After Dinner Speakers: The Animals, Graham Norton, Pat Jennings

The Animals formed in 1964 in Newcastle, England out of the remains of the Kansas City Five, a local pop group. The Animals played a tough, R&B-influenced brand of rock similar to their contemporaries, the Rolling Stones; this new sound was showcased on an eponymous debut EP released later that year. After a successful run in London the quintet signed to EMI/Columbia, who released their first U.K. chart entry, the Top 30 single "Baby Let Me Take You Home." Their second single, a soulful version of the Bob Dylan staple "House of the Rising Sun," went to No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K., making the Animals the band of the moment. The group quickly prepared a self-titled full-length album that spawned the U.K. Top 10 single "I'm Crying." Their second album, Animal Tracks and another single, "We've Gotta Get Out of This Place," established the Animals as a popular British Invasion band in the U.S. and one of the top acts in the home country. After the departure of member Alan Price and the addition of Dave Rowberry, the band went into the studio and recorded "It's My Life," another Top 10 success. Moving to Decca Records, the new lineup of the Animals made its full-length debut with Animalisms, another success. Unfortunately during 1966 members came and went, and by the end of the year the group was no more. Founding member Eric Burdon reformed the group as Eric Burdon and the New Animals, a more psychedelic combo than the original group, and continued recording. After that group ended in 1969 he went on to work with War and later began a solo career. In 1976 the Animals reunited to record the album Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted, which received good reviews but didn't sell very well. The group once again parted ways. In 1983 the Animals reunited for almost a year, producing the album Ark in the process. The record sold well and the accompanying tour was well-received by fans old and new. When the tour was over the Animals broke up again, this time for good.