actually the less desirable Part II. Why this was chosen is beyond comprehension since it never received airplay unless connected to the frontpiece and stands out as awkward without it. The rest of the disc is excellent but this glaring editing disaster makes the whole thing suffer. Cheap isn't always the way to go!"
Get the other one
Brendan | Japan | 03/06/2003
(1 out of 5 stars)
"If you would be looking for a Best of compilation by Eric Burdon and the Animals you would be better off buying `Best of Eric Burdon and the Animals 1966 E968E which in my humble opinion is about the best there is with most of their best songs but is now old, having been released in 1991, so needs remastering or something. To comment on the review below neither of these CDs have "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and "We Gotta Get Out Of This PlaceEon them. Oh I wonder why Mr Bernabo? If you really were aware of music in the Sixties you might have realized that the original Animals fell apart in the latter half of 1966, Eric Burdon continued with essentially a new band EEric Burdon and the Animals. Slightly different name in quite a different style singing different songs."
Only Part Of The Best
Martin A Hogan | San Francisco, CA. (Hercules) | 11/10/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although this is far from the "Best" of the Animals, it has some rare gems that are not always available on other collections. As one of the most authentic 'sounding' California bands (Burdon was British and moved to San Francisco), the Animals have produced great period songs from the sixties. These include the ultimately mellow, "San Franciscan Nights", the vibrant "Winds Of Change" and of course, the really exciting "Monterrey". Too bad "White Houses" and "Year Of The Guru" are missing, not to mention the wonderful, soulfully altered "River Deep, Mountain High".There are two cuts on this album that beg listening to as they are of the most unique that the Animals have recorded. "To Love Somebody" (written by the Bee Gees in 1967) is one of the most energetic and soulful versions, this listener has ever heard. It clocks in at over six minutes. The other song is probably one of the best anti-war songs, "Sky Pilot" with its synthesized soaring drums and the several chorus and bridge cuts. This is the long version and was released as a single with the B-Side carrying the last half of the song. It's a treasure."
GREAT ALBUM, Should have been called Vol. 3
Jimbo | In The Catskills | 05/09/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this CD, but, as typical, the TITLE and PICTURE on it have little to do with its contents. The shot of the original Animals on the cover is meaningless, since it only includes selections from 1966-68, long after that line-up was gone. With two exceptions, the songs truly are from the "Eric Burdon AND the Animals" period, and the cover picture should have reflected that.
My advice is to buy this because both the price and the content are excellent, and then make your own cover to stick in the jewel case. I did, and added Vol. 3 to the title. If you cover up that incorrect cover photo (use anything, draw one with crayons if you have to), you'll suddenly find a new appreciation for this album. The material on it is excellent, and some of it is hard to come by.
The two non-EB&A songs are from The Animals' 1966's "Animalism," the last "Animals" album prior to regrouping in the 70s. The first song is their remake of the Sam Cooke classic "Shake," with everybody doing an excellent job.
The other is "All Night Long," which I always thought was an old blues standard re-worked, but was apparently written by Frank Zappa. He's credited with it anyway, and Zappa aficionados even maintain he plays guitar on it. However, that same album also credits a reworking of "Buy You A Chevrolet" to the British folkie Donovan and calls it "Hey Gyp."
Anyway, both cuts are excellent and you're not likely to run across the Animalism album out there, so it's nice to have some on this CD. (This "Animalism" album should not to be confused with an earlier album called "Animalisms," with an S, which was not released here in America. It was the British title for the original Animals' 1964 second album. Here that second album (or most of it) was called "The Animals On Tour."
There are sadly no selections from 1966's superb "Eric Is Here," but there are three from 1967's "Winds of Change," the excellent title cut plus "Paint It Black" and "San Franciscan Nights."
"Black" is really nice because you get to experience it without the traditional "Poem By The Sea" intro lead-in from the "Winds" album. I love "Poem," but hearing just "Black" among a different mix of material is nice.
Also, I'm still trying to figure out whether SFN had a different take for the 45 version and whether this is it. I'm not sure on either count. There's just something about the one on this CD that seems brighter.
I do know that the two songs from 1968's "The Twain Shall Meet" that are included, "Monterey" and "Sky Pilot," are both 45 rpm singles versions. This version of "Monterey" is sometimes added as a bonus track on other CDs, so it's nice to get it here on its own merits. I actually prefer it to the album version. The horns are accented better and so is McCulloch's bass.
The "Sky Pilot" is actually "Sky Pilot, Part Two," from the B-side of the 45. In the past, compilations typically focus on the A-side of any given single, so I like the fact that they used Part Two. It's been less aired, and unless you have "Twain," you're not apt to hear it. I had the single back then, and I think there was a difference between the album and the 45, other than cutting it in two, but I haven't discerned it again yet. There may not be any.
One of the super treats on this CD is Burdon's rendition of "St. James Infirmary," which is the only cut on here from 1968's "Every One Of Us," a great album that features Burdon's exit from the psychedelic mindsets of "Winds" and "Twain" and returns him to his forte', rhythm and blues-based ballads.
It was, after all, the Animals' R&B version of the folk standard "House of the Rising Sun" that essentially caught the nation's eye. "Infirmary" is no "House," but he does a great job on it, and you can hear him working to achieve the R&B sound that all pre-"Winds" albums contained.
Like "Animalism," "Every One Of Us" is not an album you'll typically run into, so I appreciate having a cut from it on this CD. Also, "White Houses," one of my favorite songs, is the one usually selected to represent "Every One" when compilations are made, so the fact that "Infirmary" was chosen for a change is extra nice.
The last two songs are from Eric Burdon & the Animals' last 60s LP, a double album called "Love Is." It is difficult to find. It is extremely good, highly under-rated, and I miss not having my copy a whole bunch. The selection usually chosen from it is Burdon's masterful cover of the Ike & Tina Turner hit "River Deep, Mountain High."
For this CD, however, the Johnny Cash standard "Ring Of Fire" and the BeeGee's "To Love Somebody" were the covers chosen. Both are superb, and contrary to what some may feel, I believe the pre-Police Andy Summer guitar influence can be heard on the album, including these two songs. Summer was a member of the Animals for this album.
One of the Police's trademarks, for me, is creative use of accent, beat, syncopation, and timing, and not all of it was due to Sting. There are significant examples of the above in both songs, especially in "Somebody," when for brief moments of interlude everything becomes unified on the single straight-ahead beat, only to erupt into song again. Anyway, I love "Love Is," and I love the fact that these two songs are on this CD.
Lastly, I call it Vol. 3 because I still consider the old mid-60s vinyl LP "Best of Eric Burdon and the Animals, Vol. 2" (which was the first compilation from the psychedelic era line-up, and has never been issued on CD) to legitimately hold the Vol. 2 title. Calling it Vol. 3 also helps me focus on what the CD's true content is.
In short, if you cover up that picture so you can visualize who you're really listening to, and accept that this is a collection of gems, and not necessarily just big radio play hits, I think you'll like this CD. I'm glad I bought it."
Good sampler
dino violi | minnesota | 04/19/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ok this isnt "The Best of Eric Burdon And The Animals. However it is a good sampler from the 1966-1968 lineup. It contains HARD to find cuts from "Every One Of Us" "Animalism" and "love Is" The sound quality is very good. It isnt perfect,(edit part 2 of sky pilot included not full song) Anyway for the money its a deal."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
