House of the Rising Sun
“House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional folk song that has been passed down through generations and undergone many adaptations over the years. There is no clear evidence who wrote it or when it was first composed. The earliest known printed versions of the song date back to 1925 but there are accounts that the song was sung long before that.
The oldest known recording of the song is by Appalachian artists Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it in 1933. Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly each recorded versions in the 1940s. However, it wasn’t until the song was recorded by the British rock band The Animals in 1964 that it became a widespread hit, reaching the top of the charts in the UK and the US.
“House of the Rising Sun” has been interpreted by many other artists over the years, spanning a wide range of genres and styles. The song has been covered by artists ranging from Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Nina Simone to Muse, Sinead O’Connor and even Jeremy Renner.
Here's the Animals singing House of the Rising Sun in 1964:
“House of the Rising Sun” has been covered by many artists around the world. We’ve included some of the best covers by various artists below. Listen to them all and let us know which one is best.
Also, if there’s a good cover version that we should add, tell us! Leave us a comment in the comment section with the name of the artist and a link to their performance.
Dave van Ronk
Which is your favorite version? Is there another cover song that we should add? Let us know in the comments.