ZZ Top's First Album

ZZ Top's First Album
Studio album by ZZ Top
Released	January 16, 1971
Recorded	1970 at Robin Hood Studios, Tyler, Texas
Genre	Texas blues, Southern rock, blues rock, boogie rock, hard rock
Length	35:16
Label	London
Producer	Bill Ham
ZZ Top chronology
ZZ Top's First Album (1971) Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Singles from ZZ Top's First Album
"(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" Released: 1971

ZZ Top's First Album is the first studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was produced by manager Bill Ham, and was released on January 16, 1971, on London Records. Establishing their attitude and humor, ZZ Top incorporated boogie, hard rock, heavy metal and Southern rock influences into their sound. Thematically, the album is lively, playful and at times brash, filled with the band's personal experiences and sexual innuendos that became central to the group's image. Seeking inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top began recording the album at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas. Only one single was released from the album and failed to appear on the Billboard charts.

In 1987, this album was remixed for CD release. In 2013, the original vinyl mix was released on HD Tracks in high-resolution digital download formats.^[1] The original mix of the album was released on CD in June 2013 as part of the box set The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990).^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]

AllMusic gave it 3 stars, stating: "ZZ Top's First Album may not be perfectly polished, but it does establish their sound, attitude, and quirks."^[3]

Singles

The only single released from the album was "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" (b/w "Neighbor, Neighbor") on London Records (release number 45-138).

Track listing

Side 1

1. "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree" (Billy Gibbons) – 2:32
2. "Brown Sugar" (Gibbons) – 5:22
3. "Squank" (Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Bill Ham) – 2:46
4. "Goin' Down to Mexico" (Gibbons, Hill, Ham) – 3:26
5. "Old Man" (Gibbons, Hill, Frank Beard) – 3:23

Side 2

1. "Neighbor, Neighbor" (Gibbons) – 2:18
2. "Certified Blues" (Gibbons, Beard, Ham) – 3:25
3. "Bedroom Thang" (Gibbons) – 4:37
4. "Just Got Back from Baby's" (Gibbons, Ham) – 4:07
5. "Backdoor Love Affair" (Gibbons, Ham) – 3:20

Personnel

• Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals
• Dusty Hill – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Goin' Down to Mexico", co-lead vocal on "Squank"
• Frank Beard – drums, percussion (credited as "Rube Beard")

Production

• Producer – Bill Ham

References

1. https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=artistdetail&id=10702
2. Gallucci, Michael. "New ZZ Top Box Will Include Original Mixes of First 10 Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ZZ Top's First Album review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 24 May 2011.