WHEN ERIC & THE ANIMALS WENT NORTHERN

Artist: ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS; Title: HELP ME GIRL; Label: DECCA; 

Format: 7"; Cat. No.: F 12502; Year: 1966

1966 single from Eric Burdon and the Mark II version of the Animals - in this case Eric Burdon and drummer Barry Jenkins and the deliberate move away from the type of material increasing foisted on them by their producer at EMI, Mickie Most.  A year before the Animals had left EMI and signed with their US distrubution label MGM - with UK distribution switching over to Decca - but as with a lot of bands in the 60's the constant pressure of touring/promoting that you do on a worldwise basis and when you're one of the spearhead bands of The British Invasion starts to take it's toll.  Various founding members left - most noticeably Alan Price and Chas Chandler - and others only lasting a year or so.  So by the time this 1966 single is released it's pretty much Eric Burdon and whoever else was to hand.

But having said the above "Help Me Girl" is a a bit of brilliant tune - produced by Tom Wilson (who's other clients at this time included both Dylan and The Velvet Underground) - and (something I wasn't aware till I hear it at an allnighter) one of those tracks that had found favour on the Northern Soul scene.  It surprised me a bit at the time, but having listened to it again tonight while preparing this post I can easily see why. Plus with Eric Burdon being a R'n'B/Soul fan I'm fairly certain he's happy with the kudos it's got in that respect.

The flip side gives you "See See Rider (See What You've Done)" which a Blues standard which has gone under a number of slight title variations over the preceding decades, and one of those tunes that any self-respecting and aspiring blues musician knows down deep into their DNA.

 

 This single's one I've picked up a few copies of over the years - obviously the UK original on Decca, a Yugoslav copy - which has the same B Side as the UK version - labels scans included.  And the US version on MGM which doesn't.  The B Side is this case is a track called "That Ain't Where It's At" - another Blue-Eyed Soul flavoured track which like the A Side comes from the US only issued  'Eric Is Here' LP. Again well worth checking out/tracking down on that there internet and all good music retail type places!

FRENCH ANIMALS

Artist: THE ANIMALS; Title: BOOM BOOM; Label: COLUMBIA; Format: 7"EP; 

Cat. No.: ESRF 7632; Year: 1965; Country: FRANCE

Carrying on the French theme of the last post - today I'm featuring this 1965 EP from The Animals.  Side One opens with this excellent version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" - and which amply shows there was a lot more to Eric Burdon and Co than 'The House of the Rising Sun', mainly in the field of R'n'B.  Next up you have an Animals original in the form of "Club -A-Gogo" which I think was one their regular venues as well as that of then current bands and blues legends - hence the name-checks on the fade-out.

Side Two opens with what could've so easily been the lead track on this EP - their sublime interpretation of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood".  Originally written for and recorded by Nina Simone - this version really does do the song justice. It's this version was my intro to the song when I came across it on that early 70's MFP compilation of the Animals stuff from their time with Columbia.  The proceedings are rounded off with a version of Bo Diddley's "Roadrunner" which again doesn't disappoint.