I POLLed It On The ILX! - ILM Artist Poll #110 - ZZ Top - Results Thread

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Not being familiar with Recycler I discovered this via the Rancho Texicano comp. When I saw them in 2019 it was one of the few non-mega-blockbuster hits in their setlist. It's not astoundingly great, but I like this return to their John Lee Hooker-isms a lot.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Monday, 4 October 2021 16:44 (two years ago) link

I think it being included on the '92 hits album (and all subsequent comps) really helped its staying power; it's also somewhat surprisingly become a Classic Rock radio staple of sorts. In the quoted interviews on wiki, Billy implies that working on it got the band functioning as a unit again in the studio.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 18:59 (two years ago) link

Recycler has a soft spot in my heart cuz I remember buying it when it came out with my own scratch at the time, "My Head's In Mississippi" is probably the best thing on it (the video for "Burger Man" aside)

chr1sb3singer, Monday, 4 October 2021 19:09 (two years ago) link

great pic!

sleeve, Monday, 4 October 2021 19:23 (two years ago) link

I like this but I don't think it made my ballot

sleeve, Monday, 4 October 2021 19:23 (two years ago) link

https://aquariumdrunkard.com/_newness/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/calexico.jpg

29. “Asleep In The Desert”
Tejas, 1976
79 Points (5 Votes)

The Track
Six Pack Version

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 19:47 (two years ago) link

yayyy I voted for this, a unique moment in their catalog

sleeve, Monday, 4 October 2021 19:49 (two years ago) link

Didn't vote for this as a track, but it was part of the reason why Tejas was my #1 album.

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 4 October 2021 19:57 (two years ago) link

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000603758956-65x3ed-t500x500.jpg

27. “I Got The Six”
Eliminator, 1983
82 Points (4 Votes)

The Track
Rehearsal/Demo Version (from Lindon Hudson's archives)

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 20:09 (two years ago) link

https://fffmovieposters.com/wp-content/uploads/53786.jpg

26. “Sleeping Bag”
Afterburner, 1985
83 Points (5 Votes)

Music Video
12-Inch Mix
Live 1991
I, Tonya scene

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 20:27 (two years ago) link

That "Sleeping Bag" 12-inch is fire.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 20:28 (two years ago) link

yes it is

sleeve, Monday, 4 October 2021 20:30 (two years ago) link

I know I mentioned this on the polling thread but the nod to “back in black” in the chorus is so choice.

poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Monday, 4 October 2021 20:54 (two years ago) link

oh wow a few that i voted for

"asleep in the desert" - beautiful tex-mex instrumental, and an ideal closer for their weirdest record
"ten dollar man" - rollicking I-bVII-IV banger with an amazing dusty vocal and some of my fav screeching gibbons guitar sounds (and hints of deguello-style slickness in the rhythm guitar). was my #3.
"i got the six" - another dusty banger and my highest-rated track from eliminator. love the bawdy single entendre of the chorus, and the driving drum machine. a buttrock anthem scrubbed to an immaculate sheen.

grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Monday, 4 October 2021 21:02 (two years ago) link

"Ten Dollar Man" was my #8, unusual in that the tone seems genuinely angry rather than their usual mode of detached amusement.

Thinking about Afterburner, what if it hadn't wound up being a New Jersey? Could ZZ Top ever have remained truly giant stars, or were there limitations to how popular they could have ever been?

Halfway there but for you, Monday, 4 October 2021 21:09 (two years ago) link

I recommend checking out that "I Got The Six" demo I linked to: it's from Hudson's own account and he includes some text screens explaining the behind the scenes work that went into Eliminator (plus his bitterness about getting fucked over). Wish there were (any) more of these tapes out there.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 21:15 (two years ago) link

just catching up and also created a playlist to listen along with this.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5TPUD7qltIYU86wQhcZtMY?si=339355471d444fe6
i think only one of my picks has shown up so far.

Thinking about Afterburner, what if it hadn't wound up being a New Jersey? Could ZZ Top ever have remained truly giant stars, or were there limitations to how popular they could have ever been?

I think the only way they could have pulled that off they would have to had 'pulled an Aerosmith' and brought in song doctors/outside producers etc. They were so hermetically sealed off by Bill Ham, and God help anybody coming in with their own outlook (just ask Lindon Hudson!).

Of course, five years between Afterburner and Recycler (and Recycler being what it is) didn't help.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 21:31 (two years ago) link

XP Thanks Spottie for doing the Spotify!

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 21:32 (two years ago) link

https://www.ghostofthedoll.co.uk/retromusings/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hanes-1954-LIFE-11-Jan-1954.jpg

25. “A Fool For Your Stockings”
Degüello, 1979
83 Points (4 Votes)

The Track
Live In Germany 1980 with bonus "Funky Dogs and Nasty Kings", which...

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 21:51 (two years ago) link

I ranked "Stockings" much higher, but that's okay. I don't actually think it's a particularly great song, just a groove I like a lot.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:05 (two years ago) link

Fun Trivia: "A Fool..." is other Classic Rock tune featured in the original version of SNL's "Schmidt's Gay" ad parody.

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:13 (two years ago) link

As seen here: https://vimeo.com/169759649

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:15 (two years ago) link

nasty dogs has a killer groove. love how its a short song that fades out for the last 30 seconds like its some epic

http://www.kitfoster.com/images/2009-12-9_58Peugeot403SeatsWeb-Large.jpg

23. “I Wanna Drive You Home”
El Loco, 1981
88 Points (4 Votes)

The Track

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:32 (two years ago) link

love "fool for your stockings," probably the slinkiest groove on an album where "listen to this slinky groove" is the name of the game

grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:34 (two years ago) link

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-35e2b3f7b2e54060f8f1b74b56c1a0b3

22. “Pearl Necklace”
El Loco, 1981
95 Points (5 Votes)

The Track

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:40 (two years ago) link

^The Day I Finally Learned What That Song Was Really About...That Was A DAY

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:41 (two years ago) link

now THAT'S my idea of a ZZ Top groove

sleeve, Monday, 4 October 2021 22:41 (two years ago) link

more zz stones, except this one is "shattered"

grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:46 (two years ago) link

...and that's it for today. Please enjoy this video of Billy Gibbons making Pumpkin Tamales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_aarHHSXl0

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 4 October 2021 22:59 (two years ago) link

Rhythm of “Pearl Necklace” is where I really hear the nod to Devo.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Monday, 4 October 2021 23:09 (two years ago) link

Nice graphics, Grisso!

pplains, Monday, 4 October 2021 23:28 (two years ago) link

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02365/dominatrix_2365548b.jpg

20. “Got Me Under Pressure”
Eliminator, 1983
119 Points (5 Votes, 1 #1)

The Track
Live On The Tube 1983
Live In Texas 2008

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 16:28 (two years ago) link

Too low! Maybe my favorite off Eliminator

intheblanks, Tuesday, 5 October 2021 17:23 (two years ago) link

Great song. Another where the intro sounds sorta Devo to me. Seems like I don't hear this one on classic rock radio, or at least not as often as "Legs" or "Sharp Dressed Man."

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 17:43 (two years ago) link

Even though the songwriting basically just paraphrases Fats Domino/Dave Bartholomew's "All By Myself", with a bit more added sexual innuendo, simply the sound of this makes me happy. One of my favorites. "Blow your top, blow your top!"

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:30 (two years ago) link

loving this rollout and these images <3

poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:37 (two years ago) link

fuck yeah

grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:43 (two years ago) link

nice to get a late career track on here

they should've covered more texas rap tracks. would die to hear billy gibbons croak out "ridin dirty"

grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:46 (two years ago) link

...or "Wanna Be A Baller"!

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:47 (two years ago) link

BTW, DJ DMD eventually went Born-Again, and this happened...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4X4NtcIzoA

Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 5 October 2021 18:48 (two years ago) link


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