Welcome to the fanlisting for the 1964 song by the Animals, The House of the Rising Sun. This is the only fanlisting for this song listed at theFanlistings.org.

Script used: Enthusiast
Owner: Girl Boheme
Last updated: 18th February 2008
Member count: 30
Pending members: 1

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According to theFanlistings.org:

"A fanlisting is a place for all fans of a particular show, movie, actor/actress, singer, etc. to come together and build the biggest listing of people from all around the world who are fans of that subject."

Why Join? Because it is rather fun to see how many people share your passion.

Fanlisting Updates Log

November 18 2005 22:18 EST

I finished it. I have submitted the finished form.

Story Behind the Song

In March of 1964, the Animals went into the recording studio to record a portion of their debut LP. The first single released by the Animals was a variation on an old blues ballad, Baby Let Me Take You Down. The Animals version, Baby Let Me Take You Home, made considerable progress, rising to number 15 on the UK charts.

In May of that same year, they toured Great Britain with their idol, Chuck Berry. During that tour, the Animals stopped briefly at the recording studio to record House of the Rising Sun. They session lasted less than twenty minutes. The song that would burst them onto the international music scene had been recorded in one take.

It is important to note that due to the number of names they could fit on the recording label, Alan Price's name was the only one credited to House of the Rising Sun. This was incorrect but after being reassured that they would all be paid equal royalties for the song, they went ahead with its release. They would later regret that decision. Within three weeks of the songs first pressing, it hit number one on the UK charts. On September 5, the song made it to number one on US Billboards Chart and by the time the Animals hit US soil, the fans were waiting.

The US tour began in late September during which the Animals made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show performing House of the Rising Sun. They went back into the recording studio in November and by February 1965 their third hit single, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood was steadily climbing its way towards the top.

Royalties for House of the Rising Sun began pouring in about the time that Alan Price began to feel uncomfortable about flying abroad. He left the band in April of 1965 to pursue his own career in music, deciding to tour with Bob Dylan. The only Animal to receive money for the single which grossed millions was Alan Price. Needless to say, this left a bad taste in everyones mouth because everyone of them had taken part in writing the monstrous hit.

Facts

• This was the first song since 1962 by a British band to hit #1 in America that was not written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
• This is about a brothel in New Orleans. "The House Of The Rising Sun" was named after Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant (which means "Rising Sun" in French) and was open for business from 1862 (occupation by Union troops) until 1874, when it was closed due to complaints by neighbors. It was located at 826-830 St. Louis St.
• The melody is a traditional English ballad, but the song became popular as an African-American Folk song. It was recorded by Texas Alexander in the 1920s, then by a number of other artists including Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Josh White and later Nina Simeone. It was her version The Animals first heard. No one can claim rights to the song, meaning it can be recorded and sold royalty-free. Many bands recorded versions of this after it became a hit for The Animals.
• The single version is cut down, but still runs about 4:30, which was very long for any song on the radio at the time.
• Bob Dylan recorded this on his first album. The Animals version was one of the first songs to put a Rock rhythm to a Folk song, something Dylan did a lot soon after.
• In the traditional Folk version, the main character is a prostitute. The Animals changed it to a gambler to make their version more radio-friendly.
• The Animals performed this while touring England with Chuck Berry. It went over so well that they recorded it between stops on the tour.
• The Animals recorded this in 1 take. They had perfected the song from years of performing it on the road.
• This was the first #1 that was over 4 minutes long.
• Alan Price is the only band member given credit for arranging this, meaning he is paid almost all the royalties. Their record company told the other members that there was not enough room to list them as arrangers.
• The organ solo was inspired by jazzman Jimmy Smith's hit "Walk on the Wild Side."

-taken from Songfacts

Lyrics

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new bluejeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk

------ organ solo ------

Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

(Burdon, Steel, Chandler, Valentine, Price)

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