That incredible singer, Eric Burdon was 23 when they made this. He will be 80 years old this year, is a great grandfather and is still performing to this day. A great talent. :)
I have never heard anything so strong and raw together ever, the rasp and actually very high notes at the same time are forever gold and I wasn't even a sparkle in my fathers eyes when this one came out.
Eric Burton's vocals are amazing, but let's also acknowledge the keyboard player, jamming non-stop and the drummer, just chillin', chewing his gum, while the two guitar players casually stroll around the set like this isn't one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Haha. That's why I came here! Wanted to see him hear it done best. Esp. if he had never heard Eric Burdon sing. It's my life, so now I'll go spill the wine on tobacco road.
Three of the five gentlemen in the band are still alive, Eric Burdon, the singer, Alan Price, the keyboardist, and John Steel, the drummer. Hilton Valentine, the guitarist, died just yesterday. The band was together from 1962 to 1968. Burdon went on to a solo career. You might want to check him out singing "Spill the Wine," fronting the band War.
You're in for a treat - I have yet to hear the equal of this version. The organ is fire, the drums are so tight in the pocket, the guitar is on point, the singing is simple perfection. This is the definitive version.
This recording (not the video) was done in one take, about 20 minutes in the early hours of the morning while they were tour with Chuck Berry throughout England.
Hilton Valentine co-founded the Animals in Newcastle in 1963 alongside singer Eric Burdon, bassist Chas Chandler, organist Alan Price and drummer John Steel. Died today 30 January 2021 R.I.P
I think he is the only singer I've heard who sounds like he is telling the narrative of his tragic life of gambling and drinking in a house of prostitution. He sounds so matter of fact telling that he is going to prison 'to wear that ball and chain'. He tells the story of the song so well, you can hear the hopelessness and pain.
They made this in *one* take. No dubbing or retakes. Pure raw talent that to use your word is "scary". Eric's voice is still strong at 80. This song by the Animals will be heard till the end of time. Others have tried to remake this song, they all fall away. Eric is scary talented. GOD BLESS.
@@davisworth5114 Yes most people don't realize that, that's the way they did many T.V. performances back then, also why the video pic is so good for 1964. If my old memory doesn't betray me I think the keyboard player went on to either discover or manage Jimmy Hendrix.
It is lip-synched to the original recording which was done in one take. They set up, did a tech run-through. Then went for a take. This is it. Then back on the train to do their next gig with Chuck Berry. It seems odd now, but actually back then whole albums were recorded in a day. Things were worked on before they hit the studio because of the economics. The Animals did an album in this session...which was started at evening and ended in the early morning....and this was a song they added at the end of the session and which took 15 minutes in all.@@davisworth5114
This wasn't a TV performance...it was part of a promotional movie introducing british bands to the US. That is why it is such good quality. The Animals acually did a lot of live TV performances in the US...all their Ed Sullivan shows were live for example. There is a video up of their 1964 performance of this song on Ed's show and it was live. It was the bassist, Chas Chandler who found/managed Hendrix. Eric, the singer here, was a big friend of Hendrix at that time and was doing a gig at a big London club and Hendrix jammed with them on stage. It was Hendrix's last ever performance as he died during the night.@@davidgross990
Was the first record I ever bought. Lifted the arm on the Dansette and kept it playing for a long time till I knew the words. no internet for the lyrics then.
A lot of people think he is simply lip syncing falsely. No. This guy could belt shit out like that without twisting his face and mouth. He literally can sing amazing looking calm.
In 1970, Eric Burdon, the singer of The Animals, and an all-black band called War released an album together called Black Man's Burdon. How cool is that?
1st, your voice is awesome! 2nd, I love your reaction to this song! It is the same reaction I think most people have while listening to it. The singer was only 22 at the time of this recording. He looks and sounds so much more mature than that. This song is 57 years old. I was born the same year. :)
I was 9 years old when I heard this song for the first time ,and I dont understand english back then but it hit me hard the music and Eric Burdons voice I gryd like a river ,goesbumps all over it felt like elektricitet tru me body . I turn 65 this year and still love this song and for me The Animals are the best band ever , I like nearly all music from the 60s
Besides the song which is mind blowing, the way Eric carries himself around and around with a damn serious expression on his face while the others are normal and smiling, is hilarious.
Eric Burdon, the lead singer, has always had a great voice! Love his music! Check out Eric with the band “War” singing “Spill the Wine” and “Tobacco Road”. Awesome!
I didn’t see anyone else share it yet, so I figured I’d share a piece of magical music history with you, in case you haven’t heard it yet. Chas Chandler, the bass guitarist in this band, was actually the person who discovered the artist Jimmy James, who later rose to worldwide fame under the management of Chas. If you’re wondering who the heck is Jimmy James?….he later decided to go by his actual name of…Jimi Hendrix.
wanna hear more of that amazing voice ? Well you must check out Eric Burdon ( The Animals lead singer ) with War playing Tobacco Road ! Yes Tabacco Road ( one of your best reactions ) with Edgar & Johnny Winter ! Well Eric Burdon & War covered it also , so please check out.... Eric Burdon & War...... playing Tobacco ( live ) Also ( big hit ) Eric Burdon & War playing...... Spill The Wine ( live ) I bet you will love both for Eric's unique vocals & the funky War band backing him !
Yeah, Eric Burdon did vocals for the group War for a couple years, and "Spill The Wine" was an awesome song. Burdon was friends with John Lennon, and was telling John a story about his girlfriend at the time, a Jamaican girl, doing things to him with an egg. After this, Lennon referred to him as "The Egg Man" and put reference to him in the song "I am The Walrus" Link to the story below, but beware, it is very descriptive and R rated. dangerousminds.net/comments/the_true_story_of_why_john_lennon_nicknamed_eric_burdon_the_eggman
It's amazing to hear that voice come out of that baby face. He also has a pretty good pronunciation of "New Orleans" for a Brit. (and lots of Americans, for that matter)
How a brother just gonna breeze right past the 🔥 organist? This is your first misstep in any of your reactions that I’ve watched over a year’s time frame..... Everyone always focused on my guy’s killer vocals, and rightly so, but let’s bow to my boy on the keys!!!!
You totally got them. Good to see. It's crazy how a British band/singer can sing about New Orleans and understand it like we Americans do, and even interpret it in music for us. Anyway, when are you gonna go pro, Bro? Stop robbing us of your God-given gift already!
It was very cool to have someone listen to this who knew what he was singing and could just enjoy his singing!! I love his voice. Check out spill the wine by war he’s signing that.
This isn't the original version. The original is from the 30s & sounds completely different. I believe it was Bob Dylan that changed it to this version.
What was the song of theirs you had already heard? Here are some other great ones by them: The Animals songs: * Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood * Hit the Road Jack * I Put a Spell on You * It's My Life * Many Rivers to Cross * River Deep - Mountain High * We Gotta Get Out of This Place * When I Was Young
On my computer, there was a huge mismatch between the audio volume of the music and your reactions. After the first couple of minutes, I just hit the "mute" key every time you broke in and unmuted the sound when I could see you were no longer talking. I'm glad you liked one of my favorite songs.
My Husband was a professional musician, he could do this song, but reused to do it because he couldn't perfect it! Couldn't go as high, my hubby has a Bob Seger voice! Kenny Rodgers, CCR, Couldn't do the animals.
Nope. It is a traditional folk song and was sung all over the place and no-one knows who first wrote it. It kind of evolved...folk songs are like that. I have heard an early recording from the 1930's. It was a country girl from kentucky singing a recording for a man who was collecting trad folk and bles songs. So though Leadbelly did sing a version of this (not really the same) he most certainly did NOT sing it first. Eric first heard it being sung in a Newcastle pub by a folksinger and liked it. The folksinger himself was probably influenced by the Bob Dylan version. Then of course the animals took it on and the use of electric guitar and organ and some other changes made it a hit.
A lot of people claim this was recorded in one take. Not true. This and Don't Let Me Me Be Misunderstood were filmed in one session but the audio for both were overdubbed from the album. He's not wearing a mic and they couldn't have followed him with a boom mic because of all the obstructions. Neither guitar has a cord and they didn't have wireless connections in '64. As for one take, how did the keyboard get from rear right to front center for the finale? This is strictly a show piece for a timeless hit.
The audio, the record itself, WAS recorded in one take when they were in the studio one night between stops on the Chuck Berry tour. 15 minutes from set up to in the can. It was the first and only take. It wasn't recorded for the album it was recorded as an extra and always intended to be released as a single. As for the film...that was done quickly too. If you look at the final scene you will see the guitarist Hilton Valentine grinning broadly and breaking the solemn character. That was because he had watched the stage-hands quickly wheel Price and his organ round to the front for the final shot. Hilton couldn't contain his mirth and they had no studio time to do a second take so it had to stay in. I'm glad they did the film...even though it isn't really representative of the band's volatile style...because it has been a big part of turning people on to the music. Hilton hated the choreography to this...though that is probably because he was in the doghouse for grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
Man this guy can sing .. Was not expecting that. But yes, nothing touches Eric Burton's vocals on this song, the Original sucked. Loved your review, someone who knows what there talking about.
Yes, from a singer's perspective Worksong is frighteningly flawless as a live performance and pretty much a cappella. I would also like to point TheSinger to Eric Burdon singing 'Hold On I'm Coming' live on the Otis Redding special (on youtube)...he says he likes growls and there are plenty in that!! Burdon can basically sing anything. Jazz, R&B, Soul, straight ballads, Rock, and Folk. (He does a wonderful rendition of The Factory Girl which is an Irish Folk song)
