Most excellent piece on a most excellent single — in fact, this may be my favorite Animals two-sider, though When I Was Young/A Girl Named Sandoz comes close. Do you know the insane version of "Inside-Looking Out" by Japanese psychsters The Mops? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhB9EeqIuE4
Thank you for the insight into the roots of "Inside Looking Out". The Animals were a fractious lot and Tom Wilson captured that tension before the band imploded in autumn '66. "Rosie" was part of The Animals' set during '65. There are a couple of BBC radio session versions on YouTube. Also on YouTube is the complete broadcast of "Shindig! Goes To London". The programme producers found The Animals performance of the song exciting enough to open the broadcast with it albeit inter-cut with opening credits and Jimmy O'Neill's introduction. What we hear is close to "Inside Looking Out" albeit with the original lyric modified. A work in progress.
In 1967 Alexis Korner, father of the blues scene in England, returned the song to its work song roots on a Fontana 45rpm. Korner's guitar playing is workmanlike in the sense that he makes his instrument sound like a manual tool. Some might call it Freakbeat.
Finally, "Animalism", the MGM album released after the original Animals split-up, is unique to the USA. Most of the tunes have never received an official release in the UK. The version of "Outcast" is different to the UK version. Looser, with a different final verse, and instead of Hilton Valentine (guitar) taking the solo he trades phrases with Dave Rowberry (organ). In '66 The Animals were at the top of their angry game and a big inspiration for many a US garage band. Great article, Joe.
Wow, Steve, thanks for sharing that Shindig! episode! I'd never seen it, nor had known that Burdon and co. and performed "Rosie." Fantastic. But damn those credits and screaming girls! ;-)
I really dig Korner's take, too. Yeah, the '66 Animals were sublime, intimidating even. No wonder even his Lordship Lennon paid homage in the clubs. Pity they couldn't keep it together at that level and with that fiery lineup.
The Charlie Watts quote really captures the uncomfortable economics behind all this. What I keep thinking about is how the Animals turned actual incarceration into a metaphor anyone could relate to, but in doing so maybe flattened what made those prison work songs so urgent inthe first place. I've wrestled with this in my own wrk when translating specific experiences into universal themes.
Great deep dive into this song, thanks! I first knew it from Grand Funk's version and later caught up with the Animal's original, but had no idea about its roots.
Most excellent piece on a most excellent single — in fact, this may be my favorite Animals two-sider, though When I Was Young/A Girl Named Sandoz comes close. Do you know the insane version of "Inside-Looking Out" by Japanese psychsters The Mops? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhB9EeqIuE4
Whoa! No, new to me. Thanks!
Thank you for the insight into the roots of "Inside Looking Out". The Animals were a fractious lot and Tom Wilson captured that tension before the band imploded in autumn '66. "Rosie" was part of The Animals' set during '65. There are a couple of BBC radio session versions on YouTube. Also on YouTube is the complete broadcast of "Shindig! Goes To London". The programme producers found The Animals performance of the song exciting enough to open the broadcast with it albeit inter-cut with opening credits and Jimmy O'Neill's introduction. What we hear is close to "Inside Looking Out" albeit with the original lyric modified. A work in progress.
In 1967 Alexis Korner, father of the blues scene in England, returned the song to its work song roots on a Fontana 45rpm. Korner's guitar playing is workmanlike in the sense that he makes his instrument sound like a manual tool. Some might call it Freakbeat.
Finally, "Animalism", the MGM album released after the original Animals split-up, is unique to the USA. Most of the tunes have never received an official release in the UK. The version of "Outcast" is different to the UK version. Looser, with a different final verse, and instead of Hilton Valentine (guitar) taking the solo he trades phrases with Dave Rowberry (organ). In '66 The Animals were at the top of their angry game and a big inspiration for many a US garage band. Great article, Joe.
Shindig! Goes To London
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdF2euAcbD4
Alexis Korner - Rosie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ZwA7NwAJo
Wow, Steve, thanks for sharing that Shindig! episode! I'd never seen it, nor had known that Burdon and co. and performed "Rosie." Fantastic. But damn those credits and screaming girls! ;-)
I really dig Korner's take, too. Yeah, the '66 Animals were sublime, intimidating even. No wonder even his Lordship Lennon paid homage in the clubs. Pity they couldn't keep it together at that level and with that fiery lineup.
The Charlie Watts quote really captures the uncomfortable economics behind all this. What I keep thinking about is how the Animals turned actual incarceration into a metaphor anyone could relate to, but in doing so maybe flattened what made those prison work songs so urgent inthe first place. I've wrestled with this in my own wrk when translating specific experiences into universal themes.
Absolutely. Very well put.
Great deep dive into this song, thanks! I first knew it from Grand Funk's version and later caught up with the Animal's original, but had no idea about its roots.
Thanks for reading, Hugh!
Great piece. I have loved this song for a while but didn't realize Tom Wilson produced it nor did I know of its origin in work song.
Thanks, Nate. The OG 45 pressing is sublime sounding.
oooh, I bet. Those '60s 45's are the bomb. Even the Dave Clark Five sounds killer on them.
*Especially* the DC5 records! ;-)
https://open.substack.com/pub/joebonomo/p/loud-at-any-volume?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web