Alan Price
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1965-67) (as The Alan Price Set) - Clive Burrows -- baritone sax - Steve Gregory -- tenor sax - Pete Kirtley -- guitar - Llittle" Roy Mills -- drums, percussion - Rod Slade -- bass - Alan Price -- vocals, keyboards - John Walters -- trumpet
line up 2 (1967) (as The Alan Price Set) - Johnny Almond -- sax NEW - Terry Childs -- sax (replaced Clive Burrows) - Steve Gregory -- sax - Pete Kirtley -- guitar - Rod Slade -- bass - Alan Price -- vocals, keyboards - Alan White -- drums, percussion (replaced Roy Mills) - Paul Williams -- guitar, vocals
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- The Animals (Alan Price) - The Electric Blues Machine (Alan Price) - Colin Hicks & the Cabin Boys, - Zoot Money's Big Roll Band - Nero and the Gladiators - Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band - The Paul Williams Set (Johnny Almond and Alan White)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: This Price Is Right Company: Parrot Catalog: PAS 71018 Year: 1968 Country/State: Durham, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2044 Price: $15.00
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Best known as The Animals original keyboard player, in pursuit of solo success, in 1966 Price struck out as the front man for The Alan Price Set. By 1968 he'd recorded two albums with the group and a handful of 45s.
Apparently intended to broaden his recognition and commercial potential in the States, in 1968 London's Parrot subsidiary decided to release a Price compilation - "This Price Is Right". Parrot had already released a string of five singles in the States:
- 1966's 'I Put a Spell on You' b/w 'Iechyd-da' (Parrot catalog number 45PAR-3001) - 1966's 'Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo' b/w 'Take Me Home' (Parrot catalog number 45-PAR 3007) - 1967's 'Simon Smith and His Dancing Bear' b/w 'Tickle Me' (Parrot catalog number 45 PAR-3009) - 1967's 'The House That Jack Built' b/w 'Who Cares' (Parrot catalog number 45-PAR 3013) - 1967's 'Shame' b/w 'Don't Do That Again' (Parrot 45 PAR-3014)
While Price had done well with European audiences, none of the US singles had done anything commercial, which left you to wonder why they though a compilation album would do any better. Moreover, from a marketing standpoint it was kind of an odd decision since eight of the twelve tracks were lifted from the recently released "A Price On His Head" album. Those song were rounded out by 'Hi-Lilli, Hi-Lo' which was on the first Alan Price Set album. The track listing also included three non--LP singles: Screamin' Jjay Hawkins 'I Put a Spell On You'; a cover of Randy Newman's 'Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear', and the Price original 'Shame'. Musically it made for a decent introduction to Price's mid-'60s catalog with several of the tracks having provide him with European hits. Probably the most interesting thing about the set was Price's fascination for Randy Newman. The album contained a staggering five Newman covers. In contrast there were only four Price originals. As a result, how you feel about Newman is going to color your feelings about this album. While I've always liked Price's arch voice and liked his blues-rock outings, I've never been a big Newman fan and five Newman tunes is a lot to deal with. It's an interesting set, but will have somewhat limited appeal for folks.
"This
Price Is Right" track listing: 1.) The House that Jack Built (Alan Price) - Taken from his first solo album and released as his sixth solo 45, Price wrote the tune, but to my ears 'The House Tat Jack Built' has always sounded like something from the pen of Randy Newman - same kind is supposed sophisticated wordplay and insight Newman's known for. Musically it was simply kind of a plodding keyboard powered tune marred by some irritating squawking jazzy trumpet and sax solos (sounding like a Canterbury-based band having a brief freak-out). YouTube has a black and white promo clip of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-DZ4D_zU-E
- 1967's 'The House That Jack Built' b/w 'Who Cares' (Parrot catalog number 45-PAR 3013) rating: *** stars 2.) She Got Another Pair of Shoes (Alan Price) - Nice up-tempo, horn powered slice of rocking blues that served to showcase his ruff and ready voice. rating: **** stars 3.) I Put a Spell On You (Hawins) Well, the liner notes got the writing credit wrong showing it as 'Hawins' rather than 'Screamin' Jay Hawkins' ... Price certainly turned in a decent performance (always loved the church organ opening section), but his best simply didn't even come close to the Hawkins original. Still, for a skinny, English white guy, his performance wasn't bad. YouTube has a nice clip of Price and company performing the song on a 1967 German television: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ4ZGGt-1rs This one had previously been released as the second Alan Price Set 45 and even saw a US release.
- 1966's 'I Put a Spell on You' b/w 'Iechyd-da' (Parrot catalog number 45PAR-3001) rating: **** stars 4.) On this Side of Goodbye (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - When I think of Price I normally equate him with loud, gruff, bluesy numbers. Against that backdrop his low-keyed cover of the Gerry Goffin - Carole King penned 'On this Side of Goodbye' has always come as a pleasant surprise. Sweet and surprisingly commercial, the tune would have made a dandy single. rating: **** stars 5.) So Long Dad (Randy Newman) Price underscore his credentials as an early Randy Newman but including five Randy Newman covers on this set. With a breezy, old-timey sounding melody, this one sounded a bit like Harry Nilsson doing a Newman cover. I can see why folkslove this stuff, but those characteristics have never worked their magic on my ears. rating; *** stars 6.) No One Ever Hurt So Bad (Randy Newman) - Another Newman cover, 'No One Ever Hurt So Bad' was given an up-tempo, horn-powered arrangement that was quite enjoyable. The scatting section wasn't necessary, but so what ... rating; *** stars
(side
2) Opening with a neat barrelhouse piano and bass arrangement, a bouncy melody, and one of those patented '60s "society's-changing" lyrics, I've always had a soft spot for the Price original 'Shame'. I'd suggest it was the most commercial and radio--friendly tune on the album.
- 1967's 'Shame' b/w 'Don't Do That Again' (Parrot 45 PAR-3014) rating: **** stars 2.) Simon and His Amazing Dancing Bear (Randy Newman) - Another Newman cover and another previously released single. Most folks love it, but to me the bouncy old-school melody was plodding and the song was simply too clever for it's own good. YouTube has an interesting black and white performance clip taken from a 1967 appearznce on the German Beat Cllub television show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ2XW24BcYA
- 1967's 'Simon Smith and His Dancing Bear' b/w 'Tickle Me' (Parrot catalog number 45 PAR-3009) rating: *** stars 3.) Biggest Night of Her Life (Randy Newman) - Another tune that kind of grew on you if given a chance. Price's somewhat limited voice sound quite attractive surrounded by a more conventional rock tune. rating: *** stars 4.) Hi-Lilli, Hi-Lo (Kaper - Deutsch) - The only track taken off his debut album, I'll readily admit it take a little bit for this one to get going, but by the time you hit the 30 second mark all of the MOR ballad characteristics had been left in the dust and Price and company were cooking. Were it not for the hideous title and the first twenty second of the song, it would have gotten four stars.
- 1966's 'Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo' b/w 'Take Me Home' (Parrot catalog number 45-PAR 3007) rating: *** stars 5.) Don't Do That Again (Alan Price) - Another Price original that seemed to take more than a little inspiration from Newman ... In spite of that, 'Don't Do That Again' had one of the better melodies and rock oriented performances. rating: **** stars 6.) Living Without You (Randy Newman) - More Newman ... Price accompanying himself on piano. It's one of the prettier numbers, but be warned it sounds like a Newman tune. rating: *** stars
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Between Today and Yesterday Company: Warner Brothers Catalog: BS 2783 Year: 1974 Country/State: Durham, UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: white promo label Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5019 Price: $9.00
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For goodness sakes, there's more to The Animals than Eric Burden ...
Released a decade after he quit The Animals, 1974's self-produced "Between Today and Yesterday" served as a concept album with a plotline that was apparently a semi-autobiographical recollection of growing up and leaving his native Newcastle. As you've probably figured out, the collection was divided into 'Yesterday' and 'Today' sides. The six tracks on side one ('Yesterday') reflected a distinctive English feel including nods to English music hall, Broadway, and Dixieland jazz. Coupled with Price's social and political commentary, songs like 'Left Over People', 'Away, Away' and 'the title track the results were pretty bleak, though Price made sure that most of the songs were supported by strong melodies. In contrast, side two ('Today') sported a more contemporary and commercial sound. Among the highlights 'Look at My Face' and 'Dream of Delight' were two of the prettiest ballads in Price's catalog, while the keyboard propelled blues number 'You're Telling Me' recalled some of his earlier contributions to The Animals. Elsewhere 'Angel Eyes' had top-40 written all over it (though it didn't even get released as a single). In hindsight you'd probably call this a 'mature' effort in that it wasn't really a rock album, nor was it accompanied by the usual trappings that go with self exploration. Unfortunately commercially the set did little in the States. ('Course sporting one of the year's ugliest covers probably didn't help sales ...)
"Between
Today and Yesterday" track listing: 1.) Left Over People (Alan Price) - 2:57 2.) Away, Away (Alan Price) - 2:54 3.) Between Today and Yesterday (Alan Price) - 4:28 4.) In Times Like These (Alan Price) - 2:39 5.) Under the Sun (Alan Price) - 4:37 6.) Jarrow Song (Alan Price) - 5:45
(side
2) 2.) Look at My Face (Alan Price) - 2:49 3.) Angel Eyes (Alan Price) - 3:13 4.) You're Telling Me (Alan Price) - 5:37 5.) Dream of Delight (Alan Price) - 3:33 6.) Between Today and Yesterday (Alan Price) - 4:25
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