The Animals "Animal Tracks" EP (1965)

For Record Store Day 2016, ABKCO is reissuing the Animals' 1965 EP Animal Tracks in a 3,000-copy limited edition. This EP was originally released in the U.K. and Europe in 1965, and has never been released in the U.S. Animal Tracks was originally pressed as a 7-inch 45; the Record Store Day EP is pressed in 10-inch vinyl for better fidelity. This EP is not to be mistaken for the full-length Animal Tracks album, which was also released in 1965. None of this EP's four tracks appeared on the American version of that album, although all of them were included on the U.K. version of the album.

The first three tracks find the British Invasion quintet playing covers of R&B classics from Chuck Berry ("How You've Changed"), Ray Charles ("I Believe To My Soul"), and Louis Jordan ("Let The Good Times Roll"). On each of these three tracks, Eric Burdon croons soulfully over Alan Price's restrained yet intricate piano arrangements. These tracks are well done, but the best of the four is the closing track, a cover of Big Maceo Merriweather's blues standard "Worried Life Blues", which has Price switching to an electric organ, Burdon singing a more emotional lead vocal, and Hilton Valentine adding a jazz-based guitar part.




The Animals "Animal Tracks" EP (Columbia SEG 8499) 1965

Track Listing:

1. How You've Changed
2. I Believe To My Soul
3. Let The Good Times Roll
4. Worried Life Blues


The Animals "Animal Tracks" EP (ABKCO 84991) 2016

Same track listing as above.