Alan Price Set

Alan Price Set

Alan Price Set is a London-based group active from 1965 to 1968, formed by Alan Price after he leaves the Animals in May 1965. The line-up includes Price on keyboards and vocals, Clive Burrows on baritone saxophone, Steve Gregory on tenor saxophone, John Walters on trumpet, Peter Kirtlry on guitar, Rod “Boots” Slade on bass guitar, and “Little” Roy Mills on drums. The group takes its name from Price, who is a self-taught keyboard player and a founding member of the Tyneside group the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, later renamed the Animals.

Background

Price’s playing on the Animals’ international hit “House of the Rising Sun” is a major part of the band’s success, and his arrangement of the traditional folk song becomes more widely recognised than earlier versions. After leaving the Animals, he forms the Alan Price Set and appears in the 1965 film Dont Look Back, which follows Bob Dylan on tour.

Singles and recordings

From 1966 onwards, the group has singles success with “I Put A Spell On You,” Randy Newman’s “Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear,” and “The House That Jack Built.” In 1968, it follows these with the jazz-influenced “Don’t Stop The Carnival.” The second album, A Price On His Head, appears in 1967 and includes seven songs by Randy Newman, at a time when Newman is still little known.

Later work and television

Price later works with Georgie Fame, leading to the Top 20 single “Rosetta” in 1971 and the album Fame and Price, Price and Fame Together. He also has a regular slot in one series of The Two Ronnies on BBC television and presents music-focused television shows such as Price To Play, in which he introduces and performs the music of guest artists including Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix.