Ian Anderson spent his youth listening to a song he never dared cover. Then Eric Burdon made his dream come true
Ian Anderson said he had long admired The Animals’ “The House of the Rising Sun” but never covered it, believing he could not match Eric Burdon’s emotionally charged singing. Years later, he finally performed the song alongside Burdon, fulfilling a musical ambition that had stayed with him since his youth.
Anderson recalled repeatedly playing the song in Blackpool coffee bars and admiring Burdon’s expressive, rough-edged vocal style. Their performance took place on a German television programme, where Anderson accompanied Burdon with flute and a string quartet. The traditional ballad has been recorded by many artists, but The Animals’ version became its best-known rendition.
In short
- Ian Anderson long admired “The House of the Rising Sun”.
- He avoided covering it because of Eric Burdon’s singing.
- They eventually performed it together on German television.
Explained simply
Ian Anderson is the singer and flautist best known as the frontman of British rock band Jethro Tull. Eric Burdon was the lead singer of The Animals, whose 1964 recording of “The House of the Rising Sun” became the song’s best-known version.
The song is a traditional ballad, meaning its origins pre-date the recording era and it has been performed in many different arrangements. The Animals’ version is known for Burdon’s raw, expressive voice and helped make the song internationally famous.
The story links two British musicians whose careers grew from the 1960s rock scene. It also shows how a well-known song can carry personal meaning for performers as well as audiences.