Zz Top - Greatest Hits (18 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide.

Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 03/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's tough being an aging rock band in the pop world. At a certain point both fans and record company turn away from your music and focus on what's hot now. ZZ Top, I think, has suffered this fate. While they still continue to make good music, no one seems to be listening anymore. Fine. I still like them. I still buy their cds. This compilation is the only best of ZZ Top that's worth buying for now. They really should have two disc or three disc retrospective like The Cars have and ELO has. However, this one disc compiles some of their greatest 70's and 80's hits in one place with a couple of new songs for 1992, "Viva Las Vegas" and "Gun Love." At 18 tracks this is a nice buy. No extensive liner notes though. After 1992, ZZ Top released Antenna in 1994, which dropped the synthesizers and went back to hard rocking blues. Then they released 1996's Rhythmeen, which seemed like they were going for a more mud-swamp, mid-tempo hard rock blues. In 1999 they released XXX which finds them still rocking the blues but with a bit more fun like they had before 1990's Recycler. This Greatest Hits, however, is perfect for those wanting a sample. This is a must have for any rock collector."

The ZZ Top that I grew up with

Brad | CT | 01/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I understand that a lot of the long time ZZ Top fans feel that this collection missed a lot of the classic, older tracks. I feel the same way when I listen to something like Def Leppard's best of collection, as I feel that there is not enough focus on the early, hardest rocking stuff. But from my perspective (i.e. growing up listening to '80s music), this ZZ Top collection is just about right, as it has just about all of the songs by this band that I grew up listening to. My one real complaint about this collection is the remastering/remixing of such classics as "La Grange" and "Legs". Why do the artists and/or record companies believe that we would want anything different from the original versions on a greatest hits collection? I also would like to see the song "Stages" from the "Afterburner" album--as it was a mid-'80s radio favorite of mine. Overall, though, this collection rocks. From the crunching riffs of "Give Me All Your Lovin'" and "Got Me Under Pressure" to the classic '70s rock of "Tush" and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" to the more recent but still enjoyable "Doubleback" (from "Back To The Future II" sound track originally), this album gives a great taste of this classic blues-based rock band. Also enjoyable is the raunch of "Pearl Necklace" and "Tube Snake Boogie" as well as the rare slow ZZ Top track "Rough Boy"--also a mid-'80s favorite.In summary, this is a fine collection to get an overall taste of what this band was about in their prime. Definitely a recommended purchase for any '80s fans of the band and '70s fans of the band who still enjoyed them when they became popular later on."

Cool cars and fuzzy guitars!!

bb1975 | Jasper, Alabama United States | 05/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Texas trio, comprised of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard KNOW HOW TO ROCK! This is an absolutely fabulous hits collection. It really should've been a 2 disc set, because these guys have had so many great songs that it is impossible to cram them all into one disc. The 80's rolled around, and ZZ experimented with the new technology, fusing keyboards and synthesizers with their legendary blues rock, and it was a formula that absolutely worked. If you liked the 80's version of ZZ, then you'll love this CD! I love all of their music, 70's, 80's, 90's and beyond. My fav's are the cuts from the Eliminator and Afterburner albums. Absolute fav tracks are 'Sharp Dressed Man', 'Gimme All Your Lovin', 'My Heads In Mississippi, 'Rough Boy' and the 70's hit 'La Grange'. Some of my other favs are missing, songs like 'Velcro Fly', 'TV Dinners', 'Stages' and the original version of 'Legs'. The version of 'Legs' in this collection is the re-mixed version(but is still a great song). This is still a 5-star collection that is worthy to be at the top of your music collection. Another great CD to get is their greatest hits package from the 70's "The Best Of ZZ Top". These guys are just plain cool, and they know how to rock! If you don't have it, my advice to you is get it ASAP! ROCK ON!!"

***1/2 - pretty good

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 08/08/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Well, the music is better than "pretty good". ZZ Top's tough blues n' boogie is here a-plenty, but there are a few minor songs here, too many MTV-era pop-rock numbers and not enough of their gritty 70s material for my taste.

I know, it's called "Greatest Hits", so if you only want the hits, I suppose it's all fine and good. But I'd go for the new double-disc anthology "Rancho Texicano" instead if I was looking for my first ZZ Top purchase...that one paints a much more complete picture of the little ol' band from Texas."

TOPS 'N FLOPS

Jukebox Dave | RECORD TOWN, USA | 10/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Originally "That Li'l Ol Band From Texas" was a greasy power trio steeped deep in gutbucket southern blues rock which served them and their legions of fans admirably. Then, dependin' on how you look at it (or hear it), disaster struck. That infernal curse of rock and roll, the dreaded synthesizer, crept into and began to dominate their sound, starting with the mega-selling ELIMINATOR (the album with the red hotrod logo, that, along with shades, gyrating "Top-ettes", and Rip Van Winkle beards, has become their schtick in trade ever since). If any or all elements of this MTV makeover appalls the RNB purist in you, then pick up a copy of THE BEST OF ZZ TOP, crank up TUSH, LA GRANGE, AND BEER DRINKERS AND HELL RAISERS, and pretend the band called it quits in 1982. Otherwise, read on: GREATEST HITS offers SHARP DRESSED MAN, and GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN', the best of their musical metamorphesis, while SLEEPING BAG and DOUBLEBACK (the latter sounds like EXACTLY what they did on this cannibalization of their big 80's hits) represents the nadir. Much more of a hoot (read: bluesier/grittier) are the previously mentioned booty ode TUSH, the chug-fest LA GRANGE (John Lee Hooker even sued 'em for rippin' off his riffs on that one), and the funky fashion statement CHEAP SUNGLASSES. Why the threesome's crunchy cover of SAM AND DAVE's soul wailer I THANK YOU is missing from the lineup is a mystery for the ages. A new version of VIVA LAS VEGAS, complete with Elvis soundbites, is either good or awful, depending on your tolerance for such stuff. In short, if you like your ZZ over the Top, GREATEST HITS is a no-brainer. RATING: THREE BEARDS"

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