ZZ Top's First Album

ZZ Top's First Album is the debut studio album by American rock band ZZ Top. It was produced by Bill Ham, and released in January 1971, on London Records. Establishing ZZ Top's attitude and humor, the album incorporates styles such as blues, boogie, hard rock, and Southern rock influences. Thematically, the album is about personal experiences and sexual innuendos. "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" was the only single released from the album.

ZZ Top's First Album
Studio album by
ZZ Top
ReleasedJanuary 1971
RecordedJune–October 1970
StudioRobin Hood Studios, Tyler, Texas
GenreBlues rock[1][2]
Length35:16
LabelLondon
ProducerBill Ham
ZZ Top chronology
ZZ Top's First Album
(1971)		 Rio Grande Mud
(1972)
Singles from ZZ Top's First Album
  1. "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree"
    Released: January 1971

Background, recording and release

The album was recorded at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas. ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons said:

We called the record ZZ Top's First Album because we wanted everyone to know that there would be more. We weren't certain if we'd get another chance in the studio, but we had high hopes.[3]

The only single released from the album was "(Somebody Else Been) Shakin' Your Tree" (backed with "Neighbor, Neighbor") on London Records (release number 45-138). It failed to appear on the Billboard charts.

In 1987, the album was remixed for CD release. In 2013, the original vinyl mix was released on HD Tracks in high-resolution digital download formats.[4] 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).[5] In October 2017 a 180 gram vinyl edition of the album was released, using the original mix.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]

AllMusic retrospectively gave it 3 stars, stating: "ZZ Top's First Album may not be perfectly polished, but it does establish their sound, attitude, and quirks."[1]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree"Billy Gibbons2:32
2."Brown Sugar"Gibbons5:22
3."Squank"Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Bill Ham2:46
4."Goin' Down to Mexico"Gibbons, Hill, Ham3:26
5."Old Man"Gibbons, Hill, Frank Beard3:23
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Neighbor, Neighbor"Gibbons2:18
2."Certified Blues"Gibbons, Beard, Ham3:25
3."Bedroom Thang"Gibbons4:37
4."Just Got Back from Baby's"Gibbons, Ham4:07
5."Backdoor Love Affair"Gibbons, Ham3:20
Total length:35:16

Personnel

ZZ Top

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

Production

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ZZ Top's First Album review allmusic.com. Retrieved on 24 May 2011.
  2. "How ZZ Top's First Album Established An Unbeatable Blues-Rock Blueprint". Dig!. January 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. Bosso, Joe (4 June 2013). "Billy Gibbons talks ZZ Top: The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990)". MusicRadar.
  4. "Homepage – HDtracks – The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads".
  5. Gallucci, Michael. "New ZZ Top Box Will Include Original Mixes of First 10 Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  6. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ZZ Top". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 907-8. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
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