The Animals – THE ANIMALS****

The Story Of Bo Diddley/Bury My Body/Dimples/I’ve Been Around/I’m In Love Again/The Girl Can’t Help It/I’m Mad Again/She Said Yeah/Night Time Is The Right Time/Memphis Tennessee/Boom Boom/Around & Around

Geordie group The Animals enjoyed their first album chart entry with this self titled collection of R & B numbers. It omits their hit singles, most notably their classic chart topping rendition of House Of The Rising Sun. (UK:6)

"For a second it seemed as though The Animals were going to be right up to the standards of The Beatles and Stones. That unfortunately didn't happen, but this album shows what a promising career they had ahead of them."

"This is certainly better than the debut albums of The Stones and The Kinks but in a couple of years both of them would completely surpass them. But it's a shame that this album is kind of a rarity, because it's a great album."

"They really know their material, not just how to play it, but how to truly feel it while playing it. This band gives it all on their first album, heart and soul."

"The Animals have always had a style of their own, and from beginning to end, they put their own unmistakable stamp on each of these tunes. The stamp in question is shaped like a two-pronged fork, with one prong subtitled 'vocals' and the other one subtitled 'keyboards'."

"Of the many bands that came out of the British R & B boom of the 1960s, the Animals from Newcastle were arguably the best of the bunch. Listening to this LP, one notices that as a straightforward British R & B band, The Animals were among the more authentic because of their preference for the tempos preferred by many of great American blues performers. A must have for anyone who loves British R & B and/or happens to be a fan of The Animals."

"However familiar the material might be, The Animals excel in their performance of it, tackling slow blues, fast rhythm numbers, boogie & rock 'n' roll with equal aplomb."

"I love The Animals and Eric Burdon's voice is heaven to me. They are underrated and unjustly compared to other British bands of the time, but for me they're the best. Great first album."