The Animals were my heroes for several years in my youth. Hilton Valentine had a raw style, but some great moments: the arpeggio intro to “House of the Rising Sun,” the twangy guitar breaks on “I’m Crying,” and the Middle Eastern-sounding guitar work on “It’s My Life,” among others. The Animals’ version of John Lee Hooker’s “I’m Mad Again” was musical genius, though never a hit or even a single.
I liked the Animals, but one reason was that EVERY band had to learn “House of the Rising Sun.” Once you got the guitar riff, it was possible for “most” singers to sing it.