The Animals

Before moving to San Francisco and turning into a hippie, and also before he "spilled the wine," Eric Burdon led one of the most powerful live British R&B acts around. Although their recordings of "House of the Rising Sun" and "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" assure them eternal permanent rotation on every Oldies station from here to Mars, the Animals were more steadfastly based in the Blues. Their blistering live performances showed Burdon had the spirit of the old blues-hollerers when he tore through songs like "See See Rider" and "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." As the decade wore on, Burdon and Co. became more lyrical and experimental as their audience grew more distant.