House of the Rising Sun

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about House of the Rising Sun by The Animals! This iconic track, spun by our groovy Zoo Crew DJs, was recorded in just one take on May 18, 1964, at De Lane Lea Studios in London. According to a 2010 Songfacts interview, lead singer Eric Burdon said the song was “fated” for him, chosen to stand out during a tour with Chuck Berry because it didn’t mimic Berry’s rock ‘n’ roll style. The band’s haunting performance, driven by Hilton Valentine’s electric guitar A minor chord arpeggio and Alan Price’s Hammond organ, was captured in a mere 15 minutes between tour stops, as noted in posts on X. The song’s raw energy and Burdon’s soulful vocals helped it top charts in the UK, US, and Canada, making it a defining hit of the British Invasion.

The origins of House of the Rising Sun are shrouded in mystery. It’s a traditional folk song, possibly dating back to 16th-century English ballads, with its earliest known recording by Appalachian artists Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster in 1933. Musicologist Alan Lomax captured a version in 1937 from 16-year-old Georgia Turner, titled Rising Sun Blues. Eric Burdon first heard it performed by Northumbrian folk singer Johnny Handle in a Newcastle club, as he shared in an interview cited on Wikipedia. The Animals’ version, inspired by Bob Dylan’s 1961 recording and Dave Van Ronk’s arrangement, shifted the narrator to a male perspective and electrified the folk tune, creating what many call the “first folk rock hit.” Posts on X praise Burdon’s raw, auto-tune-free vocals, noting how his deep voice at age 23 made the song timeless.

But what’s the “House” itself? Theories abound, yet no definitive answer exists. Some link it to a New Orleans brothel, possibly named after Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant, meaning “rising sun” in French, located at 1614 Esplanade Avenue or 826–830 St. Louis Street between 1862 and 1874, as mentioned in American Songwriter. Others suggest it was a gambling den or even the Orleans Parish women’s prison, as Dave Van Ronk noted in his biography, citing a photo of a stone doorway with a rising sun carving. Pamela D. Arceneaux, a New Orleans research librarian, found no concrete evidence of a brothel connection, stating the lyrics don’t explicitly point to one. A Reddit thread debates whether it’s an abusive home or a trap house, reflecting the song’s enduring ambiguity.

Now, let’s dig into how The Animals got their start. Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s, the band began as the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, rooted in the gritty industrial north of England. Eric Burdon, with his powerful blues-inspired voice, joined keyboardist Alan Price, guitarist Hilton Valentine, bassist Chas Chandler, and drummer John Steel. Influenced by American blues and R&B artists like Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker, they honed their sound in local clubs, particularly the Club A’Gogo. Their big break came when they moved to London in 1964, signing with producer Mickie Most. That same year, House of the Rising Sun catapulted them to fame, as detailed on their official website. The band’s raw, electrified take on rhythm and blues set them apart in the British Invasion, though internal disputes led to lineup changes by 1966, with Burdon briefly leading Eric Burdon and the Animals.

Stay connected with The Animals through their Facebook and Instagram for updates on their legacy. Fans can also join discussions on the Animals Fan Club on Facebook, a vibrant community sharing memories and rare photos. While their official X account isn’t highly active, searching “The Animals” on X reveals fans like @Hoang_HQ celebrating Burdon’s transcendent voice. For more fan-driven content, check out Animals and Friends, a site dedicated to the band’s ongoing tours and history, keeping the Zoo Freaks’ spirit alive!