This piece was a hit in the sixties for the British group "The Animals". It had already been sung before that by Nina Simone, in 1964, the year it was composed. Since then many artists have made cover versions, the most famous of which is the recording by Santa Esmeralda, which topped the international charts between 1977 and '78. At that time European record producers were starting to include exotic rhythms and flavours in their records, in an effort to establish their own identity and become more competitive with respect to their American rivals. Santa Esmeralda were an excellent example of this trend.
