Eric Burdon
Everyone’s heard of Eric Burdon, or at least, everyone should have heard of Eric Burdon. You see, Mr Burdon is a voice you will have come across singing the likes out House Of The Rising Sun and Spoil The Wine, as he was none other than the creative mind for the Animals and War – both bands who are responsible for the music we listen to today. Anyone doubting the genius of Mr Burdon need only realise that he was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, has released nearly 50 records, and has shared the stage with the likes of Otis Redding, Jimmy Witherspoon, Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix.
Having initially begun his career in music growing up in Newcastle, Eric was fascinated by jazz and blues, listening to musicians such as Ray Charles and Bo Diddley throughout his time, and developing his own personal take on music. Over the course of time, Eric has shaped rock n roll as we see it today, has become a part of the genre, and continues to push himself to achieve more and more.
As part of this continued drive, Eric has recently released Til Your River Runs Dry, a 12 track record written by Eric and reflecting his own passion to ‘express his own truth’. Described as a deeply intimate, honest self portrait, this record is quite simply, his most intimate release yet. Even going so far as to use his concerns as song titles, this record promises to reveal the most inner thoughts of a musician who has been part of the British music scene for the last 50 years – so what of the record?
As Water kicks the album in to being it’s striking how much of an influence one man can have over a sound, immediately harking back to the 60’s and 70’s through the tone of the guitar, the echoey yet powerful vocals, and the sense of melodic drive which pushes it forwards. Catchy and powerful, this is a track which is sure to reignite that passion for music, reminding you of where what we hear today has come from, and why Eric is such an important figure in the music scene even now. Memorial Day continues this approach further, ushering in a track which almost sounds like an homage to reggae style music, packing the mix with layers of vocals, soft guitar work and solid drumming – resulting in a sound which is soft, catchy, yet the sort of thing which is impossible to sit still to. There’s something about this track which is impossible to resist, it’s the sort of thing which fans of all sorts of music will love, and the sort of thing that you’re going to play over and over again.
Continuing through Devil and Jesus, Wait, Old Habits Die Hard and Bo Diddley Special, each track seems to come as a unique insight into Eric’s personal taste in music, showing where his influences lay and how he’s used them to craft his own personal sound over time. This is something which is particularly true on In The Ground, a track which oozes with bluesy goodness and straight up coolness. It would be interesting to see how this sounds live, as based on this recording it’s sound like it’s got the potential to be a classic.
Taking an emotional stance for 27 Forever before shifting back to the blues and jazz influenced River Is Rising, Medicine Man and Invitation To The White House, the album continues to push the boundaries of what you’re expecting to hear, each track coming with a renewed sense of what we can class as ‘good old rock n roll’. Invitation To The White House is a particular favourite of mine off of the album, simply standing out as a straight down the line, solid and classic blues track – it’s impossible to resist.
Closing with Before You Accuse Me the album closes on a funky and upbeat note, using the guitars to fully push the sound of Eric’s unique take on blues to the max. Simple yet packing a punch, the closing moments here do what they should, leaving you content at what you’ve heard but knowing that you want to go back through it all again, just to make sure you didn’t imagine it.
Eric Burdon is one of the most influential musicians in modern rock n roll, and it’s so good to see that he’s still putting together albums which ooze with that sense of power and ability. This is an album which showcases the abilities of a man who has been music for the last 50 years, a man who has worked with legends, and a man who still has a lot to say to the world – this is an album that you’re going to love from the moment you hit play.
To find out more about Eric Burdon, check out his Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Having initially begun his career in music growing up in Newcastle, Eric was fascinated by jazz and blues, listening to musicians such as Ray Charles and Bo Diddley throughout his time, and developing his own personal take on music. Over the course of time, Eric has shaped rock n roll as we see it today, has become a part of the genre, and continues to push himself to achieve more and more.
As part of this continued drive, Eric has recently released Til Your River Runs Dry, a 12 track record written by Eric and reflecting his own passion to ‘express his own truth’. Described as a deeply intimate, honest self portrait, this record is quite simply, his most intimate release yet. Even going so far as to use his concerns as song titles, this record promises to reveal the most inner thoughts of a musician who has been part of the British music scene for the last 50 years – so what of the record?
As Water kicks the album in to being it’s striking how much of an influence one man can have over a sound, immediately harking back to the 60’s and 70’s through the tone of the guitar, the echoey yet powerful vocals, and the sense of melodic drive which pushes it forwards. Catchy and powerful, this is a track which is sure to reignite that passion for music, reminding you of where what we hear today has come from, and why Eric is such an important figure in the music scene even now. Memorial Day continues this approach further, ushering in a track which almost sounds like an homage to reggae style music, packing the mix with layers of vocals, soft guitar work and solid drumming – resulting in a sound which is soft, catchy, yet the sort of thing which is impossible to sit still to. There’s something about this track which is impossible to resist, it’s the sort of thing which fans of all sorts of music will love, and the sort of thing that you’re going to play over and over again.
Continuing through Devil and Jesus, Wait, Old Habits Die Hard and Bo Diddley Special, each track seems to come as a unique insight into Eric’s personal taste in music, showing where his influences lay and how he’s used them to craft his own personal sound over time. This is something which is particularly true on In The Ground, a track which oozes with bluesy goodness and straight up coolness. It would be interesting to see how this sounds live, as based on this recording it’s sound like it’s got the potential to be a classic.
Taking an emotional stance for 27 Forever before shifting back to the blues and jazz influenced River Is Rising, Medicine Man and Invitation To The White House, the album continues to push the boundaries of what you’re expecting to hear, each track coming with a renewed sense of what we can class as ‘good old rock n roll’. Invitation To The White House is a particular favourite of mine off of the album, simply standing out as a straight down the line, solid and classic blues track – it’s impossible to resist.
Closing with Before You Accuse Me the album closes on a funky and upbeat note, using the guitars to fully push the sound of Eric’s unique take on blues to the max. Simple yet packing a punch, the closing moments here do what they should, leaving you content at what you’ve heard but knowing that you want to go back through it all again, just to make sure you didn’t imagine it.
Eric Burdon is one of the most influential musicians in modern rock n roll, and it’s so good to see that he’s still putting together albums which ooze with that sense of power and ability. This is an album which showcases the abilities of a man who has been music for the last 50 years, a man who has worked with legends, and a man who still has a lot to say to the world – this is an album that you’re going to love from the moment you hit play.
To find out more about Eric Burdon, check out his Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls