The Animals - Boom Boom (Live, 1983, Wembley, UK)

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"Boom Boom" performed by The Animals on Silvester 31s December 1983 in th Wembley Arena, London, UK, during their reunion tour.

Eric Burdon - vocals
Alan Price - keyboards
Hilton Valentine - guitar
Chas Chandler - bass
John Steel - drums
Zoot Money - synthesizer
Steve Grant - guitar
Steve Gregory - saxophone
Nippy Noya - percussion

"Boom Boom" is a 1961 song written and performed by John Lee Hooker that is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[1]

Hooker's single was recorded in late 1961 with Ivy Jo Hunter, piano; Hank Cosby, tenor saxophone; Andrew "Mike" Terry, baritone saxophone; James Jamerson, bass; Larry Veeder, guitar; Benny Benjamin, drums. It was not a big U.S. hit when originally released, but became a UK hit after featuring in a Lee Jeans commercial in 1992, peaking at #16 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]

In 1961, Hooker's version peaked at #60 while The Animals' version peaked at #43 on the U.S. pop singles chart in 1965 (#14 in Canada). This version became one of the most recognizable songs from that time when The Animals added "shake it baby" to the refrain alongside Burdon's screaming "come on and shake..."[citation needed]

Many other recordings exist, by The Yardbirds, CCS (1970), Dr. Feelgood (1974) and others. In the film The Blues Brothers, Hooker performs the song as a South Side Chicago street musician, but the song itself is not included in the soundtrack of the film. Over the years Eric Burdon released re-recordings and live recordings of the song.

The Animals did a reunion tour in late 1983/early 1984. The version recorded at the Wembley Arena from 31st December 1983 was released in August 1984. They added a few sequences more.

In 2009, The Oak Ridge Boys recorded a cover of the song featuring bass singer Richard Sterban on the lead vocals. Their rendition is closer to The Animals' rendition in that they include the "shake it baby" refrain.