Monday, September 2, 2013

It's Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday (Best Of)

Hey Yo:

School started last week...  And that means I was way too busy to participate last week.  My Loss!!!  :-(  This week, things have slowed down just a bit and that makes me very happy because the "Theme" this week is the one I have been waiting on.  Pick a Band, any Band, and create a "Best Of Playlist."  Well, I'm from Texas, and that means...

As usual, our "Hostess with the Mostess" is Jen from My Skewed View...  And her 'Right Hand Man (Girl)" (That would be Co-Host) is Kristi from Finding Ninee...  This should be just flat out awesome this week, so I hope you will click on their Links and check out some AMAZING 'Best Of' Mix Tape's from ALL the other participants as well.

   
Back in 1969, three guys came together and formed a Band.  They would call themselves ZZ Top.  Billy, Dusty, and Frank.  Billy and Frank were from the Houston area and Dusty was from Dallas.  As I type this, they are on Tour, still intact, some 44 years later.  No feuds, no controversy (to speak of)...  just some really good, consistent, music through the years.  Their 'signature,' if you will, aside from their music, are the beards on Billy and Dusty.  In 1977, they took a break.  When they came back from that extended break, Billy & Dusty had each grown chest length beards.  Unbeknownst to each other, as the story goes.  And Frank...  well, his last name is Beard.  Ha!!! They released their first album in 1971, and then a second in 1972. 

In 1973, they released their 3rd album and it was that album, Tres Hombres, that would put them on the Rock Map.  Their song from that album, La Grange, about a Brothel in that tee-tiny town in Texas, would be one of their biggest and best.  We've heard it a ga-zillion times.  So, it (maybe) did not make my list.  But, when you think of ZZ Top, you think of La Grange and the line from it that Billy sings: "They got a lot of nice girls, ah."  lol

In 2004, Keith Richards, from the Rolling Stones, introduced ZZ Top, as they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  I hope you will enjoy these next few tunes with me.  These are some of my favorites...

#1:  I remember the very 1st time I heard the opening guitar on this tune.  To this day, it is still one of my favorites.  From Tres Hombres in 1973,  Waitin' For The Bus.  Enjoy...  (source)


#2:  From their 2nd album in 1972, Rio Grande Mud, a catchy little tune.  Everybody likes to get paid, right???  Just Got Paid.  Enjoy...  (source)


#3:  The next three Tune's come from the 1975 Album release of Fandango.  This one, a light hearted tune about a 'Senorita' that likes to get paid.  Mexican Blackbird.  Enjoy...  (source)

   


#4:  Next up:  Heard it On The X.  Enjoy...  (source)


#5:  Also from Fandango, a huge fave:  Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.  Enjoy...  (source)


#6:  Next up:  From the Deguello Album in 1979, A Fool For Your Stockings.  Enjoy this Live Version...  (source)


And finally, I'm going to jump to 2003.  There were two releases in that year.  One was a 4 Disk "Collection" of all their top tunes called Chrome Smoke & B-B-Q.  If you are a ZZ Top fan, you have that "Book."  I do...  See Below:

My Book...
Complete with 4 CD's, a Small Book on Their History, & a Flip Book (Ha!!!)

The second release that year, 2003, was one of my fave's!!!  See #7...

#7:  From the CD, Mescalero, my favorite tune of several good ones, What It Is Kid.  Enjoy... (source)


OK...  Up above, I said I would (maybe) not include La Grange on my list.  Until I found this clip below.  It is a 'snippet' of the tune with some commentary by Eric Clapton.  I hope you will give it a listen...  Bonus #8:  (source)


And that would be my Best Of "That Little Ole Band From Texas."  I so enjoyed putting this together.  I truly hope you enjoyed it as well.  Please head over to Jen's for Mix Tape #23 at My Skewed View... to catch the other "Best Of's" on the list.

 
Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see ya back on Happy Friday.  Til Then...

Be safe, be smart, and always show your Smile

adios...  vaya con dios

22 comments:

  1. That was an education for me - I only know ZZ Top from the eighties and MTV (I'm sure you are cringing right now). It was cool to hear some of their other music - I didn't realize they've been around for so long!

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    1. Thanks Dana... I'm smiling. Glad you got to enjoy some of their other stuff.

      So appreciate you stopping by, Slu

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  2. I was at a bar in Houston one night in the mid 70's... Billy was there and through a series of events the genesis of 'Arrested For Driving While Blind" took place around 3:30 AM.

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    1. Now, I would love to hear that story sometime... Ha!!!

      Thanks for checking in, Slu

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  3. WHOA Slu, I had NO flippin' idea there were so many ZZ Top songs. La Grange is a classic, pure and simple. I'm partial to Sharp Dressed Man myself. Now I'm happily gonna be jammin' all day!

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    1. Yo Debster... Makes me smile!!! Enjoy your day jammin'.

      Glad you stopped by, Slu



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  4. 'Waitin for the Bus/Jesus just left Chicago' damn what a complete and near perfect song. ( and found the 'other part' of the song... what a cool break into the blues of "...left Chicago").

    your 'little ole band from Texas' have had such a consistent level of smile inducing music.

    love them guys.

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    1. My Man... Very cool mix. I just thought it might be too long for what I had planned. I'm so glad you like these guys. I remember you had one of their tunes early on.

      Thanks so much for the visit, Slu

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  5. I liked ZZ Top before but TOTALLY didn't know any of these. Mexican Blackbird is amaaaaaaazing. And the guitar at the beginning of 'Just got paid' is stunning. Thanks for sharing these :)

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    1. Welcome... So glad you got to hear some new stuff. Makes me smile.

      Very happy that you stopped by, Slu

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  6. I love that book you have. To me, books like that are the downside to easily being able to download music from anywhere these days. That eventually, they'll probably stop making them altogether is just sad. And holy cow wow, Slu! I haven't even heard of half of these ZZ Top songs! Most excellent list!

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    1. Thanks Kristi!!! Ha... My "book" is special. Glad you got to hear new stuff as well.

      Appreciate it, Slu

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  7. Have you ever heard the Queen Bee Barbecue tapes that Billy Gibbons used to make? Hilarious! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM6O81YG5u0
    Cool mix Slu!

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    1. Thanks Linda... I will check out that Link. I have not heard those.

      Glad you stopped by, Slu

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  8. Usually I listen to just the first couple of lines from the songs people post (don't tell anyone) but I have a lot of tweeting, pinteresting, commenting to do you know! Trying to make sure everyone gets some love! But I found myself listening to every one of these songs. Sometimes you forget how many of your favorite songs are actually from one band. You know? Love this list Slu! Especially that last bonus! I love the term Musical Scholar! I hope one day someone might maybe call me that...

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    1. Thanks so much Jen... You have put a smile on my mug. And I so hope you can one day hear those words directed your way.

      Very much appreciate your visit, Slu

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  9. Wow ZZ! Nice! I especially love that you selected more of their non-mainstream songs! La Grange is probably my favorite on your list! Great job!

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    1. Thanks Darla... I so loved putting this together. Glad you enjoyed.

      Thanks for stopping by, Slu

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  10. Like Dana, you filled my head with musical knowledge I didn't have at the beginning - I never realized there was so much to these guys. Thanks for the edumacation, Slu!

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  11. TP... So glad you stopped by. And I'm very happy that you left with maybe a slight smile. Always what I'm shooting for, Slu

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  12. Ohhh you picked one if my faves and got me reminiscing again...ZZ TOP!!! YEAH!!!!

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