The album "Restrospective" is NOT an SACD anymore! However the mfr Abkco has tried to "hide" that fact by not changing the cover and/or even the Part Number from when it WAS an SACD. As many know, record companies have spent large $$$ to remaster records for SACD high-def format, which was introduced around 2002. Unfortunately, due to slow sales they are no longer promoting this format, and Abkco took the dis-ingenuous step of deleting the SACD-layer from this formally Hybrid disc after just one year. Since about 2005, when you buy this (as well as Abkco's Stones discs) all you'll get is CD layer, as they've downgraded these products without telling buyers. A bad business practice for sure! Last, this record IS remastered so its CD sound is probably better than other Animals discs, but don't expect SACD (for that you need to find one produced from 2004-2005 on Ebay perhaps).

I have always been aware of the Animals, but did not know too much about them except for the great singles. This CD showcases that they were a great band that did not get a chance to really shine. The hybrid SACD sound is smooth and delicious.

If you are or ever were a big fan of the Animals, this is your album. If you just remember them from some of their more memorable hits and want to hear more, this is the album to have. It contains just about every single thing they did of note. I won't comment on the quality of the performances because everyone should have heard them countless times before.

What makes this rendition of their greatest hits very special is the recording format. Each selection has been remastered into DSD. That's Direct-Stream Digital and the basis for Sony's SACD, Super Audio Compact Disc, which is one of the best high resolution recording formats in current use. So even if your CD player doesn't have the ability to recognize this format, this album is going to sound noticeably better than the standard PCM, Pulse-Code Modulation, in most cases. PCM at its' best can certainly rival SACD but this album was thoughtfully remastered to the level that you may never hear the Animals sounding this good unless you're a strick vinylphile which is another argument entirely. So based on the content and quality of sound reproduction, this retrospective comes highly reccomended.

If you really liked the Animals then you'll love this cd. There's plenty of great songs and some you forgot they did. They really take you back in time.

CD is great. Exactly what we were looking for. My 7yr old is learning "house of the rising sun" on guitar so we bought this to share the entire song with her. She loves the whole CD!

This release was very clean and smooth. Good upper bass and midrange. Limited low bass but for this time period I thought it was well done

This was a gift for my husband, music from his Vietnam years. He loved every minute of it.

I have researched a lot of these "best of" compilations from the 60s bands and regarding the Animals, this particular cd has it all. The sound quality is great and the song choices are very good. To me, this is the best Animals cd to buy, and I was glad I did.

This CD includes the basic hits of the Animals, with Eric Burdon singing the songs. The first 12-13 cuts off this CD featuring 22 different cuts are mainly the original Animals. The remainder represent later versions of the Animals and are interesting to listen to so that one might compare the evolving sound as the group members changed and as Burdon and the band developed over time.

I'll concentrate mostly on the original Animals, simply because some of my favorites from the group were recorded with the personnel in place then. Some cuts that typify the Animals:

"House of the Rising Sun" (1964). Here it is. One of the most compelling and greatest hits in rock and roll history. Burdon's voice is raw, raw, raw--and that is what you want for this kind of song! No Gerry and the Pacemakers' sound here (I liked that group, by the way, but the Animals they ain't)! There is poignancy in the words of this song, melded with the music itself. The organ's playing is quite effective; the band as a whole creates a strong bluesy effect; Burdon's raw blues voice is wonderful in this song.

"I'm Crying" (1964). This is lively music, taken at the quick pace by the band. Burdon's raw blues voice is distinct and powerful. The recurring line:

"Hear me cryin' baby,
Hear me cryin.'"

"Boom Boom" (1964). This is a classic John Lee Hooker blues tune. Burdon's and the Animals' version is different from Hooker's basic, smoldering but powerful version. Nonetheless, the Animals' version works very well. Other covers of Hooker are pretty tame (e.g., Listen to the Yardbirds' "Boom Boom"). Guitars and drums set the tone at the start of this song. While Burdon approaches this song differently from Hooker, his cover is effective nonetheless. Burdon's growling voice fits the song well.

"We Gotta Get out of This Place" (1965). Another of their greatest hits. The guitar work at the outset sets the stage for what follows. Organ work, again, is great. Key line:

"We gotta get out of this place,
If it's the last thing we ever do."

Again, Burdon's voice works well.

"See See Rider" (1966). I really enjoyed listening to the Animals cover Ma Rainey's classic hit from the early part of the century. It's different from her version, but works pretty well on its own. The rhythm section lays down a nice foundation, and the organ fills well. Burdon's voice finishes the picture. Quite an effective cover of a classic blues tune.

So, this is a nice album for those who want to get a sense of the Animals' body of work. Lots of fun to listen to, and one of the rawest sounding of the English groups of the 1960s.

I bought this compilation because; one, it seem to have all the hits, two, I had never heard their version of (gasp) "Inside Lookin' Out" & three, I wanted a single album & disc that best showcases this group. This does that. The only song that I wish were here is "I'm Mad". I would like to compliment the different record labels for coming together to present what can be legitimately called a 'retrospective'. All too often the fan only gets what that particular label owns. This spirit of cooperation, at the very least, makes me feel like they're doing their best to give the most complete product possible.

The Animals went through many personnel changes, the only constant being Eric Burdon. The original Animals is viewed as bing the best but later versions of the group did some worthy things also. The original Animals music was a mixed affair musically. They viewed themselves as a blues based group, that was what they attempted to do; but Mickey Most, manager & producer, saw them as being a more commercial act. Between the label & Most many songs were forced on them that they didn't want to do. This would include almost every single that they recorded that wasn't written by any group members. And even though they had successful hit singles, this wasn't what they really wanted to do.

This compilation is one of the best ever released on the Animals. Every charting single they ever had, with the exception of 1983's "The Night" is here. The album opens with the Animals only #1 hit "House of the Rising Sun", a rock classic. There's "I'm Crying" (#19), "Baby Let Me Take You Home" (didn't chart in the U.S.), "Gonna Send You Back to Walker" (#57), "Boom Boom" (#43), "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (#15), "Bring It on Home to Me" (a Sam Cooke classic that they did WANT to record), "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (#13), "It's My Life" (#23), "Don't Bring Me Down" (#12)& "See See Rider" (#10). At this point we get songs that were from the later version of the Animals. They include "Inside, Looking Out" (#34), "Hey Gyp" (no U.S. chart action), & "Help Me Girl" (#29), "When I Was Young" (#15), "A Girl Named Sandoz" (no U.S. chart action), "San Franciscan Nights" (#9), "Monterey" (#15), "Anything" (#80), "Sky Pilot" (#14) & "White Houses" (#67). The 22nd & final song on this compilation, "Spill the Wine" which is the single edit, is not an Animals song. Eric Burdon recorded it with War & it peaked at #3. This last track can be viewed as a bonus track.

This is an excellent compilation especially for the casual Animal fan who just wants the hits. This does that without giving very much filler.

I was looking for all the radio hits.This has them all up to and including SPILL THE WINE plus a number of album cuts.If you just want one CD of the Animals try this.

I have the feeling that of all the many, many, good bands of the 1960's the Animals are largely forgotten. Maybe you'll hear 'The House of the Rising Sun' or 'We Gotta Get Out of this Place' on the Oldie stations, but, although representative of the bands' sound, there is so much more. A cover of John Lee Hooker (Boom, Boom), a cover of Sam Cooke (Bring it on Home to Me)and three of my favorites, 'Don't let me be Misunderstood', 'It's My Life' and Don't Bring Me Down'. This is a complete collection of the band's hits, following the evolution from their early rhythm and blues, through a changing line-up, to Eric Burdon as the front man (and what pipes he has). Alan Price, the original keyboardist went on to an interesting solo career, and Chas Chandler, the bassist, produced the first Jimi Hendrix album. You can't go wrong here.

This CD is worth twice the money.
Great band, great songs, great sound.
A true 60s' bargain.

Between the Rolling Stones and the Animals I don't know who was more blues as far as the British Invasion groups. Well, to tell the truth after listening to this collection 20 or so times I'd say the Animals were THE British blues band of the 60's. Of course like all things early 60's, as the decade progressed so did the psychedelic movement influence everything. The Animals (in whatever formation) led by Eric Burdon, did it just right. Monterey, Warm San Francisco Night, and Sky Pilot were all relevant in the second half of the 60's. Nothing better pays tribute to the Monterey Pop Festval than the song "Monterey". I love this disc, and I suspect I'll listen to it many more times.

its got everything you want to hear. if you don't want to play it all day every day for the first week,i'd be surprised.

This CD is a gem, every song a classic. If your a Animal fan this should be in your collection. The booklet also makes good reading and gives a bit of an insight to the band at different stages with different lineups.

This collection of The Animals songs is excellent.One gets all the best big hits of The Animals.From the greatly arranged "it's my life" to the all time classic "the house of the raising sun".Also included is a couple of Eric Burdon solo hits.This is a must buy for any "Animals" fan.You get it all in one CD,which also in includes a short telling of the group's history, in the liners notes.I highly recommind this CD.

One of the best reissues of 2004 the Animals finally get a concise career spanning compilation that shows why they deserve the same recognition as the Rolling Stones. Retrospective is a generous 22 tracks that ends with "Spill The Wine" where Eric Burdon and War prove to be a great match. All the classics are here including "House Of The Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" as well as lesser known classics like "See See Rider" and "It's My Life" making Retrospective the perfect collection for casual fans as well as completists. Any rock fan should add this album to their collection.

the Animals are probably the most underrated bands of that era. they are the most raw and gutsy of all the british bands incorporating the real blues and true grit in crafting of their body of work this cd is the Best , including hey gyp + dont bring me down ,among ALL their best including all the Eric Burden's acid days in San Fran

The only compilation that had everything I wanted and remembered from their heyday. "Anything" surprised me and I've grown to like it. Of course, what Animals compilation would be complete w/o "House of the Rising Sun", "San Franciscan Nights", "Monterey" and definitely "Sky Pilot". If you want the most bang for your buck, this is it!

I think that in this compilation there are the most important songs of this band,and a young man who did'nt know the Animals, can appreciate their musical production.

As a 17 yr old, I had the opportunity to see 2 of the great British bands in action, at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hermans Hermits and the Animals. Both were great acts, but the Animals were definitely the heavy weights, with Eric Burdon, probably one of the most charismatic lead singers, at the helm, belting out "House of the Rising Sun", in a way that not only duplicated the studio sound but raised the dramatic pitch by 100. So I purchased this CD with great anticipation, which paid off in spades. It's a wonderful collection of their music, and I was especially glad to see that they included the original 45 version of "WE GOT GET OUT OF THIS PLACE", which is worth the price of the CD by itself.
I remember seeing Chas Chandler, walking around the stage, laying down the baseline tracks to that song.
All of the other greats are included DON'T BRING ME DOWN, DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD, and probably the best rock version of BOOM BOOM laid on vinyl. Like the Yardirds, the Animals were tough, gritty and put out music for the soul. Their approach to the music they popularized, was intense and heavy hearted, nothing was taken for granted by this band. Funny how I can see them onstage, sooo many years ago, as I listen to this CD. For anyone who missed the British Invasion and the 60's, I would strongly encourage them to purchase this anthology collection and take the trip back to a time when music served as the back beat of everyday life.....

Just the following 2 songs are worth buying the CD.San Franciscan nights and Sky pilot(long version).

The Animals were one of the great bands of all time. Their level of musicianship was only rivaled by the Beatles (even though they played different styles of music). This CD has all of their hits from all of the phases of the band's career and is a must to complete your collection. I prefer "The Complete Animals", only because I prefered the version of the band that recorded with Alan Price on keyboards, but this is a great CD. In response to the reviewer who called this band a poor man's Rolling Stones, the Stones only wish they had the chops these guys had.

what a great collection from an incredible band. I would have been very happy with this group of songs if they had been the original versions. I don't know what the reviewer (who claims to be a d.j.) is talking about, they are not the originals, I have most of them on 45's, (a collector). Why can't we buy a cd/album that is true to where it came from. I'd rather listen to clicks and pops than a sham! to bad people who don't know the difference are buying these albums and being mislead.

The Animals were one damn good band. Nuff said. The story about them is far too complex for me to get into, but understand this. Through all the years and all the hits that this band put out, they have always struggled. Even Eric Burdon, who carried the band on after it dissinigrated in the mid sixties. I guess this is what gives this band it's charm. They may be well known, but they still live like most of us. No glory of riches for these guys. However, Bla, bla, bla.... if you want to know about THE ANIMALS then let the music do the talking. This album RETROSPECTIVE does a very good job at covering all phases of the bands recording career... all to short lived if you ask me.
The first incarnation of The Animals started in the early sixties... these guys were a gritty blues rock band, that had a really great sound. They could be like a doo wop style or a dark gloom rock style. Some of the music they put out was way ahead of its time. They had that gritty feel down patted though. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN is a timeless song. It's as fresh for me now as it was when I was eight years old, amazed at its haunting charm. WE GOTTA GET OUTTA THIS PLACE is a funky bass line, with more blue collar lyrics. Dig. Lots of greats (most of it came between 64 and 66 before the band fell apart.) The remainder of the tracks come from the second incarnation of the band, the San Fransiscan line up, put Eric Burdon in more of a psychedelic phase. I personally prefer the grittier older tracks to these, but there are some goods here too... SKY PILOT, and SAN FRANSISCAN NIGHTS....
Also though we get a small offering from Eric Burdon and War. These two joined forces after the demise of The Animals in 1970 and recorded some classic tracks. SPILL THE WINE, an excellent tune, is represented here.
This is probably the best Animals you can get, as nowadays I think it's impossible to find any originaly tracked albums, these days you have to seek out the most complete "hits" package with The Animals. There are multitudes of them, this is the one you want.

The Animals rode the crest of the British Invasion in 1964 and topped both the U.K. and U.S. charts with "The House of the Rising Sun." Over the next four years, they would reach the Top 40 a total of fourteen times, and they're all here along with additional tracks like their first U.K. hit ("Baby Let Me Take You Home"), a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" from their debut EP, and the No. 3 hit "Spill the Wine" that Eric Burdon recorded with the funk band War in 1970.

When looking at these songs, it's evident that there are distinct stages to the group's career. The original group only lasted through 1966 (and keyboardist Alan Price left by the end of 1965). During this period, the band was a hard-edged R&B group and mostly covered other writers' songs. "I'm Crying" was the only group-penned hit from this period.

By 1967, the only original member was vocalist Eric Burdon, who became the group's principal songwriter. In the liner notes, Burdon admits "we were knee-deep into (LSD) at the time" and this is clearly evident on the psychedelic-tinged hits like "When I Was Young," "San Franciscan Nights," "Monterey" and "Sky Pilot."

The only noticeable ommision is there are no tracks from 1983's reunion album ARK. Otherwise, this is an essential look at one of the era's most influential bands. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

BEING A DJ FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF CLASSIC SONGS. THIS CD CERTAINLY FILLS THE BILL. ALL THE SELECTIONS ARE THE ORIGINAL CUTS AND SOUND GREAT. ANYONE WHO BUYS THIS CD WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

I bought all of the Rolling Stones CD's in the SACD format. I was so pleased with them that I couldn't wait for some new ones to come out. So as soon as the Animals Retrospective SACD came out, I bought it right away. The Cd covers all of the best songs. Many of them are in MONO. Even some of the songs that i have on other Animal greatest hit cd's that were in stereo sound, are not in stereo on this cd. I have a Polk Audio surround sound system. When you play something in mono all I get is sound from my center speaker. Just like the Kinks Greatest hits on the reprise label,the Lp was in stereo sound. but what does Rhino do they bring out the kinks greatest hits in mono sound. If i want to hear mono , why was stereo ever invented.and now with 5.1 sound system I get to hear songs in mono sound . you figure it out I can't. I agree with Jay this could have and should have been done in stereo sound. I know that a lot of this is in stereo, but thats not enough.

Hard to find album with all the hits. recording quality was excellent

As other reviewers correctly point out, the SACD sound in incredible, even on conventional old CD players. In addition, the Digipak style packaging is handsome, stylish, and nicely understated. The liner notes are quite fine as well.

Okay, what about the songs themselves, you ask? As widely accepted, the first (pre-psychedelic) 2/3 is absolutely stunning. For my money, these clutch of early singles, from the riveting and monumental "HOTRS" to the exquisite pop of "Help Me Girl" equal if not surpass the best early work of the Stones, The Who, Yardbirds, Zombies, Kinks, and other R&B influenced British Invasion bands. Unfortunately, a deficient quantity of great early material (which is tied in with their virtually nonexistent songwriting ability) doomed The Animals to an early grave.

By Track 15 ("When I Was Young"), Eric Burdon had moved to the west coast, assembled a new band and commenced the obligatory attempt at psychedelic pop rock. Though not quite disastarous, this material almost completely replaces the raw whiskey and cigarette grit of The Animals' early stuff with saccharine, cringe-inducing, and ultimately woefully dated odes to the hippy dippy love fest that was late-'60s San Francisco scene. Again, this is not a total disaster, as "Anything" is suprisingly delicate and endearing and the baffling "Sky Pilot" manages to squeeze a bit of emotional grit and interesting fuzzy guitar out of inferior material.

The final track of the retrospective,the Eric Burdon and War hit "Spill the Wine," though enjoyable, smacks of predatory marketing in an attempt to lure in those casual listeners who really only want this song, "HOTRS" and maybe 'We Gotta Get Out of This Place."

In short, then, 5 stars for the first 2/3 and maybe 2 stars for the last 1/3.

I was looking for a good retrospective of the ANIMALS when I ran across this CD. Of course I was familiar with HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, DONT LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD, and WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE. When I put this disc in my player, was I in for a real surprise. I love the early ROLLING STONES albums, the real blusey type early works, and when I heard BOOM BOOM, IM CRYING, BRING IT ON HOME TO ME, GOONA SEND YOU BACK TO WALKER, I was blown away. The music has feeling and the music moves you, something that is missing with the music scene today. Thats one reason I am listening to so much early rock lately. Of the 22 tracks on this disc, I dont think I skipped over any of the first 13 songs or so. Towards the end the disc kind of winds down energy wise, but SPIIL THE WINE helps to end the disc on a high note. I am very glad that I decided to add this disc to my collection.

I share the enthusiasm of the other reviewers over the release of all these great hits on one SACD. I was in high school when the British invasion was in its prime, and these songs are part of the soundtrack of my youth. But as great as the SACD sound is, many of the tracks here are in mono. I know there were stereo versions of most of the mono tracks here, and for Abkco to deliver these tracks in mono, with no real explanation as to why, is a gross mistake. On those tracks presented here in stereo, the sound is phenomenal. I highly recommend "Sky Pilot" as perhaps the best sounding track here. I urge all labels, which actively reissue oldies on CD, to go to hybrid SACD for these albums, whether they spotlight a specific group, or compile hits from various artists.

There are so many greatest hits collections of the best of the Animals that at first glance "Retrospective" just seems like the latest in a long line of such albums going back to ABKCO's 1966 collection of "The Best of the Animals." A reasonable person could be content as long as their CD has "House of the Rising Sun," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," and "We've Got to Get Out of This Place." But for fans who see the Animals as the second best English R&B group of the British Invasion after the Rolling Stones, this 22-track collection deserves prime consideration if no other reason than all of the tracks come from the ABKCO masters and utilize Direct Stream Digital (which is what ABKCO successfully used in the Rolling Stones albums reissued in 2003). Yes, it is a pain when you get albums and then a few years later they are digitally remastered or whatever to make them sound even better than before, but maybe your dog will eat your Animals CD or you will lend it to a friend who never returns anything and you will need a new one, which will justify your picking up "Retrospective."

Of course the Animals were more than their three greatest hits (but those are three really good songs for one group to have recorded), and "Retrospective" is a reminder of that. They had "Baby Let Me Take You Home" (#21 in the U.K.) before "House of the Rising Sun" hit #1 in the U.S., and while Eric Burdon was always the group's front man it is Hilton Valentine's guitar riff and Alan Price's organ playing that really makes that song work. In terms of U.S. chart success the group had "I'm Crying" (#19) in 1964 and then in 1965, "Boom Boom" (#43), "Bring It On Home to Me" (#32), "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (#15), and "We've Got to Get Out of This Place" (#13), which in this collection is the original U.S. single version. The follow year they charted "Don't Bring Me Down" (#12), "Help Me Girl" (#29), "Inside-Looking Out" (#34), "It's My Life" (#23), and "See See Ryder" (#10).

By 1967 Eric Burdon & the Animals were clearly into their psychadelic phase (if this were an LP you would think it was time to flip over to the B Side). "San Fransiscan Nights" (#9) was the last Top Ten hit for the Animals, followed by "When I Was Young" (#15), and then in 1968 "Anything" (#80), "Monterey" (#15), and "Sky Pilot (Part One)" (#14), and "White Houses" (#67). The album ends with a radio edit of "Spill the Wine" as a sort of musical answer to the question, "Whatever happened to Eric Burdon?" after the group essentially broke up in 1969. So, overall, "Retrospective" does have all of the group's hits, at least those defined by making the Billboard singles chart, which explains why I have started listening to more of their songs than the big three.

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This includes almost all my favorite tracks from my two favorite Animal CDs that I've been listening to for years. "The Singles Plus" (EMI import from 1990) that had the original member lineup, and "The Best Of Eric Burdon & The Animals, 1966-1968" (a domestic Polydor release from 1991) that was Eric's backing band after the original members broke up.

In fact, if I was to burn a CD-R of my favorite tracks from both of these CDs, the result would be this wonderful SACD hybrid from Abkco. The only thing missing is "Dimples" from "The Singles Plus" and "Good Times" from "The Best Of...1966-68". Otherwise, I'd be perfect.

Recommended. Check it out.
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