62 Years Ago Today: The Animals Recorded Iconic No. 1 Hit Song
62 years ago today, one of the most iconic rock songs of all time was recorded by an English band that would soon enjoy worldwide fame.
In 1962, Eric Burdon, John Steel, Chas Chandler, Alan Price and Hilton Valentine formed a rock band called The Animals. The new group was formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, drawing attention with their blend of blues and rock.
But it was in 1964 that Burdon and The Animals would get their first big break. On May 18, 1964, the group went to record a vintage folk song inside the De Lane Lea Studios in London, as Gold Radio documented in 2016.
The Animals recorded "The House of the Rising Sun", a song that tells the story of a person's hardships in the city of New Orleans. Unlike most classic folk songs, however, the origins and roots of the song are unknown.
As Gold Radio noted, "The House of the Rising Sun" was featured in a 1925 issue of Adventure magazine. Regardless, the song would reach global fame and legendary status after The Animals walked out of De Lane Lea Studios.
'The House of the Rising Sun' Became a No. 1 Hit in July 1964
"The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals was released on June 19, 1964. Within a month, it was already a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom.
For the week of July 8-4, "The House of the Rising Song" was the top song on the UK singles chart. From Sept. 5-19, the song held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Burdon's passionate vocals, Price's magic on the organ and Valentine's slick electric guitar came together to make the greatest version of "The House of the Rising Sun." If not for their version of the folk song, The Animals may not have enjoyed a special run that landed them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 4:00 AM.