Classic Rock Album of the Day- Eric Burdon and the Animals- Winds of Change (1967) ** 1/2
Decided to bring one from the obscure depths of psychedelia. Not sure I ever remember hearing this as a 10 year old, in its entirety, outside the singles. Today's review takes a look among the most hard core of the genre. At age 10, I am guessing that this hookless psychedelic LP would not have interested me. So actually, I gave this one a listen about a week ago, and somehow lost the review before posting. Which was disappointing. After another listen this evening I decided it was worth sharing. For record, this was the first time, I have had heard this album in it's entirety.
The Animals and their frontman Eric Burdon, were in some ways a blue collar UK answer to the Beatles. They soon after reaching success almost became American fixtures. Of course, they were no where even close in songwriting ability, but that didn't mean they make some fascinating stuff. Almost on cue this band almost correlated their career from a Beatlemania theme straight to psychedelia. No doubt, the Beatles were much more successful and effective in taking this genre to a much more melodic and pleasant way via Sargent Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour. Still this one has some interesting moments.
Functionally as an LP, this was Burdon's foray into the groovy, far out, and ultra splashed colored drenched cultural norm of the day. For many it is not going to be listenable, but I found it significantly so strange and eclectic that in some ways like a crashing car, you just can't help stopping and listening. From the bizarre to the strange, if you want an extreme version of this genre, this is about as crazy as it gets. I personally have never taken hallucinogens but I can see those into that "trippin" lifestyle might like this at a high level while listening. It is very dated, but a wonderful example of the times.
The Animals did not sound like the Beatles, but their sound through their careers did take the approach but had that Stones type roughness. They were big in their era, and this album gives a good look at that. A good bit of the album has more beatnick poetic tendencies. Homage to roots is central to the a lot of the album, and that Beatnick persona of the very early '60's kind of infiltrates the feel of the album.
Fun Fact: First album as Eric Burdon and the Animals. Prior, they only recorded as The Animals
Side 1-
------------
Winds of Change- Burdon starts the proceeding with a blasting beatnick like psychedelic narrative like homage to early greats, From early days modern era of R&B and rock. The whistling wind blowing from speaker to speaker, and Burdon's readjustment in vocal inflection is quite innovative for the day. The wooshing wind at the end, had to really have them trippin'. 2
Poem By the Sea- Very drug induced nonsensical song that I am guessing basically was chronicling a trip. Works well with album's theme. 5
Paint It Black- Cover of the Stones classic. Nicely done, close enough to recognize, but the Animals gave it it a chaotic psychedelic slant too. 6
The Black Plague- Now for the utter strange and fascinating. Not really a song, and in fact not even really a poem. Just a very chilling and powerful vocal narrative of what 14th century Europe was like during the plague. I know most will not like this but I loved it just on pure audacity, creativity, and historic value The bells and chants almost fully immerse the listener into feeling they are there. Almost lost within it is its pointed message at the end. 1
Yes I am Experienced- Interesting part of the story of this response song is that almost came out simultaneously with Hendrix' classic. Burdon delivers an almost a comical Dylan like response. But of course, and with lots of psychedelic overtones. Song over all seemed pointless, and really didn't deliver any message of substance that I guess it intended. 9
Side 2-
---------------
San Francisco Nights- Maybe the only one that really got any airplay on the LP. Starts with a Dragnet like ditty, but narrates into what becomes almost an anthem like ode from the band of hippiedom. For those of us who remember that era of Haight Ashbury, songs like this define the time, and are etched and entrenched into the fiber of that era. If you listened to the radio in the mid '60's you will obviously remember this one. 3
Man-Woman- Wow, Bongos booming, this yelling beatnick tripe sucks. Unlistenable.... And I am not kidding- 11
Hotel Hell- The strangeness returns, like a a psychedelic trip with a funky start blending into a Spanish horn and guitar ballad that almost harkens a spaghetti western like sound. 8
Good Times- The off key tones I think are intentional in trying to create a humanly feel kind that contains that early '60's chordal progression. Song is much more like a lot of the earlier '60's stuff. 7
Anything- More balladry, and not strong stuff. Strings sound so hokey in this setting that is so off kilter from the cutting edge psychadellastuff. 10
It's All Meat- Strong finish with another homage like bookended song. From an instrumental perspective, the best work on the album. Too bad some of the filler didn't at least work some stylistic pieces like this one additionally 4
Decided to bring one from the obscure depths of psychedelia. Not sure I ever remember hearing this as a 10 year old, in its entirety, outside the singles. Today's review takes a look among the most hard core of the genre. At age 10, I am guessing that this hookless psychedelic LP would not have interested me. So actually, I gave this one a listen about a week ago, and somehow lost the review before posting. Which was disappointing. After another listen this evening I decided it was worth sharing. For record, this was the first time, I have had heard this album in it's entirety.
The Animals and their frontman Eric Burdon, were in some ways a blue collar UK answer to the Beatles. They soon after reaching success almost became American fixtures. Of course, they were no where even close in songwriting ability, but that didn't mean they make some fascinating stuff. Almost on cue this band almost correlated their career from a Beatlemania theme straight to psychedelia. No doubt, the Beatles were much more successful and effective in taking this genre to a much more melodic and pleasant way via Sargent Peppers and Magical Mystery Tour. Still this one has some interesting moments.
Functionally as an LP, this was Burdon's foray into the groovy, far out, and ultra splashed colored drenched cultural norm of the day. For many it is not going to be listenable, but I found it significantly so strange and eclectic that in some ways like a crashing car, you just can't help stopping and listening. From the bizarre to the strange, if you want an extreme version of this genre, this is about as crazy as it gets. I personally have never taken hallucinogens but I can see those into that "trippin" lifestyle might like this at a high level while listening. It is very dated, but a wonderful example of the times.
The Animals did not sound like the Beatles, but their sound through their careers did take the approach but had that Stones type roughness. They were big in their era, and this album gives a good look at that. A good bit of the album has more beatnick poetic tendencies. Homage to roots is central to the a lot of the album, and that Beatnick persona of the very early '60's kind of infiltrates the feel of the album.
Fun Fact: First album as Eric Burdon and the Animals. Prior, they only recorded as The Animals
Side 1-
------------
Winds of Change- Burdon starts the proceeding with a blasting beatnick like psychedelic narrative like homage to early greats, From early days modern era of R&B and rock. The whistling wind blowing from speaker to speaker, and Burdon's readjustment in vocal inflection is quite innovative for the day. The wooshing wind at the end, had to really have them trippin'. 2
Poem By the Sea- Very drug induced nonsensical song that I am guessing basically was chronicling a trip. Works well with album's theme. 5
Paint It Black- Cover of the Stones classic. Nicely done, close enough to recognize, but the Animals gave it it a chaotic psychedelic slant too. 6
The Black Plague- Now for the utter strange and fascinating. Not really a song, and in fact not even really a poem. Just a very chilling and powerful vocal narrative of what 14th century Europe was like during the plague. I know most will not like this but I loved it just on pure audacity, creativity, and historic value The bells and chants almost fully immerse the listener into feeling they are there. Almost lost within it is its pointed message at the end. 1
Yes I am Experienced- Interesting part of the story of this response song is that almost came out simultaneously with Hendrix' classic. Burdon delivers an almost a comical Dylan like response. But of course, and with lots of psychedelic overtones. Song over all seemed pointless, and really didn't deliver any message of substance that I guess it intended. 9
Side 2-
---------------
San Francisco Nights- Maybe the only one that really got any airplay on the LP. Starts with a Dragnet like ditty, but narrates into what becomes almost an anthem like ode from the band of hippiedom. For those of us who remember that era of Haight Ashbury, songs like this define the time, and are etched and entrenched into the fiber of that era. If you listened to the radio in the mid '60's you will obviously remember this one. 3
Man-Woman- Wow, Bongos booming, this yelling beatnick tripe sucks. Unlistenable.... And I am not kidding- 11
Hotel Hell- The strangeness returns, like a a psychedelic trip with a funky start blending into a Spanish horn and guitar ballad that almost harkens a spaghetti western like sound. 8
Good Times- The off key tones I think are intentional in trying to create a humanly feel kind that contains that early '60's chordal progression. Song is much more like a lot of the earlier '60's stuff. 7
Anything- More balladry, and not strong stuff. Strings sound so hokey in this setting that is so off kilter from the cutting edge psychadellastuff. 10
It's All Meat- Strong finish with another homage like bookended song. From an instrumental perspective, the best work on the album. Too bad some of the filler didn't at least work some stylistic pieces like this one additionally 4
