ZZ Top | ||
| Allmusic Biography : A sturdy American blues-rock trio from Texas, ZZ Top specialized in down-and-dirty blues-rock during the 70s, then scored colorful MTV hits during the 1980s. Formed in Houston in 1970 by Billy Gibbons (guitar), Dusty Hill (bass), and Frank Beard (drums), the trio came from a pair of rival bands the Moving Sidewalks (Gibbons) and American Blues (Hill and Beard). Their first two albums reflected the strong blues roots and Texas humor of the band. Their third album (Tres Hombres) gained them national attention with the hit "La Grange," a signature riff tune to this day, based on John Lee Hookers "Boogie Chillen." Their success continued unabated throughout the 70s, culminating with the year-and-a-half-long Worldwide Texas Tour. Exhausted from the overwhelming workload, they took a three-year break, then switched labels and returned to form with Deguello and El Loco, both harbingers of what was to come. By their next album, Eliminator, and its worldwide smash follow-up, Afterburner, they had successfully harnessed the potential of synthesizers to their patented grungy blues groove, giving their material a more contemporary edge while retaining their patented Texas style. Now sporting long beards, golf hats, and boiler suits, they met the emerging video age head-on, reducing their "message" to simple iconography. Becoming even more popular in the long run, they moved with the times while simultaneously bucking every trend that crossed their path. As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of Americas finest blues guitarists working in the arena rock idiom -- both influenced by the originators of the form and British blues-rock guitarists like Peter Green -- while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support. One of the few rock & roll groups with its original members still aboard after four decades, ZZ Top play music that is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful, and 100 percent American in derivation. They have continued to support the blues through various means, perhaps most visibly when they were given a piece of wood from Muddy Waters shack in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The group members had it made into a guitar, dubbed the "Muddywood," then sent it out on tour to raise money for the Delta Blues Museum. ZZ Tops support of and link to the blues remain as rock-solid as the music they play. The concert CD/DVD Live from Texas, recorded in Dallas in 2007 and featuring a still vital band, was released in 2008. The Rick Rubin and Gibbons-produced La Futura, the bands 15th studio album, and the groups first new studio outing since 2003s Mescalero, appeared in 2012. With the trio still a firm fixture on the worldwide touring circuit, ZZ Top released the Live: Greatest Hits from Around the World collection in 2016. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 33 Title: ZZ Top Released: Tracks: 13 Duration: 53:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Viva Las Vegas (04:48) 2 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 3 Tush (02:16) 4 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 5 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 8 Planet of Women (04:05) 9 Rough Boy (04:52) 10 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 11 Doubleback (03:57) 12 Give It Up (03:31) 13 Gun Love (03:41) |
 | Album: 2 of 33 Title: ZZ Top’s First Album Released: 1971-01-16 Tracks: 10 Duration: 35:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:35) 2 Brown Sugar (05:22) 3 Squank (02:48) 4 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:24) 5 Old Man (03:27) 6 Neighbor, Neighbor (02:21) 7 Certified Blues (03:26) 8 Bedroom Thang (04:39) 9 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 10 Backdoor Love Affair (03:20) |
| ZZ Top’s First Album : Allmusic album Review : ZZ Tops First Album may not be perfectly polished, but it does establish their sound, attitude, and quirks. Simply put, its a dirty little blues-rock record, filled with fuzzy guitars, barrelhouse rhythms, dirty jokes, and Texan slang. They have a good, ballsy sound that hits at gut level, and if the records not entirely satisfying, its because theyre still learning how to craft records -- which means that theyre still learning pacing as much as theyre learning how to assemble a set of indelible material. Too much of this record glides by on its sound, without offering any true substance, but the tracks that really work -- "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree," "Backdoor Love Affair," "Brown Sugar," and "Goin Down to Mexico," among them -- show that from their very first record on, ZZ Top was that lil ol blues band from Texas. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 33 Title: Rio Grande Mud Released: 1972-04-04 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Francine (03:34) 2 Just Got Paid (04:49) 3 Mushmouth Shoutin’ (03:47) 4 Ko Ko Blue (04:56) 5 Chevrolet (03:47) 6 Apologies to Pearly (02:39) 7 Bar‐B‐Q (03:34) 8 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (07:39) 9 Whiskey’n Mama (03:20) 10 Down Brownie (02:53) |
| Rio Grande Mud : Allmusic album Review : With their second album, Rio Grande Mud, ZZ Top uses the sound they sketched out on their debut as a blueprint, yet they tweak it in slight but important ways. The first difference is the heavier, more powerful sound, turning the boogie guitars into a locomotive force. There are slight production flares that date this as a 1972 record, but for the most part, this is a straight-ahead, dirty blues-rock difference. Essentially like the first album, then. Thats where the second difference comes in -- they have a much better set of songs this time around, highlighted by the swaggering shuffle "Just Got Paid," the pile-driving boogie "Bar-B-Q," the slide guitar workout "Apologies to Pearly," and two Dusty Hill-sung numbers, "Francine" and "Chevrolet." There are still a couple of tracks that dont quite gel and their fuzz-blues still can sound a little one-dimensional at times, but Rio Grande Mud is the first flowering of ZZ Top as a great, down-n-dirty blooze rock band. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 33 Title: Tres hombres Released: 1973-07-26 Tracks: 10 Duration: 33:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Waitin’ for the Bus (03:03) 2 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 3 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 4 Master of Sparks (03:33) 5 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:17) 6 Move Me on Down the Line (02:31) 7 Precious and Grace (03:09) 8 La Grange (03:52) 9 Shiek (04:06) 10 Have You Heard? (03:14) |
| Tres hombres : Allmusic album Review : Tres Hombres is the record that brought ZZ Top their first Top Ten record, making them stars in the process. It couldnt have happened to a better record. ZZ Top finally got their low-down, cheerfully sleazy blooze-n-boogie right on this, their third album. As their sound gelled, producer Bill Ham discovered how to record the trio so simply that they sound indestructible, and the group brought the best set of songs theyd ever have to the table. On the surface, theres nothing really special about the record, since its just a driving blues-rock album from a Texas bar band, but thats whats special about it. It has a filthy groove and an infectious feel, thanks to Billy Gibbons growling guitars and the steady propulsion of Dusty Hill and Frank Beards rhythm section. They get the blend of bluesy shuffles, gut-bucket rocking, and off-beat humor just right. ZZ Tops very identity comes from this earthy sound and songs as utterly infectious as "Waitin for the Bus," "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Move Me on Down the Line," and the John Lee Hooker boogie "La Grange." In a sense, they kept trying to remake this record from this point on -- what is Eliminator if not Tres Hombres with sequencers and synthesizers? -- but they never got it better than they did here. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 33 Title: Fandango! Released: 1975-04-18 Tracks: 9 Duration: 33:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Thunderbird (04:10) 2 Jailhouse Rock (01:55) 3 Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair / Mellow Down Easy / Backdoor Love Affair No. 2 / Long Distance Boogie (09:51) 4 Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (02:44) 5 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 6 Balinese (02:36) 7 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 8 Heard It on the X (02:25) 9 Tush (02:16) |
| Fandango! : Allmusic album Review : Blessed with their first full-fledged hit album, ZZ Top followed it up with Fandango!, a record split between a side of live tracks and a side of new studio cuts. In a way, this might have made sense, since they were a kick-ass live band, and they do sound good here, but its hard not to see this as a bit of a wasted opportunity in retrospect. Why? Because the studio side is a worthy successor to the all-fine Tres Hombres, driven by "Tush" and "Heard It on the X," two of their greatest songs that build on that album by consolidating their sound and amplifying their humor. If they had sustained this energy and quality throughout a full studio album, it would have been their greatest, but instead the mood is broken by the live cuts. Now, these are really good live cuts -- and "Backdoor Medley" and "Jailhouse Rock" were fine interpretations, making familiar songs sound utterly comfortable in their signature sound -- and Fandango! remains one of their better albums, but its hard not to think that it could have been even better. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 33 Title: Tejas Released: 1976-11-29 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It’s Only Love (04:23) 2 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:08) 3 El Diablo (04:21) 4 Snappy Kakkie (02:58) 5 Enjoy and Get It On (03:26) 6 Ten Dollar Man (03:41) 7 Pan Am Highway Blues (03:14) 8 Avalon Hideaway (03:07) 9 She’s a Heartbreaker (03:01) 10 Asleep in the Desert (03:24) |
| Tejas : Allmusic album Review : On Tejas, ZZ Top countrified the bluesy posture of their previous albums, resulting in a slight detour between the madcap spirit of Fandango and the psychedelic strut of Deguello. While the album lacks any singles as strong as "Tush" or "La Grange," "Arrested for Driving While Blind" is one of ZZs classic anthems, capturing the groups wacky humor and jaunty good-time boogie. Other highlights include the driving "Enjoy and Get It On," "Avalon Hideaway," and the fine instrumental "Asleep in the Desert." However, like all of their early albums, the CD transfer is spoiled by overdubbing and other lame attempts to update (and, in some cases, extend) the original songs, and it much better on vinyl. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 33 Title: The Best of ZZ Top Released: 1977 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Tush (02:16) 2 Waitin’ for the Bus (03:03) 3 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 4 Francine (03:34) 5 Just Got Paid (04:28) 6 La Grange (03:52) 7 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 8 Backdoor Love Affair (03:20) 9 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 10 Heard It on the X (02:25) |
 | Album: 8 of 33 Title: Degüello Released: 1979-08-27 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Thank You (03:26) 2 She Loves My Automobile (02:23) 3 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 4 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 5 Manic Mechanic (02:36) 6 Dust My Broom (03:09) 7 Lowdown in the Street (02:50) 8 Hi Fi Mama (02:25) 9 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 10 Esther Be the One (03:30) |
| Degüello : Allmusic album Review : ZZ Top returned after an extended layoff in late 1979 with Degüello, their best album since 1973s Tres Hombres. During their time off, ZZ Top didnt change much -- hell, their sound never really changed during their entire career -- but it did harden, in a way. The grooves became harder, sleeker, and their off-kilter sensibility and humor began to dominate, as "Cheap Sunglasses" and "Fool for Your Stockings" illustrate. Ironically, this, their wildest album lyrically, doesnt have the unhinged rawness of their early blooze rockers, but the streamlined production makes it feel sleazier all the same, since its slickness lets the perversity slide forth. And, forget not, the trio is in fine shape here, knocking out a great set of rockers and sounding stylish all the time. Undoubtedly one of their strong suits. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 33 Title: El Loco Released: 1981-10-01 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 2 I Wanna Drive You Home (04:48) 3 Ten Foot Pole (04:23) 4 Leila (03:17) 5 Don’t Tease Me (04:24) 6 It’s So Hard (05:11) 7 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 8 Groovy Little Hippie Pad (02:44) 9 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) 10 Party on the Patio (02:49) |
| El Loco : Allmusic album Review : El Loco follows through on the streamlined, jet-engine boogie rock of Degüello, but kicking all the ingredients up a notch. That means that the grooves are getting a little slicker, while the jokes are getting a little sillier, a little raunchier. The double entendres on "Tube Snake Boogie" and "Pearl Necklace" are barely disguised, while much of the record plays as flat-out goofy party rock. Not necessarily a bad thing, but much of it is a little too obvious to be totally winning. Still, the most telling thing about El Loco may be the rhythm of "Pearl Necklace," its biggest single and best song, which clearly points the way to the new wave blues-rock of Eliminator. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 33 Title: Eliminator Released: 1983-03-23 Tracks: 11 Duration: 45:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 2 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 3 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 4 I Need You Tonight (06:17) 5 I Got the Six (02:54) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Thug (04:18) 8 TV Dinners (03:50) 9 Dirty Dog (04:05) 10 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 11 Bad Girl (03:15) |
| Eliminator : Allmusic album Review : ZZ Top had reached the top of the charts before, but that didnt make their sudden popularity in 1983 any more predictable. It wasnt that they were just popular -- they were hip, for Gods sake, since they were one of the only AOR favorites to figure out to harness the stylish, synthesized grooves of new wave, and then figure out how to sell it on MTV. Of course, it helped that they had songs that deserved to be hits. With "Gimme All Your Lovin," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "Legs," they had their greatest set of singles since the heady days of Tres Hombres, and the songs that surrounded them werent bad either -- they would have been singles on El Loco, as a matter of fact. The songs alone would have made Eliminator one of ZZ Tops three greatest albums, but their embrace of synths and sequencers made it a blockbuster hit, since it was the sound of the times. Years later, the sound of the times winds up sounding a bit stiff. Its still an excellent ZZ Top album, one of their best, yet it sounds like a mechanized ZZ Top thanks to the unflaggingly accurate grooves. Then again, thats part of the albums charm -- this is new wave blues-rock, glossed up for the video, looking as good as the omnipresent convertible on the cover and sounding as irresistible as Reaganomics. Not the sort the old-school fans or blues-rock purists will love, but ZZ Top never sounded as much like a band of its time as they did here. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 33 Title: Afterburner Released: 1985-10-28 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 2 Stages (03:35) 3 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 4 Rough Boy (04:52) 5 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:04) 6 Planet of Women (04:05) 7 I Got the Message (03:30) 8 Velcro Fly (03:32) 9 Dipping Low (in the Lap of Luxury) (03:15) 10 Delirious (03:41) |
| Afterburner : Allmusic album Review : Well, if you just had your biggest hit ever, youd probably try to replicate it, too. And if you were praised for being visionary because you played all your blues grooves to a slightly sequenced beat, youd probably be tempted to not just continue in that direction, but to tighten the sequencer and graft on synthesizers, since itll all signal how futuristic you are. While youre at it, you might visualize how space age this all is by turning your signature car into a space shuttle. If you look at things that way, then Afterburner, ZZ Tops follow-up to their blockbuster Eliminator, makes sense -- theyre just giving the people more of what they want. Problem is, no matter how much you dress ZZ Top up, theyre still ZZ Top. Sometimes they can trick you into thinking theyre a little flashier than usual, but theyre still a lil ol blues band from Texas, kicking out blues-rockers. And blues-rock just doesnt kick when its synthesized, even if ZZ Tops grooves always bordered on robotic. So, Afterburner, their most synthetic album, will not please most ZZ Top fans, even if it did go platinum several time over and reached number four. Thats all just a sign of the times, when even hard rock bands had to sound as slick as synth pop, complete with clanging DX-7s and cavernous drums. As an artifact of that time, Afterburner is pretty good -- never has a hard rock album sounded so artificial, nor has a nominal blues-rock album sounded so devoid of blues. Apart from the chugging "Sleeping Bag," not even the singles sound like ZZ Top (though "Dipping Low (In the Lap of Luxury" is a blatant "Gimme All Your Lovin" rewrite): the terrific post-new wave rocker "Stages" is the poppiest thing they ever cut, the ballad "Rough Boy" is far removed from slow blues, and the full-fledged synth dance of "Velcro Fly" is a true mind-bender. All this means that Afterburner is merely a product of its time -- the only record ZZ Top could have made at the time, but it hardly exists out of that time. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 33 Title: The ZZ Top Sixpack Released: 1987 Tracks: 59 Duration: 3:30:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:29) 2 Brown Sugar (05:22) 3 Squank (02:49) 4 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:23) 5 Old Man (03:32) 6 Neighbor, Neighbor (02:19) 7 Certified Blues (03:28) 8 Bedroom Thang (03:53) 9 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:14) 10 Backdoor Love Affair (02:43) 11 Francine (02:53) 12 Just Got Paid (03:48) 13 Mushmouth Shoutin’ (03:45) 14 Ko Ko Blue (04:23) 15 Chevrolet (03:19) 16 Apologies to Pearly (02:47) 17 Bar‐B‐Q (03:22) 18 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (06:49) 19 Whiskey’n Mama (03:20) 20 Down Brownie (02:26) 1 Waitin’ for the Bus (02:53) 2 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 3 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:23) 4 Master of Sparks (03:30) 5 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:14) 6 Move Me on Down the Line (02:30) 7 Precious and Grace (03:09) 8 La Grange (03:53) 9 Shiek (04:04) 10 Have You Heard? (03:14) 11 Thunderbird (04:10) 12 Jailhouse Rock (01:55) 13 Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair / Mellow Down Easy / Backdoor Love Affair No. 2 / Long Distance Boogie (09:51) 14 Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (02:44) 15 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 16 Balinese (02:36) 17 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 18 Heard It on the X (02:25) 19 Tush (02:16) 1 It’s Only Love (04:23) 2 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:08) 3 El Diablo (04:21) 4 Snappy Kakkie (02:58) 5 Enjoy and Get It On (03:26) 6 Ten Dollar Man (03:41) 7 Pan Am Highway Blues (03:14) 8 Avalon Hideaway (03:07) 9 She’s a Heartbreaker (03:01) 10 Asleep in the Desert (03:24) 11 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 12 I Wanna Drive You Home (04:48) 13 Ten Foot Pole (04:23) 14 Leila (03:17) 15 Don’t Tease Me (04:24) 16 It’s So Hard (05:11) 17 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 18 Groovy Little Hippie Pad (02:44) 19 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) 20 Party on the Patio (02:49) |
 | Album: 13 of 33 Title: Recycler Released: 1990 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Concrete and Steel (03:49) 2 Lovething (03:25) 3 Penthouse Eyes (03:47) 4 Tell It (04:48) 5 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 6 Decision or Collision (04:02) 7 Give It Up (03:31) 8 2000 Blues (04:45) 9 Burger Man (03:19) 10 Doubleback (03:57) |
| Recycler : Allmusic album Review : The continuation of Eliminators synthesized blues boogie made sense on Afterburner, since it arrived two years after its predecessor. ZZ Tops choice to pursue that direction on Recycler is puzzling, since a full five years separates this from Afterburner. Its not just that they continue to follow this path; its that they embalm it, creating a record that may be marginally ballsier than its predecessor, but lacking the sense of goofy fun and warped ambition that made Afterburner fascinating. Here, theres just a steady, relentless beat (Frank Beard is still chained to the sequencer, as he has been for a decade), topped off by processed guitars turning out licks that fall short of being true riffs. Put it this way, apart from "Doubleback," a continuation of the arena pop of "Stages," the other number that really works here is "My Heads in Mississippi," the closest theyd come to the greasy boogie of "La Grange" since Degüello. When it arrives halfway through Recycler, it not only sounds refreshing; it puts the rest of the album in perspective, showing how tired the once-bracing synth-blooze-boogie has become. And the worst thing about it all, it doesnt seem like the band realizes how uncomfortably ironic the title of Recycler is. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 33 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1992-04-14 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:13:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 2 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 3 Rough Boy (04:52) 4 Tush (02:16) 5 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 6 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 7 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 8 Viva Las Vegas (04:48) 9 Doubleback (03:57) 10 Gun Love (03:41) 11 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 12 Give It Up (03:31) 13 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 14 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 15 Planet of Women (04:05) 16 La Grange (03:53) 17 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 18 Legs (04:31) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : This isnt a perfect roundup of ZZ Tops superstar years of the 80s, but it comes pretty close. It dips back into the 70s for "Pearl Necklace" and "La Grange," with a couple of selections from the post-peak 90s, but this does offer the MTV-era basics: "Gimme All Your Lovin," "Sharp Dressed Man," "Rough Boy," "Tush," "My Heads in Mississippi," "Doubleback," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Sleeping Bag." What slows this record down are some new cuts and album tracks that dont deserve to be here, along with a remix, not the original version, of "Legs." Still, that may just be quibbling for some listeners, since the basics are all here, making this a good complement to the 70s-focused The Best of ZZ Top (although it would be nice if a definitive disc, with all the hits, would appear on the market). | ||
 | Album: 15 of 33 Title: Antenna Released: 1993 Tracks: 11 Duration: 50:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pincushion (04:33) 2 Breakaway (04:57) 3 World of Swirl (04:08) 4 Fuzzbox Voodoo (04:42) 5 Girl in a T-Shirt (04:10) 6 Antenna Head (04:42) 7 PCH (03:57) 8 Cherry Red (04:38) 9 Cover Your Rig (05:48) 10 Lizard Life (05:09) 11 Deal Goin Down (04:06) |
| Antenna : Allmusic album Review : Like precious few bands from the 70s whose best work is mummified daily thanks to classic rock radio, ZZ Top just keeps rolling on into the next decade. Theres much to love here, from the downright nasty stomp of "Fuzzbox Voodoo," the powerhouse slow blues of "Cover Your Rig," the bass-pumping looniness of "Girl in a T-Shirt," to the slow grind of "Breakaway." While Billy Gibbons guitar tones on this album are highly reminiscent of Tres Hombres (an early high-water mark for the band), the high production sheen from their 80s albums remains intact. But Gibbons hasnt played with this much over-the-top abandon since their pre-beard n babes days, and thats what separates this album from the three that came before it. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 33 Title: One Foot in the Blues Released: 1994-11-22 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:06:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Brown Sugar (05:22) 2 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 3 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 4 I Need You Tonight (06:17) 5 She Loves My Automobile (02:23) 6 Hi Fi Mama (02:25) 7 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:17) 8 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 9 Lowdown in the Street (02:50) 10 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 11 Apologies to Pearly (02:39) 12 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (06:47) 13 Bar‐B‐Q (03:25) 14 Old Man (03:27) 15 Certified Blues (03:26) 16 2000 Blues (04:45) 17 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) |
| One Foot in the Blues : Allmusic album Review : Before they sweated their image down to beards, babes and hot rods, ZZ Top were a down n dirty blues-rock trio with a bonafide hot guitar player in Billy Gibbons. On this 14-track offering, Warner goes back through the back ZZ catalog and cobbles together an interesting collection of the Texas trios bluesier sides that originally appeared on their earliest albums. Highlights include "Brown Sugar," "A Fool for Your Stockings," "My Heads in Mississippi," "Apologies to Pearly" and Gibbons storming stringwork on "Bar-B-Q." | ||
 | Album: 17 of 33 Title: Rhythmeen Released: 1996-09-09 Tracks: 12 Duration: 54:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rhythmeen (03:53) 2 Bang Bang (04:28) 3 Black Fly (03:33) 4 What’s Up With That (05:20) 5 Vincent Price Blues (06:04) 6 Zipper Job (04:14) 7 Hairdresser (03:49) 8 She’s Just Killing Me (04:57) 9 My Mind Is Gone (04:06) 10 Loaded (03:48) 11 Prettyhead (04:40) 12 Hummbucking, Part 2 (05:12) |
| Rhythmeen : Allmusic album Review : ZZ Tops long-awaited return to the blues finally arrived in 1996, well over a decade after they abandoned their simple three-chord boogie for a synth and drum machine-driven three-chord boogie. Like Antenna before it, Rhythmeen is stripped of all the synthesizers that had characterized the groups albums since Eliminator but the key difference between the two albums is how Rhythmeen goes for the gut, not the gloss. Its a record that is steeped in the blues and garage rock, one that pounds out its riffs with sweat and feeling. Though ZZ Top sounds reinvigorated, playing with a salacious abandon they havent displayed since the 70s, they simply havent come up with enough interesting songs and riffs to make it a true return to form. For dedicated fans, its a welcome return to their classic "La Grange" sound, but anyone with a just a passing interest in the band will wonder where the hooks went. [The CD was also released with a bonus track.] | ||
 | Album: 18 of 33 Title: Viva Las Vegas Released: 1997 Tracks: 14 Duration: 59:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Viva Las Vegas (04:48) 2 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 3 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 4 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 5 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 8 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 9 Planet of Women (04:05) 10 Rough Boy (04:52) 11 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 12 Doubleback (03:57) 13 Give It Up (03:31) 14 Gun Love (03:41) |
 | Album: 19 of 33 Title: XXX Released: 1999-09-28 Tracks: 13 Duration: 49:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Poke Chop Sandwich (04:50) 2 Crucifixx‐A‐Flatt (03:59) 3 Fearless Boogie (04:01) 4 36‐22‐36 (02:35) 5 Made Into a Movie (05:13) 6 Beatbox (02:48) 7 Trippin’ (03:55) 8 Dreadmonboogaloo (02:36) 9 Live Intro by Ross Mitchell (00:34) 10 Sinpusher (live) (05:18) 11 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear (05:21) 12 Hey Mr. Millionaire (04:14) 13 Belt Buckle (04:04) |
| XXX : Allmusic album Review : Theoretically, aging wouldnt be that difficult of a trick for ZZ Top to pull off, since the little ol band from Texas is thoroughly grounded in the blues, an ageless music that can sound equally good from the young and old alike. After all, countless blues-based musicians, from Lightnin Hopkins and Muddy Waters to B.B. King and the Rolling Stones, have aged gracefully, albeit in varying degrees. So why does ZZ Top sound so stiff and useless on XXX, a record celebrating their 30th anniversary? Part of it could be that the songwriting is decidedly weak, but a band as seasoned as ZZ Top should be able to make third-rate material at least listenable. The real problem is that the band long ago sacrificed organic rhythms for a steady synthesized pulse. They suggested this even before 1983s Eliminator, but that record was a bizarre, unpredictable masterstroke; after all, nobody would have predicted that a blend of Texas blues-rock and new wave drum machines would work, let alone flourish. The problem was, the massive success of Eliminator made ZZ Top reluctant to abandon that sound. That was OK for Afterburner, since it was released at the tail-end of the new wave era, but on every album since, they retained the steady click track, even as they stripped away the synthesizers. Each album of the 90s suffered because of this, but somehow, XXX really reveals the extent of the damage, possibly because it should have been a celebratory release, possibly because it ends with four tracks that were recorded live but sound as processed as the eight studio cuts that precede them. There is no grit, no sensuality to the music, no propulsion in the rhythm, and no joy to the playing. Even when the band stretches out, they feel tightly wound, and there is no spark to Billy Gibbons guitar playing. If there was, maybe the three-chord shuffle of "Poke Chop Sandwich" would feel right, instead of a bastardized, emasculated knock-off of "Pearl Neckless." But there is nothing to the songs and nothing to the performances. Ironically, ZZ Top doesnt follow the advice they offer in "Fearless Boogie": theyre too scared of sounding organic to really let loose and boogie, or play the blues like the accomplished veterans they are. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 33 Title: Mescalero Released: 2003-09-25 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:10:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mescalero (03:49) 2 Two Ways to Play (04:15) 3 Alley Gator (03:29) 4 Buck Nekkid (03:02) 5 Goin’ So Good (05:34) 6 Me So Stupid (03:33) 7 Piece (04:19) 8 Punk Ass Boyfriend (03:05) 9 Stackin’ Paper (02:58) 10 What Would You Do (03:03) 11 What It Is Kid (04:13) 12 Que Lastima (04:24) 13 Tramp (05:12) 14 Crunchy (03:13) 15 Dusted (03:56) 16 Liquor (03:22) 17 Sanctify / As Time Goes By (09:11) |
| Mescalero : Allmusic album Review : Ever since ZZ Top signed with RCA, they fitfully tried to break free of the synthesized blues that once was their savior but quickly became a straitjacket. Like any addict, it was hard for them to quit that processed, sequenced sound cold turkey, so they weaned themselves off the robo-boogie, sometimes relapsing and adding too many synths to mix, other times breaking loose with some credible boogie. Apart from the dreadful misstep of 1999s XXX, they showed signs of life on all their RCA albums, and their fourth, 2003s long-delayed Mescalero, is no exception to the rule. Billy Gibbons fat guitar tone really has some presence here, at least on some of the album, and there are enough rhythm tracks not performed to a didactic click track to provide some real swing. There are even moments that suggest Gibbons songwriting chops might be returning, such as the closing "Liquor," the rampaging instrumental "Crunchy," and the lithe "What Would You Do." On these cuts, along with a cover of Lowell Fulsons "Tramp," ZZ Top sound like a worthy veteran act, returning to their strengths and building on them. Unfortunately, thats four songs on an overlong 17-track album (including an uncredited closing cover of "As Time Goes By," hidden after "Liquor" -- as most uncredited covers of "As Time Goes By" are, I suppose), and the rest of the record is pretty much devoted to by-the-books latter-day ZZ Top, relying too much on overly polished sound and familiar form, not gutbucket hooks and dirty grooves. Whats frustrating is that those aforementioned cuts prove that the boys could still turn out a really cool, modernistic roadhouse blues-rock album, if only they had a good editor or producer. Left to their own devices, they repeat their same mistakes and wind up with a record thats pretty damn near the same as their other RCA platters. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 33 Title: Chrome, Smoke & BBQ Released: 2003-10-14 Tracks: 80 Duration: 5:13:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 You Make Me Shake (03:02) 2 Joe Blues (07:37) 3 Crimson Witch (03:05) 4 Miller’s Farm (02:36) 5 Salt Lick (02:46) 6 Brown Sugar (05:22) 7 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:24) 8 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 9 Francine (03:34) 10 Just Got Paid (04:28) 11 Ko Ko Blue (04:32) 12 Chevrolet (03:21) 13 Bar‐B‐Q (03:25) 14 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (07:20) 15 Whiskey’n Mama (03:20) 16 La Grange (03:52) 17 Waitin’ for the Bus (02:53) 18 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 19 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 20 Master of Sparks (03:33) 1 Precious and Grace (03:09) 2 Shiek (04:06) 3 Thunderbird (03:06) 4 Jailhouse Rock (01:55) 5 Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (02:44) 6 Heard It on the X (02:25) 7 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 8 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 9 Tush (02:16) 10 It’s Only Love (04:23) 11 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 12 El Diablo (04:21) 13 Enjoy and Get It On (03:25) 14 She’s a Heartbreaker (03:02) 15 Asleep in the Desert (03:26) 16 I Thank You (03:26) 17 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 18 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 19 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 20 Degüello Album Radio Spot (01:02) 21 Manic Mechanic (02:36) 22 She Loves My Automobile (02:23) 23 Leila (03:17) 24 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 1 I Wanna Drive You Home (04:48) 2 It’s So Hard (05:11) 3 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 4 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) 5 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 6 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 7 TV Dinners (03:50) 8 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 9 Legs (03:36) 10 I Got the Six (02:54) 11 Dirty Dog (04:05) 12 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 13 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 14 Stages (03:35) 15 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 16 Rough Boy (04:52) 17 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:04) 18 Planet of Women (04:05) 19 Velcro Fly (03:32) 20 Delirious (03:41) 1 Concrete and Steel (03:49) 2 Lovething (03:25) 3 Penthouse Eyes (03:47) 4 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 5 Give It Up (03:31) 6 Doubleback (03:57) 7 2000 Blues (04:45) 8 Reverberation (Doubt) (03:03) 9 Viva Las Vegas (04:48) 10 Gun Love (03:41) 11 Francene (Spanish) (02:56) 12 Cheap Sunglasses (05:14) 13 Legs (dance mix) (07:51) 14 Viva Las Vegas (12″ remix) (08:39) 15 Give It Up (2,800 Mile remix) (06:25) 16 Velcro Fly (12″ remix) (06:38) |
 | Album: 22 of 33 Title: Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top Released: 2004-06-15 Tracks: 38 Duration: 2:34:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Brown Sugar (05:22) 2 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:24) 3 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 4 Francine (03:34) 5 Just Got Paid (04:28) 6 Bar‐B‐Q (03:25) 7 La Grange (03:52) 8 Waitin’ for the Bus (02:53) 9 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 10 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 11 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 12 Tush (02:16) 13 Thunderbird (03:06) 14 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 15 Heard It on the X (02:25) 16 It’s Only Love (04:23) 17 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 18 I Thank You (03:26) 19 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 20 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 21 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 1 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 2 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 3 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 4 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 5 Legs (03:36) 6 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 7 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 8 Stages (03:35) 9 Rough Boy (04:52) 10 Velcro Fly (03:32) 11 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 12 Doubleback (03:57) 13 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 14 Viva Las Vegas (04:48) 15 Cheap Sunglasses (05:14) 16 Legs (dance mix) (07:51) 17 Velcro Fly (12″ remix) (06:38) |
| Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top : Allmusic album Review : Since Rhino released an exhaustive four-disc ZZ Top box in October 2003, some may question the appearance of a double-disc retrospective in June 2004, a mere eight months after the box set. The two may be released awfully close to each other, but they do play to different audiences -- in other words, there are a bunch of fans who want all the hits, but not a full box set, and thats what the 38-track Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top delivers. Not that it gets everything right -- there are a few classic album cuts, like "Leila" and "I Got the Six," that probably should have been included, and ending the set with a live version of "Cheap Sunglasses" and 12" remixes of "Legs" and "Velcro Fly" leaves a bad aftertaste -- but it gets it close enough, containing all of their biggest hits and a great cross-section of album tracks and AOR favorites. And apart from the aforementioned bewildering final three tracks, its sequenced well, with the down-n-dirty 70s material on the first disc, and the MTV hits from the 80s on the second. Theres still a need for a single-disc that has all the biggest hits, but until that comes along, Rancho Texicano is the best and most concise overview of that lil ol band from Texas. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 33 Title: The Beginning of ZZ Top Released: 2006 Tracks: 26 Duration: 1:18:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Captain Fire (03:18) 2 Nightmare of a Wise Man (03:20) 3 Dreams (03:01) 4 Just Plain Jane (02:32) 5 Fugue for Lady Cheriff (02:19) 6 Keep My Heart in a Rage (02:35) 7 Wonder Man (02:19) 8 Every Night a New Surprise (02:56) 9 All I Saw Was You (03:14) 10 Mellow (01:59) 11 Love Against the Wall (03:21) 12 Mercury Blues (03:55) 13 Softly to the Sun (02:22) 14 You Were So Close to Me (03:07) 1 99th Floor (02:14) 2 What Are You Going to Do (02:59) 3 Comin Back Home (04:22) 4 Joes Blues (06:51) 5 Lifes a Misery (02:27) 6 Melted Like Snow (03:07) 7 Fool for Your Stocking (05:00) 8 Chocolate Ego (03:05) 9 Shady (02:16) 10 Its Gone (01:48) 11 Need Me (02:12) 12 Shell Be Mine (01:56) |
 | Album: 24 of 33 Title: 2 in 1: Afterburner / Eliminator Released: 2008 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:22:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 2 Stages (03:35) 3 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 4 Rough Boy (04:52) 5 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:04) 6 Planet of Women (04:05) 7 I Got the Message (03:30) 8 Velcro Fly (03:32) 9 Dipping Low (in the Lap of Luxury) (03:15) 10 Delirious (03:41) 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 2 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 3 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 4 I Need You Tonight (06:17) 5 I Got the Six (02:54) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Thug (04:18) 8 TV Dinners (03:50) 9 Dirty Dog (04:05) 10 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 11 Bad Girl (03:15) |
 | Album: 25 of 33 Title: The Early Years Released: 2008 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:05:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 99th Floor (02:14) 2 What Are You Going to Do (03:01) 3 Comin’ Back Home (04:24) 4 Joe’s Blues (06:53) 5 Life’s a Misery (02:29) 6 Melted Like Snow (03:09) 7 A Fool for Your Stockings (05:02) 8 Chocolate Ego (03:07) 9 Shady (02:18) 10 Need Me (02:14) 11 Captain Fire (03:19) 12 Nightmare of a Wise Man (03:21) 13 Dreams (03:03) 14 Just Plain Jane (02:34) 15 Fugue for Lady Cheriff (02:22) 16 Keep My Heart in a Rage (02:37) 17 Wonder Man (02:23) 18 All I Saw Was You (03:16) 19 Love Against the Wall (03:23) 20 Mercury Blues (03:54) |
 | Album: 26 of 33 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2012-08-13 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:03:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Francine (02:53) 2 Just Got Paid (03:48) 3 Mushmouth Shoutin’ (03:45) 4 Ko Ko Blue (04:23) 5 Chevrolet (03:19) 6 Apologies to Pearly (02:47) 7 Bar‐B‐Q (03:22) 8 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (06:49) 9 Whiskey’n Mama (03:20) 10 Down Brownie (02:26) 1 Waitin’ for the Bus (03:03) 2 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 3 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 4 Master of Sparks (03:33) 5 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:17) 6 Move Me on Down the Line (02:31) 7 Precious and Grace (03:09) 8 La Grange (03:52) 9 Shiek (04:06) 10 Have You Heard? (03:14) 1 Thunderbird (04:10) 2 Jailhouse Rock (01:55) 3 Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair / Mellow Down Easy / Backdoor Love Affair No. 2 / Long Distance Boogie (09:51) 4 Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (02:44) 5 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 6 Balinese (02:36) 7 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 8 Heard It on the X (02:25) 9 Tush (02:16) 1 I Thank You (03:26) 2 She Loves My Automobile (02:23) 3 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 4 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 5 Manic Mechanic (02:36) 6 Dust My Broom (03:09) 7 Lowdown in the Street (02:50) 8 Hi Fi Mama (02:25) 9 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 10 Esther Be the One (03:30) 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 2 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 3 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 4 I Need You Tonight (06:17) 5 I Got the Six (02:54) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Thug (04:18) 8 TV Dinners (03:50) 9 Dirty Dog (04:05) 10 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 11 Bad Girl (03:15) |
| Original Album Series : Allmusic album Review : This 2012 box set contains five of ZZ Tops very best albums -- Rio Grande Mud, Tres Hombres, Fandango, Deguello, and Eliminator -- each presented as a mini-LP in a cardboard sleeve within this small slipcase box. ZZ Top have other good, even excellent albums, but theres a serious case to be made that these are the trios best five LPs, and this is a quick, affordable way to get them all. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 33 Title: La Futura Released: 2012-09-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Gotsta Get Paid (04:03) 2 Chartreuse (02:57) 3 Consumption (03:48) 4 Over You (04:30) 5 Heartache in Blue (04:09) 6 I Don’t Wanna Lose, Lose, You (04:21) 7 Flyin’ High (04:17) 8 It’s Too Easy Mañana (04:48) 9 Big Shiny Nine (03:11) 10 Have a Little Mercy (03:18) |
| La Futura : Allmusic album Review : ZZ Top have long been a prime candidate for a Rick Rubin-led comeback, having long ago settled into an insular digital rut that paid back increasingly small dividends. La Futura is that long-awaited ZZ Top record, their first full-length in nearly a decade (the last was 2003s Mescalero) and, more remarkably, their first-ever album to bear a production credit by somebody who is neither Billy Gibbons nor longtime manager Bill Ham, who left the organization in 2006. Gibbons sits at the mixing board with Rubin and together they revive the Tops dirty 70s boogie, never quite forgetting the coolly propulsive stylized rock of Eliminator. Certainly, La Futura is the best album from ZZ Top since that 80s landmark but it flips Eliminator on its head, using synthesized elements as accents, not as a skeleton. Rubin returns real drums to ZZ Top but doesnt entirely strip away drum machines, giving La Futura just enough of a futuristic shimmer to live up to its name, just enough of the present to make it feel of the moment. And theres no mistaking that this lil ol band from Texas is indeed old -- and its age is part of the pleasure of La Futura. ZZ Top have the weathered interplay of vets whove been doing this for almost their entire lives and Billy Gibbons gravelly growl has now withered into a gnarly, strangled croak, almost primal in its ugliness. Far from hiding his ragged singing, Gibbons and Rubin have it battle the thick blasts of fuzz guitars throughout the whole of the album, noise that even splatters the slow 12-bar form of "Heartache in Blue." Its a thick, tactile sound thats invigorating -- the smack of Frank Beards snare is infectious -- and that alone would make La Futura a success, but what makes it a triumph is the coolly efficient songwriting. ZZ Top cleverly reference past glories without succumbing to recycling: "I Gotsta Get Paid" could have wallowed in the Rio Grande Mud, "Chartreuse" boogies as relentlessly as "Tush," "Have a Little Mercy" winks at "Waitin for the Bus," and they revive the arena rock of the 80s with "Flyin High." What makes these songs really cook is how ZZ Top are celebrating everything that theyve taken for granted for decades -- theyre embracing the sleazy boogie, the dirty jokes, the locomotive riffs, the saturated blues, the persistent lecherous leer, and by doing so they finally sound like themselves again. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 33 Title: The Complete Studio Albums 1970–1990 Released: 2013-06-10 Tracks: 100 Duration: 6:10:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:35) 2 Brown Sugar (05:22) 3 Squank (02:48) 4 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:24) 5 Old Man (03:27) 6 Neighbor, Neighbor (02:21) 7 Certified Blues (03:26) 8 Bedroom Thang (04:39) 9 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 10 Backdoor Love Affair (03:20) 1 Francine (03:34) 2 Just Got Paid (04:28) 3 Mushmouth Shoutin’ (03:47) 4 Ko Ko Blue (04:32) 5 Chevrolet (03:21) 6 Apologies to Pearly (02:39) 7 Bar‐B‐Q (03:25) 8 Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (07:20) 9 Whiskey’n Mama (03:20) 10 Down Brownie (02:27) 1 Waitin’ for the Bus (02:53) 2 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 3 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 4 Master of Sparks (03:33) 5 Hot, Blue and Righteous (03:17) 6 Move Me on Down the Line (02:31) 7 Precious and Grace (03:09) 8 La Grange (03:52) 9 Shiek (04:06) 10 Have You Heard? (03:14) 1 Thunderbird (04:10) 2 Jailhouse Rock (01:55) 3 Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair / Mellow Down Easy / Backdoor Love Affair No. 2 / Long Distance Boogie (09:51) 4 Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (02:44) 5 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 6 Balinese (02:36) 7 Mexican Blackbird (03:05) 8 Heard It on the X (02:25) 9 Tush (02:16) 1 It’s Only Love (04:23) 2 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 3 El Diablo (04:21) 4 Snappy Kakkie (02:58) 5 Enjoy and Get It On (03:25) 6 Ten Dollar Man (03:41) 7 Pan Am Highway Blues (03:15) 8 Avalon Hideaway (03:07) 9 She’s a Heartbreaker (03:02) 10 Asleep in the Desert (03:26) 1 I Thank You (03:26) 2 She Loves My Automobile (02:23) 3 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 4 A Fool for Your Stockings (04:16) 5 Manic Mechanic (02:36) 6 Dust My Broom (03:09) 7 Lowdown in the Street (02:50) 8 Hi Fi Mama (02:25) 9 Cheap Sunglasses (04:48) 10 Esther Be the One (03:30) 1 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 2 I Wanna Drive You Home (04:48) 3 Ten Foot Pole (04:23) 4 Leila (03:17) 5 Don’t Tease Me (04:24) 6 It’s So Hard (05:11) 7 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 8 Groovy Little Hippie Pad (02:44) 9 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) 10 Party on the Patio (02:49) 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 2 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 3 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 4 I Need You Tonight (06:17) 5 I Got the Six (02:54) 6 Legs (04:33) 7 Thug (04:18) 8 TV Dinners (03:50) 9 Dirty Dog (04:05) 10 If I Could Only Flag Her Down (03:40) 11 Bad Girl (03:15) 1 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 2 Stages (03:35) 3 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 4 Rough Boy (04:52) 5 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:04) 6 Planet of Women (04:05) 7 I Got the Message (03:30) 8 Velcro Fly (03:32) 9 Dipping Low (in the Lap of Luxury) (03:15) 10 Delirious (03:41) 1 Concrete and Steel (03:49) 2 Lovething (03:25) 3 Penthouse Eyes (03:47) 4 Tell It (04:48) 5 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 6 Decision or Collision (04:02) 7 Give It Up (03:31) 8 2000 Blues (04:45) 9 Burger Man (03:19) 10 Doubleback (03:57) |
| The Complete Studio Albums 1970–1990 : Allmusic album Review : Warners 2013 box set The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1990 rounds up the ten albums ZZ Top recorded for Warner Bros over the course of 20 years: 1971s ZZ Tops First Album, 1972s Rio Grande Mud, 1973s Tres Hombres, 1975s Fandango!, 1976s Tejas, 1979s Deguello, 1981s El Loco, 1983s Eliminator, 1985s Afterburner, and 1990s Recycler. Each album is packaged as a mini LP containing the original artwork, but the real news is that the original LP mixes for ZZ Tops First Album, Rio Grande Mud, and Tejas are presented on CD for the first time, a move that will please all hardcore fans. That said, the whole package is quite attractive, and not just from a packaging perspective: this is the prime of ZZ Top, available in one place at a very attractive price (a retail of $59.98, which may be discounted to around $40 by some retailers). | ||
 | Album: 29 of 33 Title: The Very Baddest Released: 2014-07-14 Tracks: 40 Duration: 2:29:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:31) 2 Sharp Dressed Man (02:59) 3 La Grange (03:52) 4 Tush (02:16) 5 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:35) 6 Francine (03:34) 7 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:25) 8 It’s Only Love (04:23) 9 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 10 I Thank You (single version) (03:01) 11 Cheap Sunglasses (02:40) 12 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 13 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 14 Just Got Paid (04:28) 15 Waitin’ for the Bus (02:53) 16 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30) 17 Heard It on the X (02:25) 18 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:49) 19 Dust My Broom (03:09) 20 Velcro Fly (02:54) 21 Party on the Patio (02:49) 1 Viva Las Vegas (04:04) 2 Pincushion (04:33) 3 Legs (03:36) 4 Got Me Under Pressure (04:01) 5 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 6 Rough Boy (03:51) 7 Doubleback (03:57) 8 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 9 Give It Up (03:31) 10 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 11 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 12 She’s Just Killing Me (04:57) 13 What’s Up With That (05:20) 14 Rhythmeen (03:53) 15 Loaded (03:48) 16 Fearless Boogie (04:01) 17 Mescalero (03:49) 18 Que Lastima (04:24) 19 As Time Goes By (04:29) |
 | Album: 30 of 33 Title: The Heaviest Released: 2015 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:00:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sharp Dressed Man (04:14) 2 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (03:59) 3 Over You (04:30) 4 Give It Up (03:31) 5 Sleeping Bag (03:53) 6 Blue Jean Blues (04:44) 7 Chartreuse (02:57) 8 Rhythmeen (03:53) 9 Black Fly (03:33) 10 I Gotsta Get Paid (04:03) 11 Old Man (03:27) 12 Pincushion (04:33) 13 2000 Blues (04:24) 14 Consumption (03:48) 15 She’s Just Killing Me (04:57) |
 | Album: 31 of 33 Title: Original Album Series, Volume 2 Released: 2016-06-17 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:05:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:35) 2 Brown Sugar (05:22) 3 Squank (02:48) 4 Goin’ Down to Mexico (03:24) 5 Old Man (03:27) 6 Neighbor, Neighbor (02:21) 7 Certified Blues (03:26) 8 Bedroom Thang (04:39) 9 Just Got Back From Baby’s (04:10) 10 Backdoor Love Affair (03:20) 1 It’s Only Love (04:23) 2 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 3 El Diablo (04:21) 4 Snappy Kakkie (02:58) 5 Enjoy and Get It On (03:25) 6 Ten Dollar Man (03:41) 7 Pan Am Highway Blues (03:15) 8 Avalon Hideaway (03:07) 9 She’s a Heartbreaker (03:02) 10 Asleep in the Desert (03:26) 1 Tube Snake Boogie (03:05) 2 I Wanna Drive You Home (04:48) 3 Ten Foot Pole (04:23) 4 Leila (03:17) 5 Don’t Tease Me (04:24) 6 It’s So Hard (05:11) 7 Pearl Necklace (04:06) 8 Groovy Little Hippie Pad (02:44) 9 Heaven, Hell or Houston (02:33) 10 Party on the Patio (02:49) 1 Sleeping Bag (04:05) 2 Stages (03:35) 3 Woke Up With Wood (03:49) 4 Rough Boy (04:52) 5 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:04) 6 Planet of Women (04:05) 7 I Got the Message (03:30) 8 Velcro Fly (03:32) 9 Dipping Low (in the Lap of Luxury) (03:15) 10 Delirious (03:41) 1 Concrete and Steel (03:49) 2 Lovething (03:25) 3 Penthouse Eyes (03:47) 4 Tell It (04:48) 5 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:21) 6 Decision or Collision (04:02) 7 Give It Up (03:31) 8 2000 Blues (04:45) 9 Burger Man (03:19) 10 Doubleback (03:57) |
 | Album: 32 of 33 Title: Live! Greatest Hits From Around the World Released: 2016-09-09 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:05:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Got Me Under Pressure (live from New York) (04:19) 2 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (live from Las Vegas) (03:39) 3 Cheap Sunglasses (live from Paris) (04:05) 4 Waitin’ for the Bus (live from Nashville) (03:00) 5 Jesus Just Left Chicago (live from Nashville) (04:40) 6 Legs (live from Sao Paolo) (05:13) 7 Sharp Dressed Man (live from Los Angeles) (04:41) 8 Rough Boy (live from London) (05:31) 9 Pincushion (live from Berlin) (04:27) 10 La Grange (live from Dallas) (05:47) 11 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (live from Vancouver) (04:45) 12 Tube Snake Boogie (live from Rome) (03:28) 13 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (live from Houston) (04:47) 14 Tush (live from Chicago) (03:42) 15 Sixteen Tons (live from London) (03:17) |
| Live! Greatest Hits From Around the World : Allmusic album Review : Assembled from various shows from various tours from around the world, 2016s Live: Greatest Hits from Around the World is billed as ZZ Tops first "full-length live album" -- a matter of dispute considering how Eagle Rock released three CD/DVD/Blu-ray combo sets between 2008 and 2014. There is no visual component to Live: Greatest Hits from Around the World, which may be how it skates around the first live album distinction -- if theres no video, this is a pure album -- but the record mines a similar musical vein, collecting highlights from latter-day ZZ Top tours. During the 2000s and 2010s, ZZ Top released an excellent studio album called La Futura, but thats ignored here in favor for all the songs that are classic rock staples. Older, the Lil Ol Band from Texas sounds thicker and heavier -- and Billy Gibbons growl is so gruff it seems tattered -- but that helps distinguish these versions from the spit and polish of the studio versions; not better, per se, but certainly the work of a band whose members happily settle into their advanced years, not wishing to change a thing about how they do things. Nevertheless, the undeniable highlights are the two tracks featuring cameos from Jeff Beck: he contributes lyrical solos to "Rough Boy" and helps with the heavy-footed boogie of "Sixteen Tons," pushing the trio just far enough out of its comfort zone to provide some crackle. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 33 Title: Goin’ 50 Released: 2019-06-14 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:18:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 La Grange (03:52) 2 Sharp Dressed Man (04:12) 3 Gimme All Your Lovin’ (04:00) 4 Tush (02:16) 5 Legs (04:33) 6 Rough Boy (04:50) 7 I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (04:46) 8 Cheap Sunglasses (04:46) 9 Got Me Under Pressure (03:58) 10 Sleeping Bag (04:02) 11 Velcro Fly (03:29) 12 Doubleback (03:56) 13 Viva Las Vegas (04:43) 14 Salt Lick (02:45) 15 Miller’s Farm (02:35) 16 (Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree (02:35) 17 Francine (03:32) 18 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (03:23) 19 Waitin for the Bus (live from Nashville) (03:00) 20 Jesus Just Left Chicago (live from Nashville) (04:38) 21 Heard It on the X (02:24) 22 Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair / Mellow Down Easy / Backdoor Love Affair No. 2 / Long Distance Boogie (09:51) 23 It’s Only Love (04:23) 24 Arrested for Driving While Blind (03:06) 25 Enjoy and Get It On (03:23) 26 I Thank You (03:23) 27 Leila (03:15) 28 Tube Snake Boogie (03:02) 29 Pearl Necklace (04:05) 30 TV Dinners (03:50) 31 Can’t Stop Rockin’ (03:03) 32 Stages (03:31) 33 Delirious (03:40) 34 Woke Up With Wood (03:45) 35 Concrete and Steel (03:48) 36 My Head’s in Mississippi (04:19) 37 Give It Up (03:30) 38 Decision or Collision (04:02) 39 Gun Love (03:39) 40 Pincushion (04:33) 41 Breakaway (04:57) 42 Girl in a T‐Shirt (04:10) 43 Fuzzbox Voodoo (04:41) 44 She’s Just Killing Me (04:56) 45 What’s Up With That (05:20) 46 Bang Bang (04:28) 47 Rhythmeen (03:53) 48 Fearless Boogie (04:01) 49 36‐22‐36 (02:35) 50 Piece (04:19) |