1971-1975 -- ZZ Top's finest? Perhaps
Johnny Boy | Hockessin, DE | 09/28/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For some reason, ZZ Top's first two albums ('ZZ Top's First Album,' from 1971, and one of my personal favorites, 'Rio Grande Mud,' from 1972) are always overlooked.
ZZ Top were put permanently on the map with 'Tres Hombres,' meaning "Three men" in English, and also with 'Fandango!,' which is a traditional Spanish dance. Those were released from the 1973-1975 period.
Following 1975, ZZ Top left London Records, which produced their first four albums, to go join the Warner Bros. lineup. Manager/producer Bill Ham faught to have ZZ's catalog reissued on the Warner Bros. label, and it eventually happened.
1977's 'The Best of ZZ Top' offers a look at the London Records years from 1971-1975. An interesting little album, but for years now, I've been eagerly awaiting for Warner Bros. (which nows owns full rights to the London Records catalog) to reissue this 10 song collection and make it more comprehensive.
But what's here is great. 'Heard It On The X,' 'La Grange,' 'Blue Jean Blues,' and 'Waitin' For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago' all appear on this set.
Also, in 2004, as a part of Warner Bros. 'Greatest Hits' packaging, they remastered this album. It sounds great!
But, why stop with 10 songs? 'Brown Sugar,' 'Just Got Back From Baby's,' 'Hot Blue and Righteous' and 'Jailhouse Rock' all would fit really nicely here. And, what's more irritating is they would all fit here!
Overall, buy 'The Best of ZZ Top' if you can't stand ZZ Top's 1980s MTV heyday. I bought this years ago, and recently, bought the remastered edition offered here. But wait patiently and maybe the record company will reissue this! (Knock on wood!)
Another collection I strongly recommend if you enjoyed this album is 'One Foot In The Blues.' That's a great album featuring their bluesier numbers.
Five stars for the remastering and the tracks, of course, but four stars until they reissue this. Trust me. It needs to happen.
Recommended for any ZZ Top fan."