100 Greatest Songs of the 60’s #58 The Animals – The House of the Rising Sun

Released: 1964

There’s something quite different between the American producer-svengali and his British counterpart: compare and contrast for instance the worlds of Phil Spector with that of George Martin, or Sam Phillips with Andrew Loog Oldham.

A Londoner, Mickie Most had already been around the block as the sixties kicked into full swing, first starring in a band called Most Brothers with future Shadows Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. After that his star as a performer waned but looking for a band to produce he came across The Animals playing in Newcastle’s Club A-Go-Go. He was a long way north, but in a matter of months the band had relocated to the capital and scored a top 30 hit with Baby Let Me Take You Home.

In singer Eric Burdon the group had a weather worn, gravel drenched voice that could’ve come from the Delta, and The House of the Rising Sun’s ageless tale of losing it all to human weakness was recorded in a single take as one eight minute session. Although a live staple, the band thought it was too long in the age of the two and a half minute single, but Most disagreed, and his gut changed their history. By way of contrast to the fame and prestige hungry nature of his peers, subsequently he would turn down chances to both the Rolling Stones and infamously, Elvis. They did it differently, over here.