Eric Burdon & The Animals - St. James Infirmary (1968)

[samero86]

There just isn't a singer with more chops than Eric Burdon. Just incredible !!

[TheWalrus001]

St. James Infirmary Blues is my favorite song, if only because of the history of it and the extension of different genres that have covered it. This is definitely one of the most unique interpretations that I've heard. It's funny how interchangeable the blues can be!

[skeletonkey6]

Great Jeff Beck-esque lead guitar at the end. Anyone know Who is the player?

[jamcgar]

@skeletonkey6

Hi. The lead guitarist was John Weider. Try to check out the other Eric Burdon & the Animals albums featuring John Weider. He was a great guitarist, very often overlooked whenever there's a discussion about the great guitiarists of that era.

BTW, he also played great violin of some of the tracks on these albums. He had a strong blues, psychaedelic tone on his violin. Don't know how he did it. Check it out.

[gypsyjeff1]

Listen......there are many versions of this song.....each is kinda unique..........

[PennPearson]

About the most doom-laden song I have ever heard, along with CCR's "Graveyard Train". The first time I heard this, about 30 years ago, it made a powerful impression on me. Fifteen months ago, the woman I loved killed herself and I thought a lot about this song. I have heard several versions, but I like this one the most for its pure sense of black despair.

[photopicker]

Love this album. This is classic inner city late night hipster blues grooves from the late 60's. Really great material with the never to fail Eric powering the vocal tracks.

[Westernwayofwar]

Who cares what genre this is, just listen to it!

[tedkadar]

buncha assholes, this was a blues/jazz/phychedelicrock fusion , he did it his own way, jus like mr. louis did it his way, and whatever ya say, ya can,t take away the fact each pereson in his own way, did it justice, you fuckers that critique, and bitch and piss, and moan about shit, what have ya dione that even comes close to any of these people.

[persvent]

After hearing all the rest, this is STILL THE BEST as NOBODY does it excellent as Eric Burdon does it!!!! You see, you have to be a TRUE CONNOISSEUR of Superb Excellent ... Soul Blues Rock fan ... to TRULY APPRECIATE the awesome talent that is put into this song (and others done by Eric Burdon) ... if you can not see it, then, you are TRULY BLIND and totally without HEARING as well.

Off to the DEEP END you Tasteless Suckers go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gerry50ify]

Great version. Eric knew what to do with this.

[gnomely1]

Many thanks for posting this and ignore the fatuous comments of those who seek attention by posting their negative nonsense on these sites. Starve them of the attention they crave. There are plenty of us who appreciate your posting.

[whatfay357]

THERE IS A ROCK VERSION OF THIS SONG SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, CAN ANTONE TELL ME PLZ WHO SINGS IT, ITS NOT BLUESY ,

[namnoiz]

I like Eric Burdon and the Animals , however this is Not some of their better work in my opinion .

[DanGiallo]

Louis Armstrong did a great version as well. With that trumpet of his, the man spoke the musical truth in every song I ever heard him play.

[kilgoretrout90210]

@quenquen411 actually, the tune is one of the older blues songs in existence. They definitely do it with a rock inflection, but hell if its gothic or progressive

[JulianThomePictures]

You know, I'm a blues fan, a metal fans and a Burdon specialist....This is progressive rock with gothic doom elements....If this would be a blues, it would have been a blues^^, but it isn't. Many people who say Burdon is a blueser are wrong. He found metal in 1967, if not in 1966 with The Animals' "Inside Looking Out"....have you heard anything harder from that time...you won't....the vocals of the most bands from the 60s are weak....

[VercingetorixXIII]

@JulianThomePictures white stripes sound like a scary old Betty Boop Cartoon...

[NPoetic]

@JulianThomePictures

It's an old blues song. However, he made it in a psychedelic and progressive way.

[bensmith3200]

@JulianThomePictures

That's fucking ridiculous. You can't retroactively group someone with a genre that was not in existence during their time.

What music magazine is feeding this crazy drivel to you kids?

What's next? Should we start considering Hank Williams a punk musician?

[philmcal87]

What a voice!! The blues will never fade. Excellant cover!

[gnomely1]

@JulianThomePictures I knew this band locally in 1963. It brings back memories of the Club A'GoGo and the Downbeat on a Saturday night in Newcastle. The Finlays, Joe King, Jake, Keith Crombie, Terry McVay, Tony Brown, Peter Gregory and all those other ghosts that now fade into the walls of the derelict buildings. Chas Chandler brought Jimi Hendrix over to this country. Those times will never return but it's best that way with memories. Never look back. Live in peace.

[rockerfromdetroit]

@JulianThomePictures I'm no expert just a music lover- grew up in the 60's- loved Eric Burdon- I think his music was the best during that era- most kick ass- most intense and wild- "Talkin bout You" Live in England ~1966! He shoulda won. He was in a class of his own! Music was in his blood- it came thru - he didn't put on BS airs-And how about punk before before punk- "I'm Crying" so wild and crazy with the punk beat...

[nightintheruts617]

@JulianThomePictures this may not be a blues version, but "the st. james infirmary blues" is one of the best blues songs ever and a absolute standard/staple in the music making world evry band has coverd it

[quenquen411]

no soul to this. ooooh, nooooooo... lol

[quenquen411]

This isn't near as good as the one I just listened to by Bobby Bland... not even close, lol... It's not as good as the White Stripes cover either.... sounds so damn generic ? for some reason... I don't know why... Hate this, it f*cking sucks

[JulianThomePictures]

@quenquen411 This is no blues song. This is gothic/progressive/psychedelic heavy rock. You can't compare this doom song with a blues standard....THAT fukcin sucks....

[quenquen411]

@JulianThomePictures This sounds less like a "doom song" than say, Louis Armstrong's version... Now that I'm listening to it, the guitar rifts are crazy in this... I like it more now. Instruments, this is golden, vocally... not soo much for me, sorry, it sounded too generic after listening to the other artist... and The White Stripes don't fall into a blues standard ? These guys vocally fucking blah ! lol

[quenquen411]

@JulianThomePictures and this is blues-rock

[Cthulhussama]

@JulianThomePictures Please listen to " Dark was the night, cold was the ground " by Blind Willie Johson, How would you define it ? That could be interesting !

[nomissimo]

@JulianThomePictures

this version might not be a blues. but the song for itself is a blues classic.

[mvonwahlde]

@JulianThomePictures Was this song gothic/progressive/psychedelic heavy rock when Louis Armstrong sang it in 1928?

[VercingetorixXIII]

@quenquen411 Bobby Blue Bland sucks, no one, is better than Louis, then from there its just downhill 2nd best thing... Cab comes in third... white stripes about 10 on the monie meter...

[Craze29]

@quenquen411 fuckin poopdick.

[photopicker]

@quenquen411 dude ... '68 ... this is yet another incredible interpretation of a very classic tune. EB carries the entire tune with that voice of his.

[quenquen411]

You people can't wipe my opinion out just like that with your "too many negative votes" ...Bobby Bland all the way... White Strips all the way.... lol

[photopicker]

@quenquen411 when did music become a contest between listeners??

[quenquen411]

@photopicker well it's Tuesday sooooo..... since, forever !

[photopicker]

@quenquen411 Dude this version smokes. And thankfully there are many versions to sample from.

[VercingetorixXIII]

Eric Burdon was pure but the rest of the band fucked it up...

[VercingetorixXIII]

This is a dirge, and had they just sung it a a dirge and not added the music between, they would be the greatest, as it stands louis armstrong sang it as it should have been done... but I love this too, withouth the in between music and end...

[movingon4ever]

Great Band, so diverse in skills. This early1968 track has them on musical chairs.

Danny Mc Culloch is not on Bass, but 12 string. Vic Briggs is on that heavy throbbing

Bass, and possibly piano(pre-Geo Bruno AKA Zoot Money). John Weider on guitar.

Unclear who played the guitar solo, sounds like John. Enjoy!

[hedistuff]

'you wonder if any greats have done 'st james infirmary'? good night nurse!

[123argaet]

Oh Yes!!

[starfireapache]

Eric this is the best version of this blues clasic I have ever heard. You are a genius. Think I'll have it played at my funeral, as if anyone cared I had died. Thanks for keeping me save and out of trouble with your music all these years. All my love Starfireapache

[axilleasb]

hello from greece very good song i had meny years to leasten that version i wonder if you can find the immingrant song. it isn't in you tube and here it's imposible to find it

[ManyGodz]

Great version.I also like the version the Jim Morrison did with the Doors on one of their "Bright Midnight" releases,but this one has the whole song instead of a few verses.THANKS !!!

[salixfi]

salixfi

Thank you Eric. You are the best.

Remain blessed. Willow...

[salixfi]

Thank you Eric, remain blessed.

Willow

[bletonly1]

I Like it alot from the 1st time I heard it

[kimberlykins]

this song reminds me of when i was a little kid ... my mom's boyfriend played it lots .. nova scotia canada

[salixfi]

salixfi,

I listen to it again, in addition of being a great song, it's without question good.And there is honest loss in his voice. I wonder if any of greats have done it.Not that Eric isn't great.

[salixfi]

Salixfi

It's a great song.I just lost my son, so I would have wanted to hear it perfomed with a real feeling of loss.

[JulianThomePictures]

I'm really sorry about that..

[VercingetorixXIII]

@salixfi Me too, hope you can find healing, Ive lost many too, never goes away and I understand but never a son so my heart goes out to you...

[roadsmear]

@salixfi sorry and bless your son..

[NickKelly1]

Eric at his best! His albums around this times had either absolute classics or absolute rubbish (Uppers and Downers on same album.

thanks for posting.

[PatWardMagic]

also Ditto!

[mickindanny]

Ditto

[xenfay]

Thanks for posting this gem! Finally, someone with taste in music...Ha! Love this song.