The Animals

[JakeK]

Love The Animals, and I've always known that Hilton Valentine used a 1997, but does anyone have any story on it? What was the guitar he used before it? Why did he stop using it? Whatever became of his 1997? And did he use any other Rics?

[longhouse]

Great clip, Jake. Love Hilton's style and tone in the Animals days. Not sure what became of his 1997 -he's typically seen swinging a Thinline Tele these days.

Anyone spot the 2nd guitarist and mapleglo Ric in the Shindig clip?

[collin]

I've talked to Hilton Valentine before-----very cool guy. I sent him a DVD of this horrible movie I bought (at the .99 cent store!) that the Animals were featured in, and Hilton was playing his 1997.

Here's the clip----terrible kid's christmas movie, but he was thrilled to get a copy of it (he hadn't seen it before).




Generally, Hilton played whatever guitars companies gave him----Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Vox, you name it.... he also owned a RM1993 too, but no photos exist of it (to my knowledge).

Here's his website, with gear details:

http://www.hiltonvalentine.com/equipment.html

[scotty]

Cool story Collin!

[Scastles]

Hilton used a 12 string Rick also (he thinks it was a 1993 but isn't sure), but he admits himself he hasn't been able to find a picture of him using it though obviously he did on a few great Animal recordings.

Here is Hilton's own equipment website.

http://www.hiltonvalentine.com/equipment.html

[lennon211]

Great band. The VH1 Behind the Music that they did on The Animals was one of the best segments of that show as they had interviews with almost everyone involved in the band. It was particularly interesting hearing from Alan Price as he is seen as a huge villain over "The House of the Rising Son" credit issue. Also, there was an article in Vintage Guitar magazine about the Animals with Eric Burdon's comments and how he hated the Vox organ and believed that that was when they really cheapened their sound a lot. That may just be his bitterness toward Price, but it's still interesting to hear. Thanks for posting the vids. I have an old Brit Invasion flick, Pop Gear, that has a lot of bands including the Animals performing hits.

[doctorwho]

Cool videos. From there appearances in the second one, they could have called themselves The Romulans ...

[JakeK]

I just downloaded this album called "Retrospective"...there's a track called "It's My Life" that sounds like a heavily compressed Ric, almost Byrds-like. Listen for yourself:

[lennon211]

I just downloaded this album called "Retrospective"...there's a track called "It's My Life" that sounds like a heavily compressed Ric, almost Byrds-like. Listen for yourself:

You hadn't heard that one before? It's one of the better uses of the 12 string IMO that isn't centered on a pop or folk-influenced track. You gotta get out of TP land for a while. There are some great tracks out there from the Animals. Retrospective has many of them, but there are still some really strong gems that don't make that compilation, although that one is MUCH better than the first Animals compilation that Abkco released.

[doctorwho]

Does the "Retrospective" release have the single version of "We've Got To Get Out Of This Place"? The ABKCO one doesn't (nor did the original vinyl greatest hits album).

[collin]

You hadn't heard that one before? It's one of the better uses of the 12 string IMO that isn't centered on a pop or folk-influenced track. You gotta get out of TP land for a while. There are some great tracks out there from the Animals. Retrospective has many of them, but there are still some really strong gems that don't make that compilation, although that one is MUCH better than the first Animals compilation that Abkco released.

eh---give him a break! it's not like they play that stuff on the radio these days.

Great song, btw. Always loved that one.

[lennon211]

I'm not a big fan of the emoticons, so I forget that they're there to let everyone know when the tone is one of humor. I'm glad that Jake is finding all of these great tracks so that they are being rediscovered and replayed. I had just figured that being into the Stones, Beatles, Who, and Kinks would have meant that the Animals were discovered along the way as well.

With regard to Retrospective, the version that is there is the one where the guitars are farther back in the mix and the track in general sounds a little drowned out.

[jingle_jangle]

Three must-listen Animal tracks:

It's My Life
We Gotta Get Out of this Place, and

Don't Let Me Be Understood!

That last one is one of the best combo arrangements of the entire Invasion. It was originally written for Nina Simone (listen to her version--it's an eye-opener), who recorded it the year before Burdon & Co. (1964 vs. 1965).

[Scastles]

As long as we're tossing out Animal tunes. There is none better. along with the others mentioned, than the Goffin/King tune Don't Bring Me Down. The pulsating organ, the fuzz, the whole enchilada.

[collin]

Btw......the original song posted up, I'm Cryin, is my all-time favorite Animals track. Sizzlin!