<P> Dave Marsh described the Animals' take on "The House of the Rising Sun" as "...the first folk - rock hit," sounding "...as if they'd connected the ancient tune to a live wire ." Writer Ralph McLean of the BBC agreed that "It was arguably the first folk rock tune," calling it "a revolutionary single", after which "the face of modern music was changed forever ." </P> <P> The Animals' rendition of the song is recognized as one of the classics of British pop music . Writer Lester Bangs labeled it "a brilliant rearrangement" and "a new standard rendition of an old standard composition ." It ranked number 122 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It is also one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The RIAA ranked it number 240 on their list of "Songs of the Century". In 1999 it received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award . It has long since become a staple of oldies and classic rock radio formats . A 2005 Channel Five poll ranked it as Britain's fourth - favourite number one song . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1964) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Top Singles (RPM) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany (Official German Charts) </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland (IRMA) </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Netherlands (Single Top 100) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Zealand (Listener) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1972) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland (IRMA) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1982) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1964) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Canada Top Singles (RPM) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany (Official German Charts) </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland (IRMA) </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Netherlands (Single Top 100) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Zealand (Listener) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> US Billboard Hot 100 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> <Td> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1972) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland (IRMA) </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> 25 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Chart (1982) </Th> <Th> Peak position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> UK Singles (Official Charts Company) </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr>

When was the song house of the rising sun written