At UK No.1 on this day fifty years ago, The Animals with House Of The Rising Sun. A reworking of an old Folk standard Rising Sun Blues, first cut by Appalachian artists Clarence Tom Ashley and Gwen Foster, the record went on to top the charts in the US, Finland, Sweden and Canada, and is widely recognised as a British Pop classic. Previously recorded by Hally Wood, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone, Animals frontman Eric Burdon revealed hed first heard the song performed by Northumbrian folk singer Johnny Handle. The band were on tour with Chuck Berry and wanted something different with which to close their set, something which set them apart from other acts who invariably opted for rockers. Although doubtful of its hit potential, producer Mickie Most was eventually won over by reports of the audience reaction and the group cut the song in between dates in May 1964. The single went on to chart on two further occasions, reaching UK No.25 in 1972 and No.11 in 1982. In 1999 the recording received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, while a 2005 Channel 5 poll revealed it to be Britains fourth most popular No.1.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 22:52:51 +0000
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