Welcome back. I’ve been meaning to do something by The Animals, if only to include the personal story of interactions between Eric Burdon and I which go back 40 years.
Song: House of the Rising Sun
Artist: The Animals
Produced by: Mickie Most
Released: June 1964
Highest reached on Billboard: 3 weeks at #1 in September 1964
Key: A Minor 4/4 time
The key of A Minor is the relative minor key of C Major. It has no sharps or flats. On a piano, the C Major scale uses no black keys. The A minor scale also uses only the white keys. The reason they sound so very different, even though they contain the very same notes, is that the intervals between said notes are different.
Other works in A minor
Beethoven: Fur Elise (although in 3/8 time)
Mozart: Piano Sonata #8
Paganini: Caprice #24 (in 2/4 time)
Rolling Stones: Angie
Led Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven
Fleetwood Mac: Rhiannon
REM: Losing My Religion
Metallica: The Unforgiven
The House of the Rising Sun
Lyrics courtesy of AZ 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 blue jeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans
Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and a trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's all drunk (although I always hear it as , 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
Who wrote this song? No one really knows. What is The House of the Rising Sun? No one really knows that either. This is a song that has origins dating back to 17th Century England. The first known recording, as Rising Sun Blues, was by Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster in 1933. I’ve heard versions by Dave Van Ronk, Joan Baez, Dylan, The Animals, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Frigid Pink and Five Finger Death Punch. There are many more.
Since I’m writing about The Animals version though, I’ll start there.
Eric Burdon says he first heard it Newcastle upon Tyne, sung by Johnny Handle. At the time, The Animals were touring England with Chuck Berry. Their version is a cover of Bob Dylan’s version, which Dave Van Ronk claims Dylan “stole” from him (more like a premature borrow, as there can be no real theft in Folk Music). When I play it for myself, it’s a mix of Dylan’s and The Animals. I rarely play the arpeggios that are so distinctive in The Animals version. I will play a Metal version from time to time, just for S&G.
Whatever version, whatever the House of the Rising Sun refers to, it’s a heartbreaking tale that carries a warning to not follow in the singers footsteps.
Now, what’s all this about Eric Burdon calling me on the telephone?
The Call
In the summer of 1983, I had tickets to see Iron Maiden at the Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, PA (although an internet search doesn’t show it) and The Animals at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. I spent most of that summer in the Crozier Burn Center in Chester, PA, so I missed the shows. My mother, God rest her soul, contacted a local reporter with a human interest story. That reporter called a friend, who called a friend… I subsequently received a PR packet in my room containing tour material for The Animals. A t-shirt, a ballcap, 8x10 glossies and a program for The Ark tour. This guy Mike (I think he worked for a company called The Press Office) calls me and says that Eric Burdon is going to call me in my room. I’m sure young people today would say, “Eric who?” Remember that this is 1983 and The Animals were not such a distant memory then. The medical staff all knew I was going to get this call and were all excited (if maybe a little doubtful) for this moment. One afternoon, George, my roommate, picks up the ringing phone and says, “Hey Frank, I think you wanna take this call.” As I’m picking up my phone he calls down to the nurses station and tells them, “Eric Burdon is on the phone with Frank, right now.” A half dozen people in scrubs come flying into my room while I’m talking to Eric Burdon. I’m on the phone with ERIC BURDON! Holy smokes, this is really happening!
He seemed a bit nervous (as was I) but as the conversation progressed, we both warmed to the occasion. He asked how I was, he encouraged me to get better and do what the staff told me. I asked how the tour was going. It was a surreal moment that became one of the bullet points of my life. Here’s this famous guy, an artist I admired greatly, just being a kind human being to a kid in a rough situation. I must say that my recovery was given a boost that day.
Next up
Later that fall, I heard that The Animals were returning to Philly that fall for two nights at The Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. I was under the (false) impression that the Tower was a bar, and at 16 years old, I couldn’t go to the show. I called this guy Mike and said, “I’m the kid you had Eric Burdon call in the hospital, you remember me?” He replied, “Sure I remember you. What can I do for you?” I told him that I’m only 16 and that The Tower Theater was a 21 and up club. He said, “No problem. Bring ID of some sort. There’ll be 2 comped tickets and two backstage passes waiting for you at the box office.”
Now I didn’t drive and my father wasn’t about to go to the concert, so I started trying to find a ride. You’d think that a free ticket and a backstage pass would've caused a fight for the opportunity to go. I still had a bit of a hard time getting that ride. I finally convinced this friend Eric L. to drive. He agreed with the condition that Bill H. could come too. I said that would be fine but I only had the one extra pass.
The night before the show, I asked Eric to teach me House of the Rising Sun on guitar. Not that I would have the chance of playing it backstage for some of my musical heroes, mind you. It was the principal that I should at least KNOW the song.
The Show
We get to Upper Darby and walk up to the box office. I show my Social Security card and I get two tickets (they actually had $0.00 printed on them!) and two stickers allowing us to the backstage party after the show. I had brought a camera that security said I couldn’t bring in with me. I flashed my backstage pass and said, “Eric said I could bring it.” He said OK and right through we went.
Now in our “special guest arrogance”, we strode up to the front row and plopped ourselves down in the center seats, feet on the stage. The Tower Theater is just that, an old theater, with seating for about 3000. It’s an intimate setting where I’ve seen The Guess Who, Steppenwolf, Wayne Shorter, Al Dimeola and Chick Corea among others.
Screenshot from the website linked above.
These weren’t our seats and with the aid of security, the real seat holders had us booted. With all the 16 year old bravado I could muster, I flashed my backstage pass as we were guided to our seats further back.
The emcee for the night came out to introduce the band. He had a full beard and waist long hair and was a bundle of energy. He was a popular DJ on WMMR 93.3 FM named Pierre Robert. He actually sat next to us during the show, jumping around like mad and jotting down things in a notebook.
After the show we made our way down to the doors on the left side of the stage. Eric and I were guided to the after show party by security.
The Inner Sanctum
Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Alan Price, Hilton Valentine and John Steel all milling around before my starstruck eyes. Pierre Robert and all sorts of hangers-on like me. Eric asked me how I was doing (wow, he remembered!) and how I liked the show. I walked up to Chas Chandler and asked him if I could shake the hand that discovered Hendrix. I must say that in all the excitement I forgot I had a camera with me. I got all their autographs (no, I don’t still have them nor do I have the ticket stubs or backstage passes) and had a scotch on the rocks with Rock and Roll royalty. I had a very nice conversation with a 32 year old nurse who offered me a ride home. I stupidly declined her offer, partially in the interest of friendship with Eric (who had only stayed backstage for 5 minutes) and Bill who were waiting for me outside.
A memorable night for sure.
This story has a continuation of sorts concerning a backstage experience at Live Aid, two years later, but I’ll save that for another time.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day.
Or buy me a coffee
Such a great story, great memories. The House of the Rising Sun was the only song I learned to play on the guitar when I was a teen. There is something about the A minor key. Fur Eloise is one of the favorites I play on the piano now. Seeing Rhiannon on you list reminded me of the Daisy Jones and The Six series I just finished watching. Did you watch? Was interesting to find out the author was inspired by Fleetwood Mac. I listed to their Rumors album again recently. Good stuff.
These are moments to be treasured. A great story. Obviously you went through a rough patch medically. I hope that is only a memory.