The Animals are one of the lesser known R&B/psychedelic bands of the 60's, though most everyone knows their big hit "The House Of The Rising Sun". Even though not every song is as great here, they're all good. The worst part about this collection is the audio quality - it's all in mono and definitely needs a remastering. If you can look past this, however, it's still great stuff. Singer Eric Burdon wasn't one of the best singers in the world, but he was still pretty likable. He definitely matched the sort of R&B influenced psychedelic rock that they produced. The lyrics tend to be pretty interesting, but they aren't always so (see "Boom Boom" for an example). However, they're usually fun, memorable and catchy. The musicianship is pretty good, but the production is not - as I said before it needs a remastering. It certainly sounds unique - The Animals, I would argue, have their own sound. Even though The Animals aren't as great as other 60's bands like The Lovin' Spoonful or The Zombies, this collection is definitely still worth checking out. Basically, if you're a fan of psychedelic or R&B rock then you'll probably love this collection by a lesser-known classic 60's band. Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

These guys are up there with The Doors as far as excellent bands from the 60s is concerned. This collection was such a nice surprise. It has the amazing House of the Rising Sun, Don't Let Me Be Misundersood, It's My Life, Don't Bring Me Down and my personal favorite song by The Animals Inside, Looking Out. These guys had all the sweetness of the 60s but with an intensely masculine attitude that just rocks your world like few others. If you like The Doors, don't miss this collection by the incredibly talented Animals. "Thoughts of freedom they're driving me wild and I'll be happy like a newborn child. We'll be together, girl, you wait and see. No more walls to keep your love from me...!!!" Wow! Bliss in a song!!! Every word in Inside, Looking Out gives me goosebumps!!! And to hear it sung with such intensity is just too much excitement for me. I adore this band!

The Animals, a group that included Eric Burdon and Alan Price, were the first major pop stars to emerge from Newcastle, a city located about 300 miles north of London, therefore far removed from where most talent scouts were searching. It is fortunate for us all that the Animals were discovered because they recorded some of the best R+B music to come of the UK in the sixties.

Their biggest hit was House of the rising sun, a re-working of a folk song (apparently inspired by Josh White's version of the song) that gave them a transatlantic number one hit. They had five other top ten UK hits with Mickie Most, these being I'm crying, Don't let me be misunderstood (a cover of a Nina Simone song), Bring it on home to me (a Sam Cooke cover), We gotta get out of this place and It's my life.

Alan Price departed for a solo career even before the rest of the group split with their producer. After the split, they switched to another record label, where they had some success using the name Eric Burdon and the Animals, including two more UK top ten hits (Don't bring me down, San Franciscan nights) and several lesser hits.

This collection contains all the essential hits from the original Animals and from the later recordings by Eric Burdon and the Animals. As such, it provides a great introduction to the group. Committed fans may prefer to ignore this and go instead for Complete Animals (covering everything they recorded with Mickie Most) and a separate compilation for Eric Burdon and the Animals. Nevertheless, this compilation will be sufficient for most people. In any event, Alan Price's solo recordings must still be acquired separately - they have never appeared on any Animals compilation.