Classic Rock Album of the Day- ZZ Top- Rio Grande Mud (1972) ****
Hearing a cut from this one from my Classic Rock station gave me a little inspiration to cover what is "what and when" most of Texans were introduced to the Top. As a Texan, I might be a tad biased on the level of importance that this album and band has on the history of rock. The point that Gibbons impressed Hendrix while jamming should give one all the info they need to understand the love for this group.
I have previously covered my two favorites (Tres' Hombres and Eliminator), but don't fret .....this particular album is a fingernail less great. There are few weakness on this LP, and maybe, and only maybe why I rate this one just a tiny bit less is that I consider myself a Rocker more than a Blues guy. I can easily see how many Top fans can see this one as their favorite, as the blues is more evident and entrenched, but no less awesome. You often don't consider Texas an epicenter of blues, but when you realize this is the home of Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, and SRV........ A pretty decent case can be made.
Mud is as good as it gets, but does suffer very slightly to production values. Suffer? Well, maybe that should be a reverse. The gritty, slightly more tinny sound might be more a an aura of charm than quality. For those not from Texas, it would be hard on any given day, not to hear a ZZ Top tune blaring from someone's 8-Track in their Truck. While drinking warm cheap Lone Star of course. Top and the early to mid 1970's were ubiquitous in our Texas environment. Beer Drinking and Hell Raising while cruising is Texas 101.
And a really tall assumption. I'd guess that 9 in 10 Texans who considered themselves rockers have seen ZZ Top in concert. These guys were tireless live performers. The best man in my wedding was somewhat older than me, but he played guitar in a local band at a local bar, and when late '60's Top came to town he and his band functioned as roadies to the Top, and he often got to jam with them. What tales he told, and said these guys were the nicest, most congenial guys, you'll ever see. Loved to hear those old stories.
As far as Mud, again to those not familiar with this band, their history started as Moving Sidewalks, who really put their line into a strong blues style, as was their first few LP's as ZZ Top. By Tres' Hombres, that style morphed (slightly) into a more rock/blues focused effort. That continued until Eliminator, when they became huge on the same somewhat style, but tad more hooked. And though we are still sad about Dusty Hill's death. Billy and Frank are still rocking with a box of cheap sunglasses on hand. Haw Haw Haw!!!!!!!
Fun Fact: LP only charted to #104. WTF?
Side 1-
-----------
Francine- Top's first charting tune... Only No. 69.
Very crisp and highly rocking slant to a band that busted its chops mostly on the blues side of life. Top really didn't utilize much hook in their first LP, or their Moving Sidewalks day, so I think you are seeing some nice and needed guidance from their producer Bill Ham. Thanks Bill. 2
Just Got Paid- One of those great great Top tunes that just defined their status as rock heros. Even today, this song rings so true, in the vein of the poor and impoverished. This is one of my favorites of how Dusty/Frank so masterfully augment their rhythm lines so perfectly to produce an early 1970's rock song of the ages. The true gem of this LP 1
Mushmouth Shoutin'- The purest bluez number on the LP, that shouts out to the old Mississippi Delta blues styles. Great tune, but not in my wheelhouse. 8
Ko Ko Blue- Another really decent decent rocker that brings back the memories. Where's my Lonestar man....... 4
Chevrolet- A mishmash, smashup of blues and rock that has very nice bass/guitar interplay midway. More of an example of how consistently good this album is. 5
Side 2-
------------
Apologies to Pearly- Instrumental, though that has that standard blues Gibbons excellence, is just not top tier. No No No... not filler, just a lesser song on a really good album. 9
Bar-B-Q- See above. Though not an instrumental. 6
Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell- I might piss off a few other Top fans, but this is my sleeper entry on this LP. Reason?, this one by far is my favorite of theirs that is fully blues based. Great bluez that has enormous power and feeling. In fact the only pure blues ZZ Top number on my playlist. It's that good. 3
Whisky 'n Mama- Got's that typical Top sound and feel. Another strong consistent one that is the hallmark of what is top tier effort. I remember me and my friends thinking in the day that a Top 8-Track was always a good choice, because of that "lack of filler". You could drive from Houston to Beaumont with 2 rounds of this one in the 8-track. 7
Down Brownie- Weakest cut on a bad ass album. 10
Hearing a cut from this one from my Classic Rock station gave me a little inspiration to cover what is "what and when" most of Texans were introduced to the Top. As a Texan, I might be a tad biased on the level of importance that this album and band has on the history of rock. The point that Gibbons impressed Hendrix while jamming should give one all the info they need to understand the love for this group.
I have previously covered my two favorites (Tres' Hombres and Eliminator), but don't fret .....this particular album is a fingernail less great. There are few weakness on this LP, and maybe, and only maybe why I rate this one just a tiny bit less is that I consider myself a Rocker more than a Blues guy. I can easily see how many Top fans can see this one as their favorite, as the blues is more evident and entrenched, but no less awesome. You often don't consider Texas an epicenter of blues, but when you realize this is the home of Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, and SRV........ A pretty decent case can be made.
Mud is as good as it gets, but does suffer very slightly to production values. Suffer? Well, maybe that should be a reverse. The gritty, slightly more tinny sound might be more a an aura of charm than quality. For those not from Texas, it would be hard on any given day, not to hear a ZZ Top tune blaring from someone's 8-Track in their Truck. While drinking warm cheap Lone Star of course. Top and the early to mid 1970's were ubiquitous in our Texas environment. Beer Drinking and Hell Raising while cruising is Texas 101.
And a really tall assumption. I'd guess that 9 in 10 Texans who considered themselves rockers have seen ZZ Top in concert. These guys were tireless live performers. The best man in my wedding was somewhat older than me, but he played guitar in a local band at a local bar, and when late '60's Top came to town he and his band functioned as roadies to the Top, and he often got to jam with them. What tales he told, and said these guys were the nicest, most congenial guys, you'll ever see. Loved to hear those old stories.
As far as Mud, again to those not familiar with this band, their history started as Moving Sidewalks, who really put their line into a strong blues style, as was their first few LP's as ZZ Top. By Tres' Hombres, that style morphed (slightly) into a more rock/blues focused effort. That continued until Eliminator, when they became huge on the same somewhat style, but tad more hooked. And though we are still sad about Dusty Hill's death. Billy and Frank are still rocking with a box of cheap sunglasses on hand. Haw Haw Haw!!!!!!!
Fun Fact: LP only charted to #104. WTF?
Side 1-
-----------
Francine- Top's first charting tune... Only No. 69.
Very crisp and highly rocking slant to a band that busted its chops mostly on the blues side of life. Top really didn't utilize much hook in their first LP, or their Moving Sidewalks day, so I think you are seeing some nice and needed guidance from their producer Bill Ham. Thanks Bill. 2Just Got Paid- One of those great great Top tunes that just defined their status as rock heros. Even today, this song rings so true, in the vein of the poor and impoverished. This is one of my favorites of how Dusty/Frank so masterfully augment their rhythm lines so perfectly to produce an early 1970's rock song of the ages. The true gem of this LP 1
Mushmouth Shoutin'- The purest bluez number on the LP, that shouts out to the old Mississippi Delta blues styles. Great tune, but not in my wheelhouse. 8
Ko Ko Blue- Another really decent decent rocker that brings back the memories. Where's my Lonestar man....... 4
Chevrolet- A mishmash, smashup of blues and rock that has very nice bass/guitar interplay midway. More of an example of how consistently good this album is. 5
Side 2-
------------
Apologies to Pearly- Instrumental, though that has that standard blues Gibbons excellence, is just not top tier. No No No... not filler, just a lesser song on a really good album. 9
Bar-B-Q- See above. Though not an instrumental. 6
Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell- I might piss off a few other Top fans, but this is my sleeper entry on this LP. Reason?, this one by far is my favorite of theirs that is fully blues based. Great bluez that has enormous power and feeling. In fact the only pure blues ZZ Top number on my playlist. It's that good. 3
Whisky 'n Mama- Got's that typical Top sound and feel. Another strong consistent one that is the hallmark of what is top tier effort. I remember me and my friends thinking in the day that a Top 8-Track was always a good choice, because of that "lack of filler". You could drive from Houston to Beaumont with 2 rounds of this one in the 8-track. 7
Down Brownie- Weakest cut on a bad ass album. 10
