ZZ Top's First Album
| ZZ Top's First Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by ZZ Top | ||||
| Released | January 16, 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1970 at Robin Hood Studios, Tyler, Texas | |||
| Genre | Texas blues, blues rock, boogie rock, hard rock | |||
| Length | 35:16 | |||
| Label | London | |||
| Producer | Bill Ham | |||
| ZZ Top chronology | ||||
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| Singles from ZZ Top's First Album | ||||
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ZZ Top's First Album is the first studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was produced by manager Bill Ham, and was released on January 16, 1971, on London Records. Establishing their attitude and humor, ZZ Top incorporated boogie, hard rock, heavy metal and Southern rock influences into their sound. Thematically, the album is lively, playful and at times brash, filled with the band's personal experiences and sexual innuendos that became central to the group's image. Seeking inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top began recording the album at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas. Only one single was released from the album and failed to appear on the Billboard charts.
In 1987, this album was remixed for CD release. In 2013, the original vinyl mix was released on HD Tracks in high-resolution digital download formats.[1] The original mix of the album was released on CD in June 2013 as part of the box set The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990).[2]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
AllMusic gave it 3 stars, stating: "ZZ Top's First Album may not be perfectly polished, but it does establish their sound, attitude, and quirks."[3]
Singles
The only single released from the album was "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" (b/w "Neighbor, Neighbor") on London Records (release number 45-138).
Track listing
Side 1
- "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree" (Billy Gibbons) – 2:32
- "Brown Sugar" (Gibbons) – 5:22
- "Squank" (Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Bill Ham) – 2:46
- "Goin' Down to Mexico" (Gibbons, Hill, Ham) – 3:26
- "Old Man" (Gibbons, Hill, Frank Beard) – 3:23
Side 2
- "Neighbor, Neighbor" (Gibbons) – 2:18
- "Certified Blues" (Gibbons, Beard, Ham) – 3:25
- "Bedroom Thang" (Gibbons) – 4:37
- "Just Got Back from Baby's" (Gibbons, Ham) – 4:07
- "Backdoor Love Affair" (Gibbons, Ham) – 3:20
Personnel
- Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals
- Dusty Hill – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Goin' Down to Mexico", co-lead vocal on "Squank"
- Frank Beard – drums, percussion (credited as "Rube Beard")
Production
- Producer – Bill Ham
References
- ↑ "Homepage - HDtracks - The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads".
- ↑ Gallucci, Michael. "New ZZ Top Box Will Include Original Mixes of First 10 Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ZZ Top's First Album review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 24 May 2011.
