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There is a difference from the original:
If you're like me and have every ZZ album already, and are sitting on the fence on whether to shell out the $ for this box, do yourself a favor and head over to itunes.com and listen to the songs. There is actually a pretty big difference in the remasters, especially the earlier stuff like Brown Sugar and Chevrolet, and in stuff from Degüello. The simple, straightforward tone of the remasters is what cinched the purchase for me. The unreleased stuff is there too for the listening. You decide. Also available from itunes.com, a legal download of the entire album for $20 less than this site.
Great collection:
Hey! the music's great. It's just that it's a lot of money for only a few songs I don't already have. Include the remixes and thats still only about as much material as there's on mescalerowhich is a lot cheaper. That said, it's a great collection showing the badn progress through the years and I think every album should be included because this set is not to cater for one person's personal preferences, it's to give you an overview of the band from 69-92. DOn't have a ZZ Top CD/record and would like to start a collection, start here and see which songs from which albums you like and then go and buy the album. If you want American blues, their album is on Amazon, just type in "American Blues" under the Popular music \oartists name\c heading and the result "Is here" is 9 songs from the American blues band, containing Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and I think Dusty's brother was the other member. The moving sidewalks are also on Amazon and three tracks appear on here.
Chrome, Smoke, & BBQ will have to do for now:
"Chrome, Smoke, & BBQ" is ZZ Top's career-spanning box set, or at least the period they were with Warner Bros. This is a great set of tunes, and it is interesting to see them progress from album to album, song to song. And the sound is a hell of a lot better than what's on the albums. Man, those suck! I've only bought ZZ Top's post-WB cds, and I had "Eliminator" and "Afterburner", which weren't re-done for the dreaded "Six Pack", because they were released during that period. I was going to start on the old albums, figuring I would live with that sound. Then, this set came out, and I purchased it, and I won't touch the old albums until they are remastered. It just won't seem right. Now that they have ZZ's greatest songs sounding right, maybe Warner will get it together and remaster all of the old albums. ZZ also needs to stay away from the remixes. Why not put on "Dust My Broom" from "Deguello" or "Balinese" from "Fandango"? That would've been much better than the "Give It Up 2800 Mile Remix". Oh well, most of the material that is on this record is great, probably about 98%. This will just have to do for now. Until the remastered albums come out, THIS IS WORTH EVERY FREAKING PENNY! Long live the Reverend Billy G, the Dust Man, and the Beardless One!
4 CD's Is Two Too Many:
As I've said for many years; the longer Billy Gibbons(guitar)and Dusty Hill's(bass) beards got, the worse their music got. So it comes as no surprise that anything the venerable group has done post 70's has not aged very well. Sure "Legs" and "Give Me All Your Lovin'" were cool in the 80's, but here, put up against classic riffs like "Just Got Paid" and "Fool For Your Stockings," they just don't measure up. I hate to say it, but who the hell gave Billy a synth? That one act brought the downfall of a once great rock band. Don't think so? Go back and listen to Top's smokin' version of "I Thank You" or the crazy "Manic Mechanic." They could burn your house down with their music alone. Material like that is why I gave it 4 stars. It's worth it just because of songs like "Waitin' For The Bus" and it's partner "Jesus Just Left Chicago." The best the 80's had to offer was "TV Dinners." Not much of a comparison. And don't even get me started about the "Recycler" era. Why Billy, why the synth? WHY?
"Limited Edition" box set vs. standard box set.....:
There are two box sets available for this Texas Top collection. I ordered the "limited edition" set which is an additional $18 after I looked on another site and read that the limited edition came with ZZ Top action figures which I thought might be fairly cool. After receiving my set I found out that the "action figures" are actually color paper cut outs of the band and a few things like BBQ Ribs and a picnic table, etc. So...the music is great with a few omissions that are detailed in other reviews. I just wanted people to know that the only difference between the limited edition and the standard set is color paper cut outs. If that is worth the additional pesos to you fine....after seeing them I really wish I hard ordered the other set. Great Jams though....
| Artist: | ZZ Top | | Binding: | Audio CD | | EAN: | 0081227393526 | | Format: | Best of | | Format: | Box set | | Format: | Limited Edition | | Number Of Discs: | 4 | | Original Release Date: | 2003-10-14 | | Release Date: | 2003-10-28 | | UPC: | 081227393526 |
Tracks:- You Make Me Shake - The Moving Sidewalks
- Joe Blues - The Moving Sidewalks
- Crimson Witch - The Moving Sidewalks
- Miller's Farm
- Salt Lick
- Brown Sugar
- Goin' Down to Mexico
- Just Got Back from Baby's
- Francine
- Just Got Paid
- Ko Ko Blue
- Chevrolet
- Bar-B-Q
- Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell
- Whiskey'n Mama
- La Grange
- Waitin' for the Bus
- Jesus Just Left Chicago
- Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
- Master of Sparks
- Precious and Grace
- Shiek
- Thunderbird
- Jailhouse Rock
- Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
- Heard It on the X
- Blue Jean Blues
- Mexican Blackbird
- Tush
- It's Only Love
- Arrested for Driving While Blind
- El Diablo
- Enjoy and Get It On
- She's a Heartbreaker
- Asleep in the Desert
- I Thank You
- Cheap Sunglasses
- I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
- Fool for Your Stockings
- Degüello Album Radio Spot
- Manic Mechanic
- She Loves My Automobile
- Leila
- Tube Snake Boogie
- I Wanna Drive You Home
- It's So Hard
- Pearl Necklace
- Heaven, Hell or Houston
- Gimme All Your Lovin
- Got Me Under Pressure
- TV Dinners
- Sharp Dressed Man
- Legs
- I Got the Six
- Dirty Dog
- If I Could Only Flag Her Down
- Sleeping Bag
- Stages
- Woke Up With Wood
- Rough Boy
- Can't Stop Rockin'
- Planet of Women
- Velcro Fly
- Delirious
- Concrete and Steel
- Lovething
- Penthouse Eyes
- My Head's in Mississippi
- Give It Up
- Doubleback
- Blues
- Reverberation (Doubt)
- Viva Las Vegas
- Gun Love
- Francine
- Cheap Sunglasses \oLive\c
- Legs \oDance Mix\c
- Viva Las Vegas \o12" Remix\c
- Give It Up \o2,800 Mile Remix\c
- Velcro Fly \o12" Remix\c
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