Alan Price is an English musician, singer, songwriter and arranger best known for his distinctive keyboard playing and his role in the original line-up of The Animals. Born Alan Price on 19 April 1942 in Fatfield, County Durham, England, he developed a style combining rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, pop and traditional British music-hall influences.
Price first attracted widespread attention as keyboard player with The Animals alongside Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Hilton Valentine and John Steel. His memorable organ playing became an essential part of the group's early sound, particularly on their international number-one recording of “The House of the Rising Sun”. Although Price left The Animals in 1965, his relatively short period with the band helped establish his reputation as one of the most recognisable British keyboard players of the era.
After leaving, Alan Price formed the Alan Price Set and successfully established himself as a singer and bandleader. His solo-era recordings demonstrated a lighter and sometimes more theatrical character than the blues-driven music of The Animals.
Among Price's best-known recordings are “Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear”, written by Randy Newman, and his own “The House That Jack Built”. Both became major UK hits in 1967. His interpretation of Randy Newman's material also helped introduce the American songwriter's work to a wider British audience.
Price subsequently expanded into film and theatre. He composed music for the 1973 film O Lucky Man!, directed by Lindsay Anderson, and appeared in the film himself. The soundtrack received considerable critical recognition and demonstrated his ability to move comfortably beyond conventional pop songwriting.
Another notable success came through his collaboration with Georgie Fame. Their version of “Rosetta” reached the UK Top 20 in 1971. Price also continued recording solo albums, composing and performing throughout subsequent decades.
The original members of The Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, recognising the group's substantial contribution to popular music and the British Invasion.
What makes Alan Price particularly interesting is his versatility. From the dark organ of The Animals to witty storytelling, orchestral pop and film composition, he has never fitted comfortably into a single musical category. His career demonstrates how rhythm and blues roots could develop into a distinctly British style filled with humour, character and musical sophistication.
Alan Price’s “The House That Jack Built” combines jaunty 1960s pop with a witty observation about choices and consequences. Beneath its playful humour lies a timeless reminder that life’s complications are often built gradually, one small decision at a time.
Alan Price transforms Randy Newman’s whimsical tale of Simon Smith and his remarkable dancing bear into a charming reflection on individuality and belonging. Beneath the humour lies a gentle reminder that being different can sometimes open the most unexpected doors.