From the Vault...

07/09/2000
#689

info
The Animals
"Ark"


© Castle
Communications
Records

Year of Release: 1983
Rating:

track listing
  • Loose Change
  • Love Is For All Time
  • My Favourite Enemy
  • Prisoner Of The Light
  • Being There
  • Hard Times
  • The Night
  • Trying To Get You
  • Just Can't Get Enough
  • Melt Down
  • Gotta Get Back To You
  • Chrystal Nights
  • No John No

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    The Animals
    "Ark"



    There are many bands who had their heyday, and return a decade (or two) later, and re-record again. Reunion Album(s) are recorded and the band/artist disappears, or a band/artist makes a comeback, and continues to record more albums. In the case of (Eric Burdon and) The Animals, the term Reunion Albums best fits.


    The original Animals reformed with not one, but two Reunion Albums. Their first was released in 1977 with the album Before We Were Rudely Interrupted. The Animals disappeared from recording until 1983 when they released another Reunion Album, Ark. And in my honest opinion, Ark is truly one of my favorite albums of all-time.


    Why? Other than The Beatles, The Animals have always been one of my all-time favorite bands while growing up. And Eric Burdon's music (either with The Animals and/or War), their music has always been fascinating to listen to. Whether it be the 1960s rock and/or psychedelic music of The Animals, or the funk of War, you can't help but notice that Eric Burdon is truly a classic performer with both of his bands. And yes, The Animals were nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1994.


    Every song on Ark easily gets the repeat button. (Well, there is one exception, which I'll get to later on...) As the more you listen to this album, the more it is a classic. Sure, The Animals may not have deserved recognition in their albums as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and many other classic bands, yet being part of the British Invasion, their music has always been famous for "The House Of The Rising Sun," yet their are tons of other songs The Animals recorded, that many have never recognized. And Ark falls into that category.


    Songs such as "Loose Change," "Love Is For All Time," "My Favourite Enemy," "Prisoner Of The Light" and "Hard Times" all have the common sound that only Eric Burdon and the Animals could provide: Combining rock and blues on many of the songs on the album.


    "Being There" and "Melt Down" are definitely rock numbers, "Trying To Get You" is a remake of a song many artists had recorded in the past, including Elvis Presley. Yet The Animals version here is rock having a more blues feel. "Just Can't Get Enough" is a great rock song, with its instrumentation and heavy-hitting lyrics. "Gotta Get Back To You" is also like "Just Can't Get Enough" Two great rock songs, with a great blues grit.


    "Chrystal Nights" also has the rock blues feel of The Animals sound. And the most popular song that received airplay when this album was released, is a personal favorite of mine: "The Night." Like many songs on this album being well-liked, "The Night" would be the best tune from this album, if given a personal choice.


    The only song that does not get the repeat button as the other songs on Ark is the bonus track, found on the CD: "No John No," a song that was featured as the B-side to "The Night." The chorus, as in some verses of the song is a little off-keyed, vocal-wise, and after awhile, the main chorus does gets under your skin.


    But if you take the original 12 tracks, Ark by The Animals can be considered a classic rock album, yet most people may not even know that The Animals had existed in the 1980s. Plus the fact that Ark is a hard-to-find release on CD. (Luckily, AMAZON.COM has it on CD [Used copies].) Look in the import bins, or check out an issue of Goldmine magazine, and maybe you'll be lucky to find it there.


    Ark by The Animals...should be a must for your collection...if you can find it.


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    Previous Review: #688
    Gary Moore--Wild Frontier
    Next Review: #690
    Various Artists--The Best Of The Girl Groups, Volume 1