The Animals were formed in mid 1963. The original line up consisted of:
Eric Burdon (vocals), Hilton Valentine (guitar), Chas Chandler (bass), Alan Price (keyboards) and John Steel (drums). By Autumn, they made their first record. It was a 12", one sided, 4 track EP done at a studio in Wylam (a town west of Newcastle Upon Tyne). It was a very limited private pressing on Graphic Sound Ltd (ALO 10867). It is believed that a few of those went out under The Alan Price R&B Combo. It is definite that it was released under the name, The Animals.

Their second recording was of their live performance at the Club A Go-Go with Sonny Boy Williamson on Dec 30, 1963. Half of the recordings are of The Animals, and the other half is of Sonny Boy fronting The Animals.

Mike Jeffery became manager of The Animals shortly thereafter. The Animals found some success with their first single "Baby, Let Me Take You Home", but it was their second single, "House of The Rising Sun" which catapulted them into international fame.