ZZ Top - Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top
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Free Music Notes for Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top
Free Music Review: The Best American Rock n' roll Band since Creedence
Hit: 4 Stars
Creedence Clearwater Revival was probably the first rock band to really bring back the original boogie rock sound originated by Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and the other rock n' roll pioneers of the 1950's. When Creedence broke up in 1972, a gritty blues-rock trio from Texas called ZZ Top scored their first hit "La Grange" a year later and became the next band to carry that infectious three-chord boogie sound into the 70's and 80's at a time when most rock bands were focusing on heavy metal and other styles of rock.
Dusty Hill and Frank Beard make up one of the most rock solid rhythm sections in rock n' roll, and Billy Gibbons is surely one of the hottest blues-rock guitar masters out there. These three guys are responsible for some of the best blues-flavored rock n' roll of the past three decades, and all their classic hits and best-known material is here in this excellent two-disc compilation released in 2004. The first CD covers the best of the band's blues-flavored 70's material, and their more commercial, mainstream rock hits of the 80's are compiled on the second CD.
The only problem with this collection is the last half of the second disc. Rather than making the set more comprehensive by including some of ZZ's later material from the 90's, we get an average live recording of "Cheap Sunglasses" that adds nothing to the original version, a useless remake of Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" {why did they choose to cover one of Elvis' worst songs?}, and unnecessary "remix" versions of "Legs" and the forgettable "Velcro Fly" which is surely one of ZZ Top's weakest songs. This is still the best greatest hits compilation currently available for the casual fan though. All of the band's best-loved material is presented here with great remastered sound.
Few bands from 40 years ago are still out there today with the original members in place. ZZ Top has survived into the new century and are still rockin' as strong as ever. I got the chance to catch them in concert on their 2003 tour with Ted Nugent and Kenny Wayne Shepherd as the opening acts. Billy, Dusty, and Frank delivered a sound so full and tight that it sounded like four or five guys on stage instead of three! What is sorely needed is a live concert DVD of these legendary rock n' roll hall of famers that has never been issued after all these years.
If you want to discover what REAL rock n' roll is all about, get a copy of this collection along with CCR's classic "Chronicle" CD.
Free Music Review: Great music!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been listening to ZZ Top over the years, but never had an album. I recently purchased this one to get a glimpse into the music. I recognized some of the songs from the radio, and found some new personal favorites.
Great music,~ I use some of the songs in my daily workout, gets me pumped for the day!
Rock on, Gentlemen!
Free Music Review: ONE OF THE GREATS, ROCK FOR BAD KIDS
Hit: 5 Stars
The weird thing about ZZ Top has to do with the remix jobs that were done on all of their early albums in the eighties and early nineties. ZZ Top, somehow went through a real heavy faze of synthing their drums on all of their albums between 1983 and 1990, and when they released their seventies albums onto CD the drums were remixed to give those albums a synth drum sound as well. To this day pretty much any Top album you buy on CD has been metamorphasized. Quite a shame since early Top had a real nice, gritty, dancin' in the dirt kind of sound. It's best to buy those albums on vinyl, cassette, or even 8-track.. way more bad Ace quality.
HOWEVER!!!!
The red disc in this 2-disc greatest hits packaged focuses specially on treating those old seventies rockers right, and for the first time on CD these songs sound the way they were meant to sound. RAW and glorious. This two disc collection is a must have, simply for the first disc alone.
Just listen to the difference on obvious songs like LA GRANGE and TUSH. The sound is supremely better here than on that other greatest hits pack, the one with the blonde bomshells on the cover? I bought that one years ago and couldn't figure out why my ZZ Top wasn't rockin'. Now I'm graced with songs that totally blow the speakers off, like JUST GOT PAID and BEER DRINKERS AND HELL RAISERS. They sound mint. Also a huge plus is the boozy JUST GOT BACK FROM BABY... totally forgot how much I dug that tune.
The Aqua Blue disc focuses on the 1980's pop MTV stuff. Some of it is ok. The first track TUBE SNAKE BOOGIE should have been on the red disc, but the rest belongs on this Diz-nee like rock disc. Like the eighties club version of Legs and the skinny tie martini version of Viva Las Vegas. Eh. BUT!! as I said... The Red Disc is where it's at.
If you BAD, then you should buy most of your ZZ Top stuff on wax, and keep this red disc handy to blow out some hot chickies speakers when the time is right. ZZ TOP truly was one of the greats.
Free Music Review: First rate sampler of Texas' biggest & baddest export: ZZ TOP
Hit: 5 Stars
THE BAND: Billy Gibbons (guitars, vocals, hermonica, fiddle, baritone sax, keyboards), Dusty Hill (bass, vocals, tenor sax, keyboards), Frank Beard (drums, percussion, vocals, alto sax). Bill Ham (manager, producer, inspiration).
THE DISCS: (2004) 38 tracks on two discs clocking in at approximately 154 minutes (78+ on Disc-1, 75+ on Disc-2). Included with the discs is an 18-page booklet containing a 12 pages of history and retrospective on the band, song titles/credits and chart success, assorted pictures, what songs came from which albums; 14 album covers pictured on 1 page, and thank you's. Digitally remastered sound. Label - Warner Bros.
ALBUM REPRESENTATION: ZZ Top's First Album (3), Rio Grande Mud (3), Tres Hombres (4), Fandango! (5), Tejas (2), Deguello (4), El Loco (2), Eliminator (4), Afterburner (5), Recycler (2), Greatest Hits (1), Promo Singles (3).
COMMENTS: 30+ years and still chugging along. ZZ Top has proven it's ability to rock & roll over the years. Complete with their trademark Texas-blues fused rock, overly long beards, (probably not cheap) sunglasses, love of fast hot rods, and seemingly countless videos on MTV. The liner notes are extensive in regards to the birth of the band - touching on family, teenage garage bands (The Moving Sidewalks & The Warlocks), running into producer Bill Ham (backstage at a Doors concert), first gig (1970), opening shows for Jimi Hendrix, etc. Outside of the 4-disc box set that's overly priced - as of 2004 this is now the best ZZ Top compilation available. The two other most notable 'best of' pacakges are now expendable. 9 of 10 songs are here on "Rancho Texicano" from ZZ Top's first 'Best Of' compilation (1977)... only song missing is "No Back Door Love Affair". 15 of the 18 songs off ZZ Top's "Greatest Hits (1992) are here as well (missing are "Gun Love", "Give It Up" and "Planet Of Women"). All of the omissions are OK in my book. The only songs I would have removed from "Rancho" would be "Mexican Blackbird" and "Woke Up With Wood"... and replaced them with the strangely absent "TV Dinners" and/or "Concrete And Steel". Overall though, the 38 songs are simply dead on accurate. All songs are the original studio versions except the last 2 dance remixes of "Legs" and "Velcro Fly" (you do however get the original versions of these 2 songs earlier on the disc), and 2 live songs ("Cheap Sunglasses" and "Thunderbird"). Anyone else find it interesting when reading the liner notes, that Billy, Frank, and Dusty all play the saxophone? Every rock & roll collection needs some ZZ TOP and this is the ideal place to start. Great set of discs (5 stars).
Free Music Review: The Best ZZ Top Compilation
Hit: 5 Stars
Among the reigning kings of southern rock, ZZ Top's rich musical legacy has spanned over 35 years and several albums, hit singles and live concerts. They are still a favorite on radio stations across America, and have a devoted fan base to this day.
Like many bands of their stature, ZZ Top has several compilations of their work on their market. Most recently came the two disc "Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top", a two disc collection containing 38 of their biggest hits. How does it hold up? Read on for the positives and negatives.
Positives:
-All the ZZ Top classics are on here, including "Brown Sugar", "Francene", "Just Got Paid", "La Grange", "Jesus Just Left Chicago", "Arrested For Driving While Blind", "Sharp Dressed Man", "Sleeing Bag" and "Stages".
-Many underrated gems have been included as well.
-There are some rarities included: a live performance of "Cheap Sunglasses", a dance mix of "Legs" and a 12" remix of "Velco Fly".
-Excellent sound quality.
-Great liner notes.
Negatives:
-None. This collection is pretty much perfect.
Well, what are you waiting for? Go buy this cd today.