Inside-Looking Out

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"Inside-Looking Out"
Single by the Animals
from the album Animalization
B-side
Released11 February 1966
Recorded9 January 1966[1]
GenreGarage rock, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock
Length3:44
LabelDecca F12332
MGM 13468 (USA)
Songwriter(s)John Lomax, Alan Lomax, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler
Producer(s)Tom Wilson
The Animals singles chronology
"It's My Life"
(1965)
"Inside-Looking Out"
(1966)
"Don't Bring Me Down"
(1966)

"Inside-Looking Out", often written "Inside Looking Out",[2] is a 1966 single by the Animals, and their first for Decca Records. It was a moderate hit, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, number 23 in Canada, and number 34 in the United States on the U.S. pop singles chart.[3] It was the group's final single with drummer John Steel, who left shortly after its release. He was replaced by Barry Jenkins, who would go on to play with Eric Burdon and the Animals.

Background[edit]

The song is very loosely based on a prison work chant entitled "Rosie," attributed to C. B. and Axe Gang, that was collected by musicologist Alan Lomax and released in his album Popular Songbook.[4][5] As a result, the Animals' interpretation is credited to John and Alan Lomax with Eric Burdon and Chas Chandler.

Reception[edit]

Cash Box described the single as a "raunchy, pulsating blues-soaked plea in which a rejected fella begs his ex-girlfriend to return to him."[6]

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Canada 23
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 12
US Billboard Hot 100 34

Cover versions[edit]

Influences and samples[edit]

  • A reworking of portions of the song was also recorded by the Austrian band Novak's Kapelle in 1969 as "Hypodermic Needle".
  • Grand Funk's version is sampled in the songs "Sound of da Police" by KRS-One and "High 5 (Rock the Catskills)" by Beck.

References and notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Chrome Oxide - Music Collectors pages - Animals - 05/12/2018". www.chromeoxide.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  2. ^ The spelling "Inside-Looking Out" refers to the spelling on the original 1966 singles (Decca, MGM)
  3. ^ The Animals, "Inside Looking Out" Chart Positions Retrieved March 20, 2015
  4. ^ Lomax, Alan (R.D. Cohen, ed.), 2003: Alan Lomax: Selected Writings 1934-1997, Routledge, p. 73
  5. ^ Sturman, Janet. "Rosie." Instructor materials for Music 109, "Rock and American Popular Music."
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 19, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.