Eric Burdon & Animals: Black Plague, San Francisco Nights

In 1968 from CBC Vancouver’s LET’S GO series, Eric Burdon and the Animals performed 5 songs, seen here in 3 Parts. This is Part 2, and from the 1967 album Winds of Change, the band's first real psychedelic rock album. they perform San Franciscan Nights and The Black Plague. 1967 saw Eric Burdon and the one remaining other Animal (drummer Barry Jenkins) move to America. They were joined by Vic Briggs (guitar/keyboards), John Weider (guitar/violin) and Danny McCulloch (bass).

They wrote San Franciscan Nights in praise of the Californian city by the bay. It was the biggest hit that the New Animals – as opposed to the first-incarnation Animals of the mid-1960s – would have. It reached the peak position of number 1 on the Canadian RPM chart. The band wrote it as a protest song against the Vietnam War and dedicated the album to George Harrison of the Beatles.

But first, The Black Plague is a vastly different track with a Gregorian chant, dramatic, sombre and full of dread, narrated by Eric Burdon. The devastating Plague, also known as The Black Death, is estimated to have killed 60% of Europe’s total population, peaking from 1347 to 1351. In London approximately 62,000 people died between 1346 and 1353. Eric wanted to perform this as a stark contrast to the other 4 songs in the half hour show.
The bell tolls
The black plague has struck
Diseased eyes roll upwards
As if knowing which direction their souls will travel
(Bring out your dead)

Видео Eric Burdon & Animals: Black Plague, San Francisco Nights канала ST40TV