ZZ Top's First Album
ZZ Top's First Album | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 1971 | |||
Recorded | June–October 1970 | |||
Studio | Robin Hood, Tyler, Texas | |||
Genre | Blues rock[1][2] | |||
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 debut studio album by American rock band ZZ Top, produced by Bill Ham and released in January 1971 by London Records. Establishing ZZ Top's attitude and humor, the album incorporates styles such as blues, boogie, hard rock, and Southern rock influences. "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" was the only single released from the album.
Background, recording and release
[edit]The album was recorded at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas. ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons said:
We called the record ZZ Top's First Album because we wanted everyone to know that there would be more. We weren't certain if we'd get another chance in the studio, but we had high hopes.[3]
The only single released from the album was "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" (backed with "Neighbor, Neighbor") on London Records (release number 45-138). It failed to appear on the Billboard charts.
In 1987, the album was remixed for CD release. In 2013, the original vinyl mix was released on HD Tracks in high-resolution digital download formats.[4] 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).[5] In October 2017 a 180 gram vinyl edition of the album was released, using the original mix.
Reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic retrospectively gave it 3 stars, stating: "ZZ Top's First Album may not be perfectly polished, but it does establish their sound, attitude, and quirks."[1]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree" | Billy Gibbons | 2:32 |
2. | "Brown Sugar" | Gibbons | 5:22 |
3. | "Squank" | Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Bill Ham | 2:46 |
4. | "Goin' Down to Mexico" | Gibbons, Hill, Ham | 3:26 |
5. | "Old Man" | Gibbons, Hill, Frank Beard | 3:23 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Neighbor, Neighbor" | Gibbons | 2:18 |
2. | "Certified Blues" | Gibbons, Beard, Ham | 3:25 |
3. | "Bedroom Thang" | Gibbons | 4:37 |
4. | "Just Got Back from Baby's" | Gibbons, Ham | 4:07 |
5. | "Backdoor Love Affair" | Gibbons, Ham | 3:20 |
Total length: | 35:16 |
Personnel
[edit]ZZ Top
[edit]- Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals
- Dusty Hill – bass, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Goin' Down to Mexico", co-lead vocal on "Squank"
- Frank Beard – drums, percussion (credited as "Rube Beard")
Production
[edit]- Bill Ham – producer
- Bill Narum – album design
- Frank Jaubert – photography
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ZZ Top's First Album review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 24 May 2011.
- ^ "How ZZ Top's First Album Established An Unbeatable Blues-Rock Blueprint". Dig!. January 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ Bosso, Joe (4 June 2013). "Billy Gibbons talks ZZ Top: The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990)". MusicRadar.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ZZ Top". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 907-8. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
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