THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: zz top (Page 1 of 2)

ZZ TOP – Fandango

October 31, 2022 /

I love the concept of half live and half studio albums, and I’m surprised more bands don’t do this. My favourite ZZ period is the mid-to-late seventies, when they were a smoking live act and were experimenting with sounds and grooves which eventually led them to Eliminator.

Side one of this album was recorded one hot sweaty night in New Orleans – I think in ’75.  A mixture of originals and blues/rock n roll covers, it’s as raw and as groovin’ you’d expect ZZ to be. But it’s Side 2 that really draws your attention with all killer originals, that today, the band play a lot of live.

Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings has a killer riff and groove, and a bass line to die for. Blue Jean Blues is a real slow blues with a crystal clear production, and you gotta love Billy G’s tone. Balinese is one of those Tex Mex delights that only ZZ do – a great groove and vibe! Mexican Blackbird is the odd track on the album, mainly because of Billy’s vocal, and there is some cool slide playing. The last two tracks are stone cold classics. Heard It On The X has a killer simple riff and groove and busy beat- superb stuff! The album closes out with Tush – a great heavy boogie that I’m sure you’ve all heard of. A lot of other bands borrowed it as well. Check out Motörhead’s No Class. I love this album, as I do most mid-period ZZ Top.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ZZ TOP – Tejas

May 9, 2022 /

I think I have mentioned before that I love ZZ Top before Eliminator. I know they became huge and massive after the release of that album (mainly due to the very commercial sounding songs, and the amazing videos that the fledgling MTV had on heavy rotation), but for me the three albums before that were the best. They were experimenting with tones and grooves that were taking their stock boogie blues in a very interesting path. This album was the beginning of that period, and I really love it.

It’s Only Love kicks things off with the very traditional country blues that is huge in Texas, and the middle eight just swings. Arrested For Driving While Blind follows, and although you would be forgiven for thinking it’s just a straight up boogie, there is a lot going on here. The guitar tone in the main verse has that simple chorus effect, then we get to the breakdown that turns into a shuffle with that beautiful solo from Billy G. El Diablo is one of my favourite ZZ tunes. The groove and the vibe are just superb, and the descent into the breakdown is just superb. Snappy Kakkie is the one track that pushes the boundaries the most on the album, with a killer middle and ending. Enjoy And Get It On closes out Side 1, and boy does this song swing – the riff is from the same vibe as La Grange.

Ten Dollar Man opens up Side 2 and has a killer blues/funk vibe with a great swing. Pan Am Highway Blues is quite a traditional piece with a little lap steel thrown in. Avalon Hideaway has a Tex Mex groove to the tune and some nice guitar from Billy. The album closes out with She’s A Heartbreaker, and it’s a return to country/blues complete with fiddle. As I said, I love this period of the band and I play the 3 albums a lot.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

ZZ TOP – Deguello

August 2, 2021 /

RIP Dusty Hill!!! It’s super sad news and he held the bottom end so tight in this band.

This is the band’s 6th album and quite possibly their best. This album was released after the band went into exile after the Taking Texas To The People tour, which was not that great of a success. When they returned, the image that we know and love today was born. This is still the lil old band from Texas, but they are experimenting with sounds and tones – especially with the guitars, as lost of effects are used to create moods. I Thank You highlights this perfectly, as the opening guitar riff and tone is a joy and sets up the whole album. She’s My Automobile is old school ZZ paying homage to their Texas blues roots. I’m Bad I’m Nationwide is a mix of the old and new. The old being the main sound and chorus, but the new is the killer middle eight, and the ending with Dusty and Frank holding down a funky groove while Billy G lays the sauce on the top. Killer!!! One of the best ZZ Top tunes of all time is next with Fool For Your Stockings. This is blues – but not as we know it Jim. We get the lonesome guitar and the simple bass and beat. and then that funky simple riff with that awesome dirty vocal. It’s worth the price of the album just for the instrumental section. Manic Mechanic closes out Side 1, and the experimenting is in full flow both with guitar and vocals. Great track!

Side 2 starts out with Dust My Broom, a great version of the old Robert Johnson tune. Lowdown In The Street has a dual lead vocal from Dusty and Billy and a short sharp burst blues done Texas style. Hi Fi Mama has Dusty on lead with a burst of boogie – complete with horns. Another favourite ZZ tune is next with Cheap Sunglasses. Man, this song is freaking awesome! What a stunning riff and groove. This is my favourite ZZ tune – such a dirty funky track. Great vocal, superb guitar, and killer rhythm. The album closes with Esther Be The One, which I think is as close as the band get to a love song – although maybe not. Step away from Eliminator and come down to the real ZZ Top.

I love this album and it gets a 10/10 from The Grooveman.

ZZ TOP – El Loco

March 23, 2021 /

We all know that Eliminator was their best selling album, and it made ZZ Top a household name all over the universe. Some people, me included, much like the output that came before that album. This album in particular is one of my favourite ZZ albums. Yes it’s boogie blues, but it’s done with invention, a willingness to try new things, and experimentation with sounds and grooves. This is the 2017 remaster in shocking pink vinyl and it sounds amazing. A lot more clarity to what’s going on in the background – and it’s huge.

Things start off in typical ZZ style with a standard Texas boogie with lots of innuendo and double entendres. I Wanna Drive You Home is a killer sounding track, a blues groove with plenty of experimenting with effects pedals. Ten Foot Pole is another weird and wonderful ZZ tune, it has killer sounding guitars, weird vocals, and a funky groove that makes this one of the best tracks on the album. Leila is the weakest song on the album and is almost a country tune. I hate country music!!! Side close out track, Don’t Tease Me, starts with an awesome Billy Gibbons riff and is ZZ’s attempt at a single done Texas style.

Side 2 starts with a double dose of innuendo with It’s So Hard and Pearl Necklace. The first is done soul style and would have been a great single, whereas Pearl Necklace is pure ZZ Top boogie a great drivin’ tune and reached the heady heights of the Top 30. Groovy Little Hippy Pad is another weird and wonderful tune and sees the introduction of synths into the sound mixed with a boogie – very cool. Next up is one of my favourite ZZ tunes, Heaven Hell Or Houston. A really weird spoken lyric starts the piece before a serious groovy Tex-Mex funk kicks in. The last track is a trademark tune for the band, a good old fashioned blues boogie, Party On The Patio.

This album and Deguello are IMHO the best ZZ Top albums. I guess when you start to make pots of cash, it’s a hard decision not to write tunes not to please the punters instead of yourself. I know recent albums have seen them reverting to a more natural sound. A great enjoyable album.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

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