The Animals - Smoke Stack Lightning

[Budsmokerhaha]

Is it me or was in Dusk Till Dawn?

[bluewilbur]

@Budsmokerhaha your thinking the blasters dark night

[Budsmokerhaha]

@bluewilbur i like this one better :D

[splatter2208]

Very nice!

[KOPunchopenarena]

This is my favorite version. Much as I respect the Yardbirds, I never got Keith Reif's voice...though I'd say instrumentally, The Yardbirds version is superior.

[KOPunchopenarena]

Best voice in rock. Nothing comes close. 

[aks25aks]

been listening to the Black Keys a lot lately, definitely influenced by this band right here.....great song!

[divisorplot]

we have ignition we have ignition rock away!

[mayo2t]

Poor Howlin' Wolf..

[elindiwe]

@mayo2t ...they really butchered this song...they dont do him justice:(

[kingsuji]

The Animals introduced many American teens (me included) to the blues that in some cases were being performed in our own towns and cities.

Jimmy Reed, The Wolf, deep cuts of Ray Charles...

I still play their disks.

Thanks guys.

Kingsuji

[sirronald69]

* * * * *

[joemi1966]

Eric Burdon= best of white blues

[ArendvanDop]

@joemi1966 Good, but Peter Green is the grand daddy of White man blues

[hypolittleskittle07]

Somebody needs to tune their bass...

[cobra5555555]

Eric Burden is an unrecognized landmark in rock and roll history. In his youth he blazed the trail, and in his maturity he continued to hold up his end of the bargain. I cannot say enough. Words fail me.

[jackzupp]

I agree with the Gentleman from Chi-town-Only the Beatles had everything, & I mean EVERYTHING, that was needed to change a Global culture. Like Elvis, they were the Right thing @ the Right Time in history, almost like it was "pre-ordained". I grew up with them & admit I favored them over The Rolling Stones, but the first time I got the nerve up to ask a girl to slow dance ( and a legion of guys will probably agree) was to "The House of the Rising Sun"!

[streetsidenomad]

is this not the same riff as see see rider that they sing?

[Deanbass77]

@streetsidenomad It's the blues, riffs get recycled all the time.

[streetsidenomad]

@Deanbass77 chord progressions get repeated not riffs

[divisorplot]

China high speed trains collide one disabled when hit by lighting 35 dead smoke stack  lighting.

[CIRCULOETERNO]

genial¡¡

[fastborzoi]

Wolf and Hubert Sumlin eclipse everyone, but surprisingly -- this cover by the Animals is really nice, thanks for posting!!

[metalvache]

wow, masters of rock

[debiedog1]

One of the best ever versions of this song

[purpledaisy1957]

Wow! fantastic.

[1lightheaded]

Well I may look white but I'm from the North of England. If you are from anywhere north of Grimsby or Hull you will know just what I am saying . e

Eric Burdon and The Animals are roots they played from the soul. What more do you want? Music has no colour and besides everybody on this planet is brown only the one pigment,only one race ,the Human Race.

[MrDaBoink]

@Kamper66 thnx... can u tell me more bands like this man....

[GoldenScarab45]

The Animals are my absolute favorite, but honestly I wish they woulda sped this up. It's still amazing though. Can't get enough of that organ.

[GuyWithNoName67]

Apparently one song from this album has Frank Zappa on it... I'd love to hear that.

[dhh02192]

Has anybody else listened to the Viagra ad on tv the last few months and figured out what the background music is?

[MrBusyIzzy]

@dhh02192 Yeah, and it's kinda dissapointing that they'd use great music like this for something that helps senior citizens get an erection.

[dhh02192]

@MrBusyIzzy  Personally I think it's funny and a clever use of the song, especially being done without lyrics, making the target audience the audience most likely to "get" it. I bet Howlin' Wolf would think it's funny. When I confirmed it by looking up the Howlin' Wolf version of the song up here on YouTube I laughed and laughed.

[howlingsandy]

@dhh02192 Howlin' Wolf Smokestack Lightnin' minus lyrics

[dhh02192]

@howlingsandy You got it.

[howlingsandy]

@dhh02192 if it were lyrics, Lightnin's "My Starter Won't Start This Morning" would be better, buy my great friend and collaborative kindred spirit harp teacher Wolf got the call, as is most appropriate.

[PATIANCEisFORtheDEAD]

so did the animals rip off the groupies or did the groupies rip off the animals, being that both tracks were released in the same year? either way, primative is much more killer.

[tomastheboss]

ERIC BURDON. THE ORIGINAL BADASS

[floydog1]

Top stuff. Brilliant.

[TheDrewpdog]

ASH GRUNWALD does the best cover

[11xzxzxz]

Eric Burden has a better voice than the forgotten Keith Relf of the Yardbirds but the Yardbirds "Smokestack Lightning" (Howlin' Wolf) – 5:35 from Five Live Yardbirds is just by the far the best version. Go and listen to Keith's harmonica and voice and Clapton and everything about that version says why try this again? The yardbirds themselves could never equal that particular live version. Love The Animals too ..

[Ericclapton325]

To bad the doors didnt do a version of this i think this would be up their alley

[alwayswinit4real]

Howlin' wolf is unbeatable but Eric Burdon is the blackest white man to ever play the blues. The English Jim Morrison; or maybe Jim Morrison is the American Eric Burdon. Either way they're both Legends.

[doniron87]

the opening riff kinda` reminds me of ''susie q'' by CCR

[tangerine0707]

Can't beat the Howlin' wolf

[VadimC1199]

Light years behind the legendary Howling Wolf.....got to give them credit for trying thought :D

[LongLiveTheBlues]

fuck i cant find any cd with this track on it , what album is this from!!!!

[neul3]

@LongLiveTheBlues

It is on Animalism - one of the two contractual obligation albums they owed MGM. It is IMHO the best - but is very hard to find. I got it from ebay on Oxford records OX-CD-SE-4414

[LongLiveTheBlues]

@neul3 cheers mate ill have to hunt for this cd i need it lol

[LongLiveTheBlues]

@neul3 u fucking bloke !! i found it brother now thats going on my i pod when i walk down the street im gonna b just shouting"smoke stack lightning" thank u.

[lowonthehill]

@neul3 It was hard to find, but it's been remastered and put on CD at a good price. You can find it on amazon.

You're right; Animalism is one of the best Animals albums. It was my introduction to soul music. Since then I've discovered all the great originals (Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, etc.), but the Animals got me started.

[frnzkuester]

its sad we will never have music like this on the radio ever again

[bluesboy25000]

They were the best White Blues Band. No doubt. As an American, I can say they took our music and revamped it and blew it out of the water.

[roowdau]

john lennon could sing better than eric

[devilgyoza]

@roowdau - LOL yeah right!

[mayboy128]

Did he say, "Oo-Oo Shortay!" at the beginning?

If he did, that's awesome!

[menaruz]

Suena muy bien...! Gracias

[dhh02192]

Another great example showing the roots of rock, especially British rock, were in

American blues. Also listen to Yardbirds, Eric Clapton's band before Cream.

[rearly62]

@dhh02192 FWIW Eric Clapton was in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers after The Yardbirds and before Cream...

[Tessor16]

@dhh02192 This comment really ticked me off. the yardbirds were not claptons band one bit. his boring music style coudlnt keep up with their creativity and revolutionary style that unfortunatly just never stuck. clapton is one of the most boring profesional guitarist period

[typeanoise]

@Tessor16

Agreed, Clapton is a douche.

[culturalised]

CooooooooLL!

[sparkyization]

@culturalised Extremely kool! ;-)

[ddemnitz]

Very elemental. Great instructional tool. Thank you.

[bcubed72]

Good God, Eric had (and has) "all 88" workin' for him.

Ever wonder why nobody covers the Animals? 'Cause NOBODY has his range!

[Yellowsubmaurine]

@bcubed72 When I was 14 I used to practise singing to E. Burdon, I was probably the only girlie alive who wanted to sound like him.

[sicksidesoldier17]

sick song

[bigbertram3]

The Animals were a great band and recorded some great songs, but this song belongs to The Wolf.

[nicodagger]

@bigbertram3 Right. But for English white boys, it ain't bad. They came from working-class Manchester, so related to the blues. But nobody could ever begin to approach the brilliance of Wolf.

[billstroller]

@nicodagger -..IF you're referring to the Animals -they came from NEWCASTLE upon Tyne. Eric Burdon -Alan Price- John Steel- Hilton Valentine & Chas Chandler - who was the man who "discovered" & later managed Jimi Hendrix. Then he built the ARENA in Newcastle. Sadly died about 10 years ago. A BIG man in all respects 6'6" or similar. Saw them many times in the 60's...sad they broke up so soon... had great tracks & LP's in their short "original" guise. Animal Tracks is superb.. find it IF you can.

[nicodagger]

@billstroller Of course, stupid of me, they were Geordies all right. White Brits with soul. Sorry for the offence to all Geordies!

[burner27]

I love that the Animals took blues music and rockified it. Classic rock sounds hella black lol.

[ascheylus]

I've got an outstanding/incredible/awesome­/screamin/howlin Grateful Dead Truckin-->Smokestack Lightnin' from 7-15-89, Deer Creek. I love this song!

[jonichan]

this sounds just like primitive by the cramps

[11xzxzxz]

Love the Animals but Yardbirds own this song. No comparison.

[SCRIBESCREEN]

@11xzxzxz

I agree So I posted A video Respons Of The YardBirds Version Of Smokstack Lightning check it out...

[burner27]

@11xzxzxz howlin wolf owned this song

[Toottycat]

Cool outfits, revolutionary style of the time...., part of the 'swinging '60s' phenomenon!

[drebyrd54]

First of all, this version is slower than either Wolf's or the Yardbird's. Second of all, there is no "supposed to be" in music. You are welcome to your preferences, but any suggestion of orthodoxy is laughable.

[MIKE54U]

I like this version, however noone could howl like the immortal "Howlin Wolf".

[kingdomsbythesea]

I don't know what 2:35 was.. but God I liked it.

[Mrcynister]

Not a terrible version of the song, BUT Chester [Howlin wolf] Burnett's song is not supposed to be sped up so fast.....yeah, Howlin wolf does it best ...no doubt...:), and Gov't Mule does the next best version IMHO.....:)

[Cryptykk]

Agreed

[bluesboy25000]

Only the Wolf's version is better

[Cryptykk]

indeed

[bigiron383]

The Yardbirds

[ladidah9]

I love the simplicity of this track. The way the bass comes, and the drums slide in over it is magic. Then there's this great sense of completion when Alan's organ comes in.

That guitar is EXACTLY like Susie Q, but this came first. Ahhh, the tables turn...

[asorls1]

Actually it was Dave's organ. I agree with your comments.

[DREKDYALLDAY]

LoL they cant get down like "us"

[qwertylolman]

oh shi~... they shouldn't play this.

[gizmopilotdk47]

Why the fuck not?

[qwertylolman]

because shitmeter of this record is over 9000. no one could play and sing this song better than Howlin' Wolf.

[gizmopilotdk47]

Well that's your opinion. It's also good, this is MY favourite though.

[nestobunk]

actually Watermelon Slim put out an awesome version too..

[chupachupben]

wrong

[livlig70]

... Susie Q ???

[mrcdaniels]

this is incredible........

[SHYHI45]

O.M.G I could not listen any longer my ears hurt.

[johnmetalheadd]

how can u shun the blues???

[donottawaguitar]

coooool

[MrRudwolf]

Smoke Stack Lightning = Raul Seixas (as minas do rei Salomão)/ Elvis Presley (the fool)

[mcatman34]

Just listening to this song, Also Bury My Body and I'm Mad. Haven't heard these for 40 years. Brother had them on 45's but were lost in fire couldn't believe they were here. Thanks

[Kamper66]

Welcome in web =)

[MrDaBoink]

@Kamper66 I am 18 and thnx to YouTube I dot have to listen to useless crap....wish i was alive when ppl listened to this on the radio ...not in sad run down clubs with bands who shud be touring the world but are stuck at home cus ppl like Lady Gaga happened to the world...

[anutuk]

@mcatman34 you might be able to find the album on CD through amazon.com.

[asorls1]

One of Eric;s best. His vocal jams show what he would later do with War.

[leannan02]

Love this song.

[withnielandi]

bring back blues and R&B!

[JoeSidhu]

This is good.

I reccomend the Soundgarden version though.

The vocals are insane. 4 octave goodness.

[dafney7798]

chas and them flat woundes...!!!

[magusmagic]

Phewnominal band. A credit to the 1960's, they sound as good today, as ever! R&B Gods.

[JulianThomePictures]

Eric Burdon is the R&B God!!

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

@magusmagic too bad they didn't hit the states before the Beatles, they would ave been even bigger. Musically they were better than the Beatles, and neither John or Paul could sing with the soul of Eric Burden

[GoodGuitarSolos]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO They are awesome band but stating that is wrong. Paul and John had hugely emotional and powerful voices too.

[Bucketheadhead]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO

musically everyone is better than the Beatles.

[ap0st0lak0s]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO john on its own was better...beatles brought that sound out there thats why we can listen to all this song now...i love animals but don't tell me they would be better than bealtes...

[DavidKinner]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO I will agree they would have been pretty big, but better than the Beatles? No freaking way I am sorry The Animals are amazing, and extremely underrated, but The Beatles were a big part of the creation of the whole sound that went into progressive rock, and metal, and so many other genre's. Without the Beatles, and their experimenting we would not have groups like King Crimson, Yes, Black Sabbath,

[DavidKinner]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO Led Zeppelin that went on to also influence bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and that is like a basis for all good bands we have had since The Beatles pretty much. Without them the continuing of good music for so long would not have existed.

[bobbyhawthorne]

Too bad Justin Bieber didn't hit the states before the Animals, he would ave been even bigger.

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

@bobbyhawthorne you've got to be f--king kidding!!!!! the fact that he has made it big just shows how much music has regressed since the golden age of music, the 60s and 70s

[kozinc]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO Yeah, but you know how boy-bands always get all the fame in the teenage population :)

[cCreaturesMusic]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO the animals were known solely for their covers. they had in no way the creative talent of the beatles or they would have grown, expanded their sound, and became better known. the beatles coming to america first didn't hurt a host of british bands with original talent. the animals simply weren't that good. and i'm not here just to rip on the animals, just wanted to see some other versions of howlin wolf's classic. this one is alright.

[Rockinghorserider1]

@cCreaturesMusic The Animals did covers because their producer Mickie Most had a financial interest in those songs.

[aledobretociastko]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO Being "musically" better wasn't the most important thing. There were a lot of better musicians back then. Thank god It's all about creativity. I really appreciate Animals, but Beatles in their late years were just another level, you know. By the way, I think you meant Eric Burdon.

[ShedeasVideos]

@BLUESMANRONCHICAGO Eric certainly had amazing, soulful vocals and I loved The Animals! They were a bluesy band, the Beatles played a totally different style. Pop music. You just can't compare them. Even having been there I can't explain the Beatles' popularity. I was madly in love with Paul, lol, probably just a dopamine hormone thing with us teenage girls! ;-)