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The Animals' second British album, recorded just beforeAlan Price exited the lineup, displays far more energy and confidence than its predecessor, and it's fascinating to speculate where they might've gone had the original lineup held together. There are a few lightweight tunes here, such as "Let the Good Times Roll" and the rollicking opener, "Mess Around," that capture the Animals loosening up and having fun, but much of Animal Tracks is pretty intense R&B-based; rock. "How You've Changed" is a reflective, downbeatChuck Berry number thatEric Burdon turns into a dark romantic confessional/inquisition, matched byHilton Valentine's chopped out, crunchy lead work over the break, whileAlan Price does his best to impersonateJohnnie Johnson. The group doesn't do as well with their cover ofBilly Boy Arnold's "I Ain't Got You" asthe Yardbirds did with the same number, treating it in a little too upbeat a fashion, andHilton Valentine andAlan Price failing to add very much that's interesting to the break (especially in comparison toEric Clapton's solo onthe Yardbirds' version). "Roberta," by contrast, is a great rock & roll number, and their version of "Bright Lights, Big City," sparked byBurdon's surging, angry performance andPrice's hard-driving organ solo.Price's playing opens what is easily the best blues cut on the album, "Worried Life Blues," whereHilton Valentine steps out in front for his most prominent guitar solo in the early history of the band, backed byPrice's surging organ.Burdon and company also excel on a pair ofRay Charles covers, turning in a jauntily cheerful, euphoric performance of "Hallelujah I Love Her So," his jubilation matched byPrice's ebullient organ work; and a slow, pain-racked performance byBurdon and company on the slow blues "I Believe to My Soul," arguably -- along with "Worried Life Blues" -- the singer's best performance on either of the group's EMI long-players, and matched byPrice's quick-fingered yet equally ominous piano playing.