"That Little Ol' Band From Texas" serves up a heaping portion of hell-raisin' hits and raucous rarities. With four CDs spanning 14 albums released on Tantara, London, and Warner Bros. between 1968 and 1992, this son-of-a-g... more »un's got a huge number of hits -- along with choice album cuts, remixes, live tracks, and other rarities. A beefy 80-page booklet features liner notes, rare archival photos, and a revealing track-by-track bull session with the band.« less
"That Little Ol' Band From Texas" serves up a heaping portion of hell-raisin' hits and raucous rarities. With four CDs spanning 14 albums released on Tantara, London, and Warner Bros. between 1968 and 1992, this son-of-a-gun's got a huge number of hits -- along with choice album cuts, remixes, live tracks, and other rarities. A beefy 80-page booklet features liner notes, rare archival photos, and a revealing track-by-track bull session with the band.
CD Reviews
"Limited Edition" box set vs. standard box set.....
Big Chill | Backwater, Woods | 01/10/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There are two box sets available for this Texas Top collection. I ordered the "limited edition" set which is an additional $18 after I looked on another site and read that the limited edition came with ZZ Top action figures which I thought might be fairly cool. After receiving my set I found out that the "action figures" are actually color paper cut outs of the band and a few things like BBQ Ribs and a picnic table, etc. So...the music is great with a few omissions that are detailed in other reviews. I just wanted people to know that the only difference between the limited edition and the standard set is color paper cut outs. If that is worth the additional pesos to you fine....after seeing them I really wish I hard ordered the other set. Great Jams though...."
BOXED TOP WELL WORTH THE PESO'S....
D. TARVIN | Langley, B.C. Canada | 11/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having been a ZZ Top fan since the beginning I can assure all those who worry about spreading the leather to shell out for this collection that all is good between these covers and well worth the investment. If you are a ZZ Top afficionato, then you will probably remember all too well the release of the "SIX PACK" a few years back, and the disappointment of finding that the much anticipated CD versions of their classic material had been re-mixed with a pile of reverb and a badly enhanced drum track. Well good news!! This collection includes all the original mixes that have been so long awaited by those who prefer their ZZ unmolested and pure. This in itself is probably reason enough to add this box to the collection, but the selection of tunes here are well chosen and reflect the Texas trio's best work over the decades.
The addition of Billy Gibbons pre-ZZ efforts add a historical flavor to this compilation, but the real meat and potatoes stuff is simply the ressurection of the original mixes on such eternal classics as 'LA GRANGE' and 'ARRESTED FOR DRIVIN' WHILE BLIND'.
'Ol Pearly Gates never sounded so good.
In a nutshell, this is essential listening for all those who want to take a 30 year Hot Rod road trip with a band who not only has one foot in the blues, but the other firmly in the door of the rock and roll hall of fame.
Kudos to the Reverend Willy G, Dusty and Rube for layin it down so tasty for all these years, and for puttin' back the tracks as they should be, and should always be."
Soooo close!
Jeffrey Hubbard | Murray, UT United States | 12/13/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Look, I'd really give this more like 4 1/2 stars, were I able. ZZ Top are possibly the greatest white groove band ever, and Reverend G's gee-tar playing is worth five stars alone. But, there are problems here.See, disc four is practically useless. There's way to much of the fairly lousy "Recycler" album represented, and the bonus cuts practically define "filler." Ordinarily, I'd just enjoy the first three discs and move on, but...WHERE THE HELL IS "BACKDOOR LOVE AFFAIR"?! WHERE'S "I NEED YOU TONIGHT"?! WHERE'S "DUST MY BROOM"?! Get my point? There are some genuine classics that are omitted here, and knowing that they padded disc four with mediocrities therefore really irks me.Otherwise, the packaging and music are stellar, and it really is PRACTICALLY all the ZZ Top you need. As it is, I'm certainly not selling my copies of "Deguello" or "Best of ZZ Top," and I must say that if Warner ever gets around to remastering the Top's first several albums (without all the late 80's retooling that practically ruined them), this set will go, and I'll be picking those up, pronto."
4 CD's Is Two Too Many
coalblacksky@hotmail.com | Tacoma, WA United States | 02/25/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As I've said for many years; the longer Billy Gibbons(guitar)and Dusty Hill's(bass) beards got, the worse their music got. So it comes as no surprise that anything the venerable group has done post 70's has not aged very well. Sure "Legs" and "Give Me All Your Lovin'" were cool in the 80's, but here, put up against classic riffs like "Just Got Paid" and "Fool For Your Stockings," they just don't measure up. I hate to say it, but who the hell gave Billy a synth? That one act brought the downfall of a once great rock band. Don't think so? Go back and listen to Top's smokin' version of "I Thank You" or the crazy "Manic Mechanic." They could burn your house down with their music alone. Material like that is why I gave it 4 stars. It's worth it just because of songs like "Waitin' For The Bus" and it's partner "Jesus Just Left Chicago." The best the 80's had to offer was "TV Dinners." Not much of a comparison. And don't even get me started about the "Recycler" era. Why Billy, why the synth? WHY?"
Chrome, Smoke, & BBQ will have to do for now
Christopher | Harrison, Arkansas | 06/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Chrome, Smoke, & BBQ" is ZZ Top's career-spanning box set, or at least the period they were with Warner Bros. This is a great set of tunes, and it is interesting to see them progress from album to album, song to song. And the sound is a hell of a lot better than what's on the albums. Man, those suck! I've only bought ZZ Top's post-WB cds, and I had "Eliminator" and "Afterburner", which weren't re-done for the dreaded "Six Pack", because they were released during that period. I was going to start on the old albums, figuring I would live with that sound. Then, this set came out, and I purchased it, and I won't touch the old albums until they are remastered. It just won't seem right. Now that they have ZZ's greatest songs sounding right, maybe Warner will get it together and remaster all of the old albums. ZZ also needs to stay away from the remixes. Why not put on "Dust My Broom" from "Deguello" or "Balinese" from "Fandango"? That would've been much better than the "Give It Up 2800 Mile Remix". Oh well, most of the material that is on this record is great, probably about 98%. This will just have to do for now. Until the remastered albums come out, THIS IS WORTH EVERY FREAKING PENNY! Long live the Reverend Billy G, the Dust Man, and the Beardless One!"
Track Listings (80) - Disc #1