Animals – I’m Crying

I can’t get enough of the early Animals. At the time I would say they were the grittiest-sounding band of the British Invasion. The Animals were one of the many British bands I learned about through reading about the Beatles. The Animals influenced the future of rock from the garage rock of the 60s to 70s punk.

I’m Crying was written by the group’s lead vocalist Eric Burdon and organist Alan Price. The song was released as a single in September 1964 and became their second transatlantic hit after “The House of the Rising Sun”, which was released earlier in the year.

The Animals first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 18th, 1964. With young girls screaming, The Animals rocked the audience as they played “I’m Crying” followed by their massive hit “House of the Rising Sun.” The audience got so out of control that Sullivan shushed them several times.

They formed in 1963, from the fusion between two rival groups, one headed by bassist Chas Chandler, the other headed by organist Alan Price, stage veteran, former jazz pianist, and disciple of Ray Charles. Eric Burdon, who had played with Price until 1962, was hired as the singer. The Kontours changed their name first to The Alan Price Combo, after adding drummer John Steel, and then to The Animals, after adding guitarist Hilton Valentine.

The original lineup only recorded three albums, yet nevertheless managed to break out eight Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1966. Alan Price left in 1965, and John Steel the following year. Also in 1966, Chandler left to start managing artists, and he discovered Jimi Hendrix in Greenwich Village. Now a very different group, they were known as Eric Burdon & The Animals and had six additional Top 40 hits before finally disbanding in 1968.

Bruce Springsteen: For some, the Animals were just another one the really good beat groups that came of the Sixties, but to me, the Animals were a revelation. The first records with full-blown class consciousness that I had ever heard. 

John Steel:  We were hot enough to get on several times on The Ed Sullivan Show, and at that time in 1964, we were rated in the Top 5 bands of the British Invasion along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks, so we were pretty highly regarded.

I’m Crying

I don’t hear your knock upon my door
I don’t have your lovin’ anymore
Since you been gone I’m a-hurtin’ inside
Well I want you baby by my side, Yeah

I’m cryin’, I’m cryin’
Hear me cryin’ baby
Hear me cryin’

Im lonely and blue baby every night
Yeah, you know you didn’t treat me right
And now my tears begin to fall
Well I want you baby and that’s all

I’m cryin’, I’m cryin’
Hear me cryin’ baby
Hear me cryin’

I don’t hear your knock upon my door
I don’t have your lovin’ anymore
Since you been gone I’m hurtin’ inside, yeah
Well I want you baby by my side

But I’m cryin’, you know I’m cryin’
Hear me cryin’ baby
Hear me crying
Hear me crying

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

26 thoughts on “Animals – I’m Crying”

  3. Haven’t heard this song in a long while. I confess the songs I have are pretty much the greatest hits of the two phases, plus the War songs. Some great stuff there Max.

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    1. To me they were probably the rawest sounding (I mean that is a good way) band to come out of the British Invasion. I agree…Eric deserves it.

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  6. a jaunty little song I don’t think I’ve heard before. I love that organ sound. And am chuckling imagining Sullivan sushing the crowd… “we’ve got a really big show, and also a really QUIET show people! Sssh!”

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    1. Them is a really good comparison…I like Them more than the early Stones…I had to order a Them album from the UK in the 80s…it’s a different world now.

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  9. Raw was the word. Eric has a great rock voice and they had some other good hits too, though ‘Rising Sun’ is about all the Oldies station have wanted to play. ‘Bright Lights, Big City, ‘When I Was Young,
    and their version of ‘Bring It Home To Me’ especially is sublime to my ears.

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    1. Yea I love this…most of the things they did were right in your face which I love.

      CB brought up the band Them…they compare nicely with the Animals…even the organ. Their singer was no slouch either lol.

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      1. Yeah, Them fit the pattern too.
        I remember seeing Alan Price in ‘O Lucky Man’ (Malcolm McDowell and a young Helen mmmmm Mirren) and he kicks ass in the last song/scene with the title song ‘O Lucky Man.’ The Animals were a talented bunch.

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      2. Oh Helen Mirren! What a lady. I saw a video of her not long ago on Conan O’Brien on youtube talking about her meeting Keith Moon….it’s a great story and worth watching. She is just awesome. Another British lady to have a crush on…the first one was Felicity Kendal when I was a kid watching A Good Life on our PBS station.
        Sorry….I got off track!

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  11. I’m with you, Max. I love, love, love these early Animals songs. Eric Burdon was a heck of a lead vocalist, and I also never get bored of that seductive Vox Continental organ sound. That clip from the Ed Sullivan Show is really cool!

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  13. Pingback: Animals – I’m Crying – MobsterTiger

  14. Even though I was a nerdy little kid who preferred pop and soul from acts like the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Turtles, Mamas & Papas, the Supremes and Four Tops, I loved the Animals – even more than the Rolling Stones back then.

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