Winds of Change
| Winds of Change | ||||
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| Studio album by Eric Burdon and the Animals | ||||
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Publication |
August 1967 |
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| Label (s) | MGM , Repertoire Records , One Way | |||
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
11 |
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running time |
44, 29 min. |
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| occupation |
Eric Burdon - vocals Barry Jenkins - drums |
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Winds of Change is the first album released by Eric Burdon and the Animals , also known as The New Animals on the record cover . It differs stylistically from the earlier works of Eric Burdon with the first generation of the Animals band and marks their step into psychedelic music . With the tracks Good Times and San Franciscan Nights , the album contains some of the most famous works by Animals.
backgrounds
After the Animals split up and disbanded in 1966 due to unsatisfactory, restrictive contracts and internal discrepancies as well as disagreements about the future of the band, Burdon was initially quite disaffected . The former bassist Chas Chandler , who had a dubious reputation as a producer after the band split up, later accused Burdon in his autobiography of being responsible for the death of Jimi Hendrix .
Personally badly affected by the separation, he decided to take a new path and first recorded the album Eric Is Here , in which Eric Burdon and the Animals are named as interpreters , but besides Burdon only Jenkins and a classical orchestra can be heard . The album wasn't very well received and he was also rather dissatisfied; what he needed was a permanent band in order to be able to use his musical talent efficiently .
At the end of 1966 the New Animals formed; in August 1967 they released their album Winds of Change . The title should clarify the new section or the new age of the Animals, which Burdon conjured up. The text on the cover corresponds to this ( see: Cover ). The music differs significantly from Burdon's earlier music, which changed from rhythm and blues to psychedelia .
The New Animals also separated again in 1968; from 1969 on Eric Burdon recorded various albums with War .
The title of the album did not only refer to the musical change of the band. This was also emphasized, but as part of a youth movement, music also called for social and political changes. The music was not understood as mere entertainment, a passage in the cover text also indicates: "I [...] want you to gain something from these new sounds" ( I want you to take some of this new music with you ).
Musically, a change from the R'n'B of the original Animals to previously unexplored areas can be determined. The content is given priority over stylistic guidelines. What was important to Burdon and the Animals was the true expression of an attitude towards life, for this they parted with old guidelines.
The album can be divided into two parts. The first page of the record release is more conceptual, it unfolds a denser, psychedelic mood and atmosphere; the second page is more conventional and structured, the titles are based more on blues and blues rock.
Versions
In addition to the original version with eleven tracks, Repertoire Records released a version with four bonus tracks in 2004. It contains mono versions of the two singles San Franciscan Nights and Good Times as well as the pieces Ain't That So , which is strongly reminiscent of garage rock with only three chords , and Gratefully Dead , which sounds more like The Jimi Hendrix Experience to Bruce Eder than this group self.
Another repertoire release contains the pieces When I Was Young and A Girl Named Sandoz in addition to the above-mentioned expansions .
Cover
On the black background of the cover, the title of the album is noted in colorful, wavy letters in the upper left corner. Right next to it is the new band name, "Eric Burdon & the Animals", written in yellow. In the lower right corner is a tattered and battered looking book; Most of the cover, except for the upper part and the lower right corner, is taken up by a text from Burdon.
The title of the text is “The New Animals.” Burdon speaks of the new world, which is different from the old; it is important to cross new borders. The possibilities of consumption in music are expanded and Burdon wants to make a positive contribution to the world with the new music. At the same time, he admits that he and no one is perfect, which he asks to excuse.
To the individual titles
Winds of Change
The album begins with the title Winds of Change . It is mainly characterized by the catchy sitar melody that drives the piece forward. Eric Burdon mentions various names in this piece, such as B. Duke Ellington , Ray Charles , Ravi Shankar, and Jimi Hendrix ; according to Chris Welch, all the artists who inspired and influenced Eric Burdon the most.
The artists named in the piece
The list of artists in the order in which they are mentioned in the play:
Poem by the Sea
The piece appears as Burdon's lecture amidst the thunderous drumming by Barry Jenkins, which is supported by Weider's violin. This leads the piece directly into the next, Paint It Black .
Paint It Black
Paint It Black is one of the critically acclaimed covers of Burdon; the original is from the Rolling Stones. The piece develops a rocking dynamic, to which Weider's e-violin and Jenkins' guitar play contribute. Thanks to Burdon's additional vocal improvisation, the piece is longer than the original; the Animals' performance was so well received that it was part of their program at the Monterey International Pop Festival that year. It can also be heard in the documentary about the festival.
The Black Plague
The title begins with somber organ chords and Gregorian chant . The whole piece sounds very monotonous; Burdon takes on the role of the narrator here: He tells of the plague that afflicts a city, but only affects the poor who are waiting to meet their fate at the gates of the castles where the rich barricade themselves. During the whole piece a bell rings at certain intervals; According to Chris Welch, every tone stands for a victim of the disease. The piece has an eccentric character, which by the background voice with the spoken words "unclean" ( dirty ) and "Bring out your dead" ( your Brings dead outside ) is enhanced. At the end of the story, when the plague subsided outside the castle walls, it turns out that the rich inside had all died of thirst. Although drinking water became scarce, no one dared leave the safe castle for fear of the black plague .
Yes I Am Experienced
This piece is Burdon's answer to Jimi Hendrix and his album Are You Experienced? Burdon speaks to him directly. The piece pays homage to Hendrix, who is a great role model for Burdon.
San Franciscan Nights
San Franciscan Nights is one of the most famous pieces by Eric Burdon and the Animals. Burdon wrote the song after he and the rest of the band moved to the United States . In this context, the song is to be understood as Burdon's declaration of love for the city of San Francisco . Chris Welch called San Franciscan Nights "Burdon's love affair with the American West Coast culture" ( Burdon's love affair with the culture of the American West Coast ).
The piece begins with a hard guitar riff and a speech by Burdon. He dedicates the song, which he calls a very personal one, to the citizens of San Francisco. He advises those who do not understand the piece to save money to fly to San Francisco ( Save up all your bread and fly Trans-Love Airways to San Francisco, USA ).
The play was a first commercial success for the New Animals, which was necessary to convince those who still mourned the "old" Animals.
Man-woman
Man-Woman treats the story of a love in infidelity. The piece stands out particularly through Burdon's screams and the sparse musical accompaniment; Drums and percussion and occasional chords with the guitar. According to Chris Welch, Burdon processed his own experiences in this piece.
Hotel Hell
Hotel Hell tells of the lonely and unfulfilling life in a motel . The mood is clarified by text passages like “Baby, I'm so dissatisfied” ( I'm so dissatisfied ) and the repetitive part “And I'm so very far from my home” ( And I'm so far from my home ) and supported by police and fire brigade sirens. The title also achieves atmospheric density through a Mexican-style trumpet play; who plays the trumpet is not known.
Good Times
Like San Franciscan Nights, Good Times is one of the New Animals' best-known pieces. Burdon regrets wasting valuable time on wrong things, such as: B. “When I was drinking I should have been thinking” ( When I was drinking, I should have thought instead ).
Anything
Anything is a melodic, sensitive love song. Burdon is accompanied by elegant guitar playing.
It's all meat
The final track of the LP release, It's All Meat , brings Burdon back to his roots. It's a rock piece; John Weider's bluesy guitar playing and Jenkins' drum accompaniment, reminiscent of funk , stand out here.
Track list
Initial release
- Winds of Change: 4.00 min.
- Poem by the Sea: 2. 15 min.
- Paint It Black: 6. 20 min.
- The Black Plague: 6.05 min.
- Yes I Am Experienced: 3. 40 min.
- San Franciscan Nights: 3. 18 min.
- Man - Woman: 5. 25 min.
- Hotel Hell: 4. 20 min.
- Good Times: 2. 58 min.
- Anything: 3. 20 min.
- It's All Meat: 02.02 min.
Republication
like first publication and additionally
- Good Times (single version): 2. 56 min.
- Ain't That Sun: 3. 24 min.
- San Franciscan Nights (single version): 3. 16 min.
- Gratefully Dead: 3. 59 min.
Another publication by Repertoire Records also contains the title When I Was Young in twelfth place and A Girl Named Sandoz in thirteenth place . So it consists of a total of seventeen titles.
Chart placements
album
| Year | Chart | position |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Billboard Pop Albums | 42 |
Singles
| Year | single | Chart | position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | San Franciscan Nights | Billboard Pop Singles (US) | 9 |
| Official UK charts | 7th | ||
| Single hit parade / Media Control (D) | 20th | ||
| 1967 | Good Times | Official UK charts | 20th |
| 1968 | Anything | Billboard Pop Singles (US) | 80 |
swell
- ↑ According to the review on the website of the Graz City Library
- ^ Review of Bruce Eder's new release on Allmusic
- ↑ a b c d Comment by Chris Welch from June 2003 in the supplement of the re-release of the album by Repertoire Records.
Web links
- Winds of Change at Allmusic (English)
- Portrait of Eric Burdon