Awesome writing Kevin! Deguello was the first ZZ Top album that got my attention, and they were a top three favorite band of mine through high school. I remember buying actual cheap sunglasses because THEY made them cool. My friend Danny even wrote a silly song called ‘Ten Cent Cigar’ in the same vein. We were all in for that trio. ✌️
Love this piece, Kevin. Deguello was my introduction to ZZ Top, via Chicago's WLUP which played the hell out of about half of its tracks in early 1980 - and I definitely bought some cheap sunglasses on Billy's say-so. While I agree that the album was indeed a preview of what was to come with Eliminator/Afterburner, I think in retrospect that 1976's Tejas was the trio's first big step in that direction; they were already experimenting with state-of-the-art studio technology by that point, but punk and new wave hadn't yet come along to help them refine their vision. I'll also be pedantic and note that while "I Thank You" was their first cover on a studio album, they did cover songs by other artists on the live side of 1975's Fandango, including "Jailhouse Rock".
A "pitch shifter"? Was that the grandfather of AutoTune?
Sorry to say I'm not entirely familiar with the lil' ol' band's catalogue, but I know that they were a lot more than just "La Grange", "Legs" and "Tush"...
Check out their 1st album, appropriately named 'First Album.' "Brown Sugar" is one of the greatest heroin songs ever written. It's certainly the thickest and grooviest.
Something else happened to ZZ Top between Deguello and Eliminator and their incorporation of electronics during the 80s. When you watch pre-80s live performances, ZZ top didn't have their signature side-to-side moves that were ever present in the Eliminator videos and in 80s live shows. Apparently during a stop off in Europe to play an Old Grey Whistle Test show, ZZ Top and OMD were on the same show and ZZ Top were so impressed with OMD's live playing and Andrew McCluskey's dance moves that ZZ Top started actually moving on stage. Here's the spot in the OMD documentary where Andrew mentions the ZZ Top autobiography. https://youtu.be/LyYaWD3DWIU?si=Q8mTNQk5FFnCVqnR&t=1179
And here's an 82 clip of La Grange and the emerging OMD inspired stage moves.
I'm not allowed to publicly dislike a ZZ Top song or they take away my Texas creds. I think what works on this album works so well that it spackles right over that which does not work at all. Not my favorite Top album but a far cry from my least favorite.
I like 'Degüello,' but it's not my favorite of theirs (that would be their 1st LP with its thick blues boogie); however, as others have pointed out, it may have been their first album I heard. I remember also hearing 'La Grange' probably around the same time from a friend's older brother. At the time, I didn't know the borrowed/stolen/appropriated John Lee Hooker riff, and I thought it was the coolest guitar hook ever.
The one thing I don't like about 'Eliminator' and the band's success in the 1980s is the departure from the principles they established on the debut LP, which they explicitly mention in the liner notes on the back cover. They even went as far as remixing the early LPs with the 1980s trend of echo on the drums to capitalize on the popularity of 'Eliminator.'
I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard too. And thanks for bringing up Eliminator's liner notes. I have that record, but somehow missed that entire part. Gonna go back and check it out now. For my money, Afterburner was the one that took it just a bit too far. I liked it well enough, but there was just a bit too much sheen on it.
The liner notes I was referring to are those on the back of the 1st LP, which state, "In this day of homogenized rock, synthesized music, retakes, overdubbing, multi-tracking, an honest recording by accomplished musicians is a rewarding pleasure. ZZ Top's First Album is just such a recording."
By the time they hit gold with 'Eliminator' and then subsequently remixed their entire back catalog with '80s trends (in particular the drum echo that was very popular in the 1980s), they kinda went back on the mission statement of their earlier records.
Had been familiar with Tres Hombres from my teenage years, and then of course the AOR hits--of which "Manic Mechanic" was a minor one, and which I'd always liked exactly *because* it got away from their sound a little bit--- but only heard Deguello all the way through recently, when I bought the ten-disc box. It's interesting to me that while the album definitely portends the new direction they'd take with Eliminator, they also made sure to include a Robert Johnson cover..
Loved BGP2's story about them learning some moves after Billy saw Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Hadn't been familiar with that, but I remember reading how Billy went to a Depeche Mode show. DM aren't my band, but that Billy Gibbons was into 'em--I thought that was cool as shit.
It's in my top 3 of ZZ Top albums. I love how "Lowdown in the Street" calls out the members of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and just every moment on this album is pure badassery at its Texas finest.
Awesome writing Kevin! Deguello was the first ZZ Top album that got my attention, and they were a top three favorite band of mine through high school. I remember buying actual cheap sunglasses because THEY made them cool. My friend Danny even wrote a silly song called ‘Ten Cent Cigar’ in the same vein. We were all in for that trio. ✌️
Thank you, Scott! I was "all in" for them as well.
That album always reminds me of my dad. An absolute classic and listen to it frequently to this day.
Right on! A classic for sure.
BTW, I’m in De Pere. If you’re ever up this way, let’s get a beer
Sounds good & thank you! It's a deal!
Love this piece, Kevin. Deguello was my introduction to ZZ Top, via Chicago's WLUP which played the hell out of about half of its tracks in early 1980 - and I definitely bought some cheap sunglasses on Billy's say-so. While I agree that the album was indeed a preview of what was to come with Eliminator/Afterburner, I think in retrospect that 1976's Tejas was the trio's first big step in that direction; they were already experimenting with state-of-the-art studio technology by that point, but punk and new wave hadn't yet come along to help them refine their vision. I'll also be pedantic and note that while "I Thank You" was their first cover on a studio album, they did cover songs by other artists on the live side of 1975's Fandango, including "Jailhouse Rock".
Thank you, Dan! And fair point about Tejas. As for Jailhouse Rock, that's a great point as well, and my kind of pedantry. :)
A "pitch shifter"? Was that the grandfather of AutoTune?
Sorry to say I'm not entirely familiar with the lil' ol' band's catalogue, but I know that they were a lot more than just "La Grange", "Legs" and "Tush"...
Check out their 1st album, appropriately named 'First Album.' "Brown Sugar" is one of the greatest heroin songs ever written. It's certainly the thickest and grooviest.
Yes!
This is a great rec. Michael!
They certainly were!
Something else happened to ZZ Top between Deguello and Eliminator and their incorporation of electronics during the 80s. When you watch pre-80s live performances, ZZ top didn't have their signature side-to-side moves that were ever present in the Eliminator videos and in 80s live shows. Apparently during a stop off in Europe to play an Old Grey Whistle Test show, ZZ Top and OMD were on the same show and ZZ Top were so impressed with OMD's live playing and Andrew McCluskey's dance moves that ZZ Top started actually moving on stage. Here's the spot in the OMD documentary where Andrew mentions the ZZ Top autobiography. https://youtu.be/LyYaWD3DWIU?si=Q8mTNQk5FFnCVqnR&t=1179
And here's an 82 clip of La Grange and the emerging OMD inspired stage moves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1xO44FlME
This is great! Thank you for both links!
Nice piece. Thanks for reintroducing me to ZZ and the deep trx!
Of course! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I'm not allowed to publicly dislike a ZZ Top song or they take away my Texas creds. I think what works on this album works so well that it spackles right over that which does not work at all. Not my favorite Top album but a far cry from my least favorite.
Nothing wrong with any of that! We like what we like, right?
I was deep in the heart of punk and post-punk when this came out but I never complained when Cheap Sunglasses played on the radio! Great stuff, Kevin.
Thank you, Jeremy!
You've got me along for the ride. I'm here at an Air BnB, stuck on my laptop for the next hour plus. Launching that time with this album right now.
Hopefully, it helped make the time go by a little quicker!
Yes! I went back and listened to their first two albums immediately afterward. Thanks for the inspiratu!
I didn't get into ZZ Top until Eliminator. The only song I am familiar with on Deguello is "Cheap Sunglasses"
I think a lot of us found the band through Eliminator (and the videos from it). Hopefully, you found a couple of new songs you like here.
Great album, we used to play A fool for your stockings with my first band. That guitar solo is so simple and soulful, it's just perfect.
I love it!
I like 'Degüello,' but it's not my favorite of theirs (that would be their 1st LP with its thick blues boogie); however, as others have pointed out, it may have been their first album I heard. I remember also hearing 'La Grange' probably around the same time from a friend's older brother. At the time, I didn't know the borrowed/stolen/appropriated John Lee Hooker riff, and I thought it was the coolest guitar hook ever.
The one thing I don't like about 'Eliminator' and the band's success in the 1980s is the departure from the principles they established on the debut LP, which they explicitly mention in the liner notes on the back cover. They even went as far as remixing the early LPs with the 1980s trend of echo on the drums to capitalize on the popularity of 'Eliminator.'
I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard too. And thanks for bringing up Eliminator's liner notes. I have that record, but somehow missed that entire part. Gonna go back and check it out now. For my money, Afterburner was the one that took it just a bit too far. I liked it well enough, but there was just a bit too much sheen on it.
The liner notes I was referring to are those on the back of the 1st LP, which state, "In this day of homogenized rock, synthesized music, retakes, overdubbing, multi-tracking, an honest recording by accomplished musicians is a rewarding pleasure. ZZ Top's First Album is just such a recording."
By the time they hit gold with 'Eliminator' and then subsequently remixed their entire back catalog with '80s trends (in particular the drum echo that was very popular in the 1980s), they kinda went back on the mission statement of their earlier records.
Ah. Gotcha! That would explain why I hadn’t seen them.
Had been familiar with Tres Hombres from my teenage years, and then of course the AOR hits--of which "Manic Mechanic" was a minor one, and which I'd always liked exactly *because* it got away from their sound a little bit--- but only heard Deguello all the way through recently, when I bought the ten-disc box. It's interesting to me that while the album definitely portends the new direction they'd take with Eliminator, they also made sure to include a Robert Johnson cover..
Loved BGP2's story about them learning some moves after Billy saw Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Hadn't been familiar with that, but I remember reading how Billy went to a Depeche Mode show. DM aren't my band, but that Billy Gibbons was into 'em--I thought that was cool as shit.
If I can be forgiven some self promotion, those who liked this post might dig a post I wrote about ZZ's boppin' "Heard it on the X": https://lahistoriadelamusicarock.substack.com/p/zz-top-heard-it-on-the-x-from-the
It's in my top 3 of ZZ Top albums. I love how "Lowdown in the Street" calls out the members of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and just every moment on this album is pure badassery at its Texas finest.
Pure badassery is the perfect description!
I'd just like to point out how Texan the Deguello album title is.
It was allegedly the bugle call Santa Anna had played at the beginning of the Alamo siege. It signified that no prisoners would be taken.
And every Texas middle school student has been taught that little factoid since the '50s, if not earlier.
Thanks for that! I had no idea about that backstory.