Alan Price Set - I Put A Spell On You 1966 Animals

About Rhythm and blues

Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans, at a time when "rocking, jazz based music ... [with a] heavy, insistent beat" was starting to become more popular. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, the bands usually consisted of a pi...

About This Footage

The 1966 footage of the Alan Price Set performing "I Put A Spell On You" is a rare and significant artifact from the dawn of British Invasion. It's a testament to the musical landscape of that era, where blues and R&B influences were seeping into the mainstream.

At this time, The Animals had just achieved international stardom with their version of "House of the Rising Sun", which would become one of the most recognizable covers in history. The band's leader, Eric Burdon, was still a relatively new addition to the group, and tensions were already brewing beneath the surface. This clip, however, captures Alan Price at his piano, delivering a soulful rendition of Nina Simone's classic.

What makes this footage so notable is that it showcases Price's skill as a pianist, which often gets overshadowed by his more famous bandmates. As an autodidact, he was largely self-taught, and his unique style would go on to influence countless musicians. This performance, in particular, highlights his ability to interpret the blues, infusing it with a sense of drama and intensity.

The Alan Price Set's version of "I Put A Spell On You" is also significant because it predates many of the other notable covers of this song. Nina Simone's original recording had been released just a few years prior, in 1964, but her influence was already being felt across the musical spectrum. The Animals' take on the song would go on to be one of the most well-known, but Price's version here is a fascinating precursor to that.

Watching this clip, you're struck by the raw energy and emotion that Price brings to the performance. His fingers dance across the keys as he pours his heart into the music. It's a testament to the power of blues and R&B to transcend genres and inspire new generations of musicians. Even today, over 50 years later, this footage remains a vital link to the past, a reminder of the musical revolution that was underway in the mid-1960s.

The Animals' story is one of creative tension and personal drama, with Price's departure from the band just a year prior to this performance. The clip hints at the complex relationships within the group, where personalities clashed and egos fueled the fire. Despite these behind-the-scenes struggles, the music itself remains timeless, a testament to the enduring power of blues and R&B.

As you watch Alan Price Set's "I Put A Spell On You", you're transported back to a moment in musical history when the boundaries between genres were still being pushed and defined. It's a chance to experience the raw emotion and energy of live performance, unfiltered by the gloss of later recordings or performances. This footage is a rare gem, a window into a pivotal moment in music history that continues to inspire and captivate audiences today.

Curated from public records and music databases.