San Franciscan Nights by The Animals

Album: Winds of Change (1967)

Charted: 7 9

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1967 was the year of the "Summer of Love," and San Francisco was a hot spot for Hippies. Along with "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)," "San Franciscan Nights" was a popular ode to the city in those turbulent times.

The Animals were from England, but were welcomed in America along with other British Invasion groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. They wrote this song themselves, which takes a stand against the Vietnam War. Looking back on the song in our 2010 interview, Animals lead singer Eric Burdon said: "The 'Love Generation' helped the anti-war stance in the states. It certainly turned a lot of soldiers' heads around, making them wonder why they had to be out fighting a war when back home their girlfriends were frolicking around and it caused a lot of anguish on that level. Maybe it helped politically with the so-called enemy. I'm not sure."
The song starts with a spoken intro urging European listeners to fly to San Francisco so they could understand the song. Asked by the NME in 1967 about The Animals losing traction in England, Burdon said: "Britain is not as aware of what we are trying to communicate as the Americans. The whole world still needs a kick up the pants - the Americans are one move ahead. The record company was afraid I would offend England if I released 'San Franciscan Nights'. They thought I had offered enough insults to England."

Comments: 3

Barry from Sauquoit, NyHilton Valentine, the original lead guitarist for The Animals, passed away in Connecticut on January 29th, 2021. He was 77 years old...
Between 1964 and 1983 the British band had nineteen records on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "The House of The Rising Sun", for three weeks in August of 1964...
Besides "The House of The Rising Sun", their other two Top 10 records were "See See Rider" at #10 for two weeks in October of 1966 and "San Franciscan Nights" at #9 for one week in September of 1967...
The Animals were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994...
May he R.I.P.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1967 {July 30th} "San Franciscan* Nights" by Eric Burton and the Animals entered Billboard's Top 100 chart at position #73, six weeks later it would peak at #9 {for 1 week} and it spent ten weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1964 and 1968 the Newcastle upon Tyne, England band had eighteen records on the Hot Top 100 chart, three made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "The House of the Rising Sun" for 3 weeks on August 30th, 1964...
Besides "San Fracisican's Nights" and "House of the Rising Sun", their other Top 10 record was "See See Rider" {#10 in 1966}...
"See See Rider" was their first record where the label read 'Eric Burton and the Animals'...
Bassist Chas Chandler, born Bryan James Chandler, passed away at the young age of 57 on July 17th, 1996...
May he R.I.P.
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the week "San Franciscan Nights" entered the Top 100 at position #73, there was another San Francisco record on the Top 100, "San Francisco, Make Sure You Wear Flowers In Your Hair" by Scott McKenzie was at #17...
Brent from Denair, CaThe musical intro, just after the initial spoken words, is Awesome with a capital A!

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