The Animals – Winds of Change (1967) | Full Album Guide, Tracklist, Credits & Trivia
Introduction
Winds of Change (1967) marks the beginning of a new era for The Animals, now rebranded as Eric Burdon & The Animals. Following the breakup of the original lineup, Eric Burdon returned with a completely new band and a radically different sound.
This album represents a full embrace of psychedelic rock, counterculture themes, and experimental songwriting, moving far beyond the band’s earlier blues roots. It stands as one of the most important transitional albums of the late 1960s.
Album Overview
- Artist: Eric Burdon & The Animals
- Album: Winds of Change
- Release Year: 1967
- Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Experimental Rock
- Label: MGM Records
- Producer: Tom Wilson
Tracklist (Original Release)
- Winds of Change
- Poem by the Sea
- Paint It Black (cover of The Rolling Stones)
- The Black Plague
- Yes I Am Experienced
- San Franciscan Nights
- Man-Woman
- Hotel Hell
- Good Times
- Anything
Album Credits
- Eric Burdon – Lead Vocals
- Vic Briggs – Guitar, Piano
- John Weider – Guitar, Violin, Bass
- Danny McCulloch – Bass
- Barry Jenkins – Drums
Producer: Tom Wilson
Label: MGM Records
Musical Style & Evolution
Winds of Change is a dramatic shift in sound and identity:
- Strong influence of psychedelic rock and 1967 counterculture
- Use of spoken word, sound effects, and experimental structures
- Lyrics reflecting themes of peace, love, and social change
Eric Burdon embraces the spirit of the era, especially the San Francisco scene, which heavily influenced the album’s direction.
Historical Context
Released during the peak of the Summer of Love (1967), the album captures the cultural explosion happening in cities like San Francisco. Eric Burdon was deeply influenced by this movement, and it’s reflected in both the music and lyrics.
The track “San Franciscan Nights” became one of the band’s biggest hits and an anthem of the psychedelic era.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- “San Franciscan Nights” helped define the band’s new identity in the US
- “The Black Plague” is a dark, experimental spoken-word track about death and fear
- The album title reflects both personal and cultural transformation
- Includes a psychedelic reinterpretation of “Paint It Black”
Did You Know?
- This was the first album under the name Eric Burdon & The Animals
- The band relocated to the US to immerse themselves in the psychedelic scene
- Eric Burdon was one of the few British artists to fully embrace the hippie movement firsthand
- The album’s experimental nature divided fans at the time but later gained cult status.
