The Animals' second British album, recorded just before
Alan Price exited the lineup, displays far more energy and confidence than its predecessor, and it's fascinating to speculate where they might've gone had the original lineup held together. There are a few lightweight tunes here, such as
"Let the Good Times Roll" and the rollicking opener,
"Mess Around," that capture
the Animals loosening up and having fun, but much of
Animal Tracks is pretty intense
R&B-based
rock.
"How You've Changed" is a reflective, downbeat
Chuck Berry number that
Eric Burdon turns into a dark romantic confessional/inquisition, matched by
Hilton Valentine's chopped out, crunchy lead work over the break, while
Alan Price does his best to impersonate
Johnnie Johnson. The group doesn't do as well with their cover of
Billy Boy Arnold's
"I Ain't Got You" as
the Yardbirds did with the same number, treating it in a little too upbeat a fashion, and
Hilton Valentine and
Alan Price failing to add very much that's interesting to the break (especially in comparison to
Eric Clapton's solo on
the Yardbirds' version).
"Roberta," by contrast, is a great
rock & roll number, and their version of
"Bright Lights, Big City," sparked by
Burdon's surging, angry performance and
Price's hard-driving organ solo.
Price's playing opens what is easily the best
blues cut on the album,
"Worried Life Blues," where
Hilton Valentine steps out in front for his most prominent guitar solo in the early history of the band, backed by
Price's surging organ.
Burdon and company also excel on a pair of
Ray Charles covers, turning in a jauntily cheerful, euphoric performance of
"Hallelujah I Love Her So," his jubilation matched by
Price's ebullient organ work; and a slow, pain-racked performance by
Burdon and company on the slow
blues "I Believe to My Soul," arguably -- along with
"Worried Life Blues" -- the singer's best performance on either of the group's
EMI long-players, and matched by
Price's quick-fingered yet equally ominous piano playing. ~ Bruce Eder