Riffing on September 1965 — The Animals’ “Animal Tracks” presented by Wayne. (Club a GoGo / Don’t Let Me be Misunderstood / We Got to Get Out of this Place / It's My Life). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Get Smart” TV Themes. STAFF PICKS: “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher — Brian. “A Taste of Honey” by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass — Rob. “Gloria” by Them — Bruce. “Liar, Liar” by the Castaways — Wayne. LAUGH TRACK: Alvin Cash & the Crawlers.
Wayne hosts this episode on The Animals. Formed in 1962 as an electric blues/rock band, The Animals followed a trend amongst many British Invasion groups of the day in arranging blues songs in a rock format. They would later get more psychedelic, but the album Animal Tracks is from their earlier, blues-focused era. Eric Burdon fronts the group, and The Animals would become Eric Burdon and the Animals after some of the original members left in 1966. Join us as we get out of this place and to the sixties blues of The Animals!
Club a GoGo
This original song written by the group is named after a club in Newcastle, England. The place opened as a jazz club but went rock with acts such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis, Wilson Picket and Ike & Tina Turner playing there.
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
This song was written for the jazz singer and pianist Nina Simone in 1964. The Animals picked up the tempo in their pop single.
We Got to Get Out of This Place
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote this song intended for The Righteous Brothers. The Animals producer snagged it, and it has become an iconic song. It was very popular with the U.S. Armed Forces GI's during the Vietnam War.
It's My Life
This track was recorded around the same time as this album, but did not make it onto any album at the time. It would later be included on Animal Tracks as a bonus track. It was also performed during the mid 70's by Bruce Springsteen during his "Born to Run" tour.
Theme song to "I Dream of Jeannie" - Barbara Eden's claim to fame.
Theme song to "Get Smart" - Mel Brooks broke into television with this spy spoof.
Sonny and Cher - I Got You Babe
Brian loves this, the biggest hit of Sonny and Cher's duet run. Sonny and Cher produced this signature song one night in their basement.
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass — A Taster of Honey
Rob says, “this is just a happy song.” This instrumental was recorded by The Beatles in 1963, but Alpert's version was more popular.
Them - Gloria
Leave it to Bruce to find a one-named artist and one-word song...The original recording from "The Angry Young Them" was written by a very young Van Morrison, who fronted this early garage band group from Belfast.
The Castaways - Liar, Liar
Wayne brings us this one hit wonder group out of Minnesota, The Castaway's hit mourns an unfaithful girlfriend.
Alvin Cash & The Crawlers - Twine Time
This instrumental R&B tune takes us to the finish of this week's podcast.