The ANIMALS

The Animals, five-piece rock group from northeastern England whose driving sound influenced Bob Dylan’s decision, in 1965, to begin working with musicians playing electric instruments. The principal members were Eric Burdon (b. May 11, 1941, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England), Alan Price (b. April 19, 1942, Fatfield, Durham), Hilton Valentine (b. May 21, 1943, North Shields, Tyne and Wear), Chas Chandler (byname of Bryan Chandler; b. December 18, 1938, Heaton, Tyne and Wear—d. July 17, 1996), and John Steel (b. February 4, 1941, Gateshead, Durham).

Released in 1964, the group’s first single was a version of Eric Von Schmidt’s folk-blues song “Baby Let Me Follow You Down,” which had appeared on Dylan’s first album. Retitled “Baby Let Me Take You Home,” it featured Burdon’s hoarse rhythm-and-blues-inflected si...