[ H I S T O R Y : t h r e e ]

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psychedelic bluesman? 1966-1968
Less than two weeks passed after the official break-up before Eric was back in the recording studio. Session men and an orchestra created the showcase for Eric's vocals and the chosen songs were a repertoire of commercial pop written by Randy Newman and Carole King among many others. Why Eric decided upon those particular compositions is a mystery to me because it was such a vast departure from his earlier, more bluesy choices. Although the resulting LP, Eric is Here released in March 1967, would be credited to Eric Burdon and the Animals, the new band had yet to be formed at the time of recording.

Eric Burdon and Chris FarloweAfter an appearance on Ready, Steady, Go! with Otis Redding and Chris Farlowe in September 1966, Eric began his search for a new line-up. Auditions commenced and by mid-October 1966 Vic Briggs (guitars), John Weider (violin) and Danny McColloch (bass)had joined Eric and former Animals drummer Barry Jenkins forming Eric Burdon and the Animals. Their first public appearance was made at Finsburgy Park on October 20th complete with new musical direction largely inspired by the American West Coast music scene.

Their first single, When I was Young was recorded in January of 1967 and the next month they began a tour of the US and Australia during which they gathered, wrote and recorded the material for their next LP, Winds of Change which would be released in October 1967.

Eric singing at MontereyEric Burdon and the Animals played at the Monterey Pop Festival June 16th and 17th 1967 during the height of the "Hippie Movement". It was here that they performed excellent renditions of Hey Gyp, Paint it Black and Gin House Blues, albeit while taking part in the fad of the decade, LSD. The Festival proved to be an inspiration for Eric, afterwards writing the hit single, Monterey, based on his experiences there.

On September 7, 1967 Eric married an Anglo-Indian model, Angie King a friend of Kathy Etchingham (jimi Hendrix's girlfriend). The marriage lasted less than two years.

Eric Burdon and the New Animals, 1968After the release of The Twain Shall Meet in December 1967and the successful hit singles Monterey and Sky Pilot, Zoot Money joined the band on keyboards and the LP, Everyone of Us was released in early 1968. This LP is often regarded as the least favored of those released by Eric Burdon and the Animals but I personally feel that is is one of their best and also unusual.

During the last American tour, Vic Briggs and Danny McColloch quit and their replacement, Andy Summers of Police fame, was found. The debuted August 4, 1968. In October they recorded their LP, Love Is but by the end of their Japanese tour in late November, Eric Burdon and the New Animals ceased to exist.


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