A peter Green Reference,&'I'm so glad ref.0n one page I can dig that, You have either done your homework, or you're old like I am (65). Rev. Willy can sling it. GREAT guitarist, can play rings around most players today. For all you young turks, Ya Gotta Have ROOTS....Go Back & get ya some
Texas has the biggest and best found... It is hotter than hell in the summer and colder than a witches ti@%& in the winter. Top is the best listening music anywhere!!!
There's a bit of 'I'm So Glad' by Cream woven in just before the 7 minute mark. Would love to have seen ZZ in those days...have only caught them once, in London about six or seven years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever seen. Three guys, a drum riser, some instruments, a couple of hats. Not a lot else. Hope the new album is the return to the old stuff Billy's been hinting at.
Very nice intro... Reverend Willie G is one of the most talented blues players of all time. I've seen that lil ol band from Texas 6 times... Early 70's first time. Love em. Great vid toejamm
To be clear- Rev W is a genius-he influenced Clapton- hung with Jimi- and was inducted to the hall by Keith.
Further to that in the 80's he was influenced by electronic sounds-which he brought to the mainstream- which revolutionized guitar effects. For the record when ZZ Top toured Eliminator they turned a whole lot of younger fans onto to Texas Blues- and blues music in general. Bro not even going to get into the stuff they've done to preserve the history of southern blues.
@PURAVID Obviously, Clapton influenced Billy, but how did he influence Clapton? You are right. He is a genius. The more I study his licks, the more impressed I am. He maybe didn't event blues guitar, but I think he perfected it.
Man, they were on fire back then! This is how this band REALLY should be remembered, and not by the nonsence they came up with in the eighties and later.
@margovallen Doesn't loose any meaning to me, or a lot of other folks for that matter. Opinions are like a certain part of human anatomy, everyone has one.
@joetamm Probably because you never had any meaning to begin with? Just surmising. I was in a band that played lots of old ZZ Top and it had a certain nuance that this is particularly lacking.
@joetamm well? I've been exposed to ZZ Top's work for a number of years.... and am a performing musician of many years myself.. and I know and realize that the general public is oblivious to the intricacies of music in general.. and just listen to what is presented. Bands generally try to make it as simple as possible in order to make money.
So, perhaps you're one of whom is pretty much in that category? Thats all I'm saying :-)
@margovallen Uh, no I wouldnt say I'm in that catagory, I'm pretty much in quite a different category, I have been playing and collecting guitars for over 40 years, I have also met Gibbons, a long time ago, and have a few conversations with him. I dont think he tried to "make it as simple as possible" He wrote and recorded this song, far be it for me or anyone else to question why he chooses to perform it in any particular manner.
@joetamm Uh... I could most likely kick "Gibbons" ass on guitar.... so, whats up wit dat? I think he is good but not the be-all by any means.
You people think if a guy has a reputation built on popularity from decades ago and still think they're awesome, need your heads examined.
ZZ Top is whatever. Their hey-day way back in the ;late 70's and the Rev isn't all that on guitar, necessarily. He's good but, not something to orgazzz over. He and the rest of ZZ Top are fu*king sell-outs.
@margovallen Really, you could kick Gibons ass on guitar................., so telll us, where can get YOUR multi million selling albums. Now put the bong down and grow up.
@mik661 What a load of crap! People claim he said Rory Gallagher was the best. Truth is, the only other guitarists that Jimi was interested in meeting and who he respected from the start were Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
That being said, this is one ROCKING kickass song!
@margovallen Making that statement about kicking Gibbons ass reveals how poor of a guitarist you are. Just because you can move your fingers fast over a fretboard doesn't make you good. Playing well also involves tone, phrasing, feel, dynamics, and sparity. Billy Gibbons is a master and has been laying down awesome licks on record since he was 18.
@margovallen THIS from a "performing musician" whose main instrument is a Squire??? You've got to be kidding. I was drinking beer and listening to ZZ Top play in honky tonks decades before you were even a sperm-cell wannabe in your daddy's ding-dong. You know about as much about playing and performing as Michael Jackson knew about testosterone.
@BILLBKLYN That's not Frank Beard in that photo, the person holding the Explorer is Steve Peron, the "Stevie P" reference in Francene, the person next to BG is Kenny Cordray, they both co-wrote Francene and are listed as co-authors.
Thank You for posting this.Im a ZZ top tribute guitarist for the band Im in,and Ive learned to play listening to thier early albums,and picked up Billys' tone and playing style without being aware of it.This is purely a God given treat,because Im 40,and never got to see or hear them live until the mid 80s,and missed out on all the concerts in the 70s.I will say the music thats the media says is in the main stream,and the music that actually is are 2 different things.
@joetamm Good guitar players are a dime a dozen, there's thousands of guys (and girls) who can play well, but there's only a handful who have the ability to write and perform their own music, let alone do it for as long and well as Billy. If ogopogopark thinks he can do it better, he should put up or shut up.I doubt if he could ever come close to the virtuosity and genius of Billy Gibbons. Ridiculous!!!
Appreciate the video joetamm. The audio...eh, not so much but I know it's not your fault. Live is tough to convey. I love this tune. I put it on the jukebox at a barroom I hang at. Back to the video (or pictures)...Billy Gibbons is like Lon Chaney (a man of a thousand faces). Sumbitch looked so different as the years went by. He went from nerdy guy in glasses to cowboy to the bearded man with the funny hat and all points in between. One thing that never changed was his mastery of guitar.
@drockkclapton I noticed that when I first heard it. Gibbons was very influenced what the Brittish guitar guys were up to; Peter Greene, Paul Kossoff, Beck and Clapton.
@drockkclapton Didn't mean to leave out the non-guitar players, but there is a treasure trove of licks for guitar players in this sampling of GIbbons playing. So you'd have to be a guitar player to glean the licks from him.
Man, thanks for putting this clip and the rest of this series up. What is the source material? Has anybody got any old live video footage? There used to be a great b/w tv clip of "Chevrolet" up, but is long since removed. I'm hungry for lots more (just like I wish I could sit down to the table on the inside of Tres Hombres!).
@solomonjames2007 '70 maybe, Gibbons mentions Francene as a new song they have comin out, they did that one right before Brown Suger, so it must have been right before Rio Grane Mud.
Holy crap I wish everybody and their dog had cell phone cameras in the 70's. Think of the concert footage we'd have...
jonwootten1 3 months ago
A peter Green Reference,&'I'm so glad ref.0n one page I can dig that, You have either done your homework, or you're old like I am (65). Rev. Willy can sling it. GREAT guitarist, can play rings around most players today. For all you young turks, Ya Gotta Have ROOTS....Go Back & get ya some
88krupp 3 months ago
@88krupp Yes, I have done my homework, and almost yes to I'm old, I'm almost old at 55 :) Thanks
joetamm 3 months ago
Texas has the biggest and best found... It is hotter than hell in the summer and colder than a witches ti@%& in the winter. Top is the best listening music anywhere!!!
matzards 4 months ago in playlist matzards's favorites
the outie is a total nod to the Allmans.
talpajam 4 months ago
i saw them in dallas at the time of the 1st lp they were the opping for quicksilver chase was the 2nd on great times
groovymusicman 4 months ago
i saw them in dallas at the time of the 1st lp they were the opping at for quicksilver chase was the 2nd on great times
groovymusicman 4 months ago
1:36 Man when he hits that run - AWESOME
MrArtist1971 4 months ago
I really don't know if it gets any better...but I doubt it.
drockkclapton 4 months ago
There's a bit of 'I'm So Glad' by Cream woven in just before the 7 minute mark. Would love to have seen ZZ in those days...have only caught them once, in London about six or seven years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever seen. Three guys, a drum riser, some instruments, a couple of hats. Not a lot else. Hope the new album is the return to the old stuff Billy's been hinting at.
nogzamjules 5 months ago 2
@nogzamjules just heard this now! amazing.
mikelb77 1 week ago
ZZ TOP.... LO MAXIMO
frojas110 5 months ago
Very nice intro... Reverend Willie G is one of the most talented blues players of all time. I've seen that lil ol band from Texas 6 times... Early 70's first time. Love em. Great vid toejamm
BooBooJonez 6 months ago
To be clear- Rev W is a genius-he influenced Clapton- hung with Jimi- and was inducted to the hall by Keith.
Further to that in the 80's he was influenced by electronic sounds-which he brought to the mainstream- which revolutionized guitar effects. For the record when ZZ Top toured Eliminator they turned a whole lot of younger fans onto to Texas Blues- and blues music in general. Bro not even going to get into the stuff they've done to preserve the history of southern blues.
PURAVID 6 months ago
@PURAVID Obviously, Clapton influenced Billy, but how did he influence Clapton? You are right. He is a genius. The more I study his licks, the more impressed I am. He maybe didn't event blues guitar, but I think he perfected it.
p25735 5 months ago
Man, they were on fire back then! This is how this band REALLY should be remembered, and not by the nonsence they came up with in the eighties and later.
Innerspace100 6 months ago
That picture at 1:14 is precious...smokin hot version of this tune as well.
Zigster38 6 months ago
Most Cool!
StarBlues101 6 months ago
Zero dislikes woooo
hillfolkloki996 7 months ago
at 4:48-- ... THAT IS MY PHOTO... thank you very much
ngrillot54 7 months ago
@ngrillot54 You're very welcome. I think I got it from a thread on The Les Paul Forum.
joetamm 7 months ago
Much too fast... loses all meaning.
margovallen 7 months ago
@margovallen Doesn't loose any meaning to me, or a lot of other folks for that matter. Opinions are like a certain part of human anatomy, everyone has one.
joetamm 7 months ago
@joetamm Probably because you never had any meaning to begin with? Just surmising. I was in a band that played lots of old ZZ Top and it had a certain nuance that this is particularly lacking.
Have a great day :-)
margovallen 7 months ago
@margovallen Glad you think you know so much about me and my "meaning" levels. Have a great day yourself.
joetamm 7 months ago
@joetamm well? I've been exposed to ZZ Top's work for a number of years.... and am a performing musician of many years myself.. and I know and realize that the general public is oblivious to the intricacies of music in general.. and just listen to what is presented. Bands generally try to make it as simple as possible in order to make money.
So, perhaps you're one of whom is pretty much in that category? Thats all I'm saying :-)
margovallen 7 months ago
@margovallen Uh, no I wouldnt say I'm in that catagory, I'm pretty much in quite a different category, I have been playing and collecting guitars for over 40 years, I have also met Gibbons, a long time ago, and have a few conversations with him. I dont think he tried to "make it as simple as possible" He wrote and recorded this song, far be it for me or anyone else to question why he chooses to perform it in any particular manner.
joetamm 7 months ago
@joetamm Uh... I could most likely kick "Gibbons" ass on guitar.... so, whats up wit dat? I think he is good but not the be-all by any means.
You people think if a guy has a reputation built on popularity from decades ago and still think they're awesome, need your heads examined.
ZZ Top is whatever. Their hey-day way back in the ;late 70's and the Rev isn't all that on guitar, necessarily. He's good but, not something to orgazzz over. He and the rest of ZZ Top are fu*king sell-outs.
margovallen 7 months ago
@margovallen Really, you could kick Gibons ass on guitar................., so telll us, where can get YOUR multi million selling albums. Now put the bong down and grow up.
joetamm 7 months ago
@margovallen - never heard of you. Show some respect.
UncleCaptainMidnight 7 months ago
@margovallen Never heard of you......Show some respect your own self.......dude.
kneapoe51 7 months ago
@margovallen You're a funny guy, haha, "kick Gibbons as on guitar" You sir just made my day.
zeppelin1996 7 months ago
@zeppelin1996 lets not forget that Jimi Hendrix called Billy the greatest guitar player he had ever met.
mik661 6 months ago 5
@mik661 What a load of crap! People claim he said Rory Gallagher was the best. Truth is, the only other guitarists that Jimi was interested in meeting and who he respected from the start were Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
That being said, this is one ROCKING kickass song!
wingseclipsed 4 months ago
@wingseclipsed Jimmy had a huge appreciation for Rory Gallagher because they both were influenced by Muddy Waters,Buddy Guy and JB Hutto
beerymon 3 weeks ago
@margovallen I'd love to sell out on their level. Then again, I guess money and women aren't for everyone.
esubadog 7 months ago
@margovallen yeah...we've all heard of ya....or alot like ya...i too could probably outplay Gibbons....but we'll never be Gibbons
fortydog40 6 months ago
@margovallen Making that statement about kicking Gibbons ass reveals how poor of a guitarist you are. Just because you can move your fingers fast over a fretboard doesn't make you good. Playing well also involves tone, phrasing, feel, dynamics, and sparity. Billy Gibbons is a master and has been laying down awesome licks on record since he was 18.
p25735 5 months ago
@margovallen THIS from a "performing musician" whose main instrument is a Squire??? You've got to be kidding. I was drinking beer and listening to ZZ Top play in honky tonks decades before you were even a sperm-cell wannabe in your daddy's ding-dong. You know about as much about playing and performing as Michael Jackson knew about testosterone.
billddodge 3 months ago
Great photo's,thanks for posting!
62burnley 7 months ago
Been a Top fan for decades. Never seen 90% of these shots. Photos of Billy without a beard are rare. Best live jam too.
cheezmistr 7 months ago
Great collection of photos!!!
BurgerMan1979 7 months ago
This was special thankyou ZZ top and Billy are magic
gimli615 8 months ago
Who is that with Frank and Billy @ 4;34? It doesn't look like Dusty.
BILLBKLYN 9 months ago
@BILLBKLYN That's not Frank Beard in that photo, the person holding the Explorer is Steve Peron, the "Stevie P" reference in Francene, the person next to BG is Kenny Cordray, they both co-wrote Francene and are listed as co-authors.
joetamm 9 months ago
Thank You for posting this.Im a ZZ top tribute guitarist for the band Im in,and Ive learned to play listening to thier early albums,and picked up Billys' tone and playing style without being aware of it.This is purely a God given treat,because Im 40,and never got to see or hear them live until the mid 80s,and missed out on all the concerts in the 70s.I will say the music thats the media says is in the main stream,and the music that actually is are 2 different things.
bluesguitarz 9 months ago
I'm a Billy fanatic, and this only makes him more of a hero to me. Damn I love Top.
FatBird11 9 months ago
ive never heard this. thank u for posting this! love that ol grimy @ss tone!
MarkThomasMusic 9 months ago
rock n fuk n roll
627257stingray 9 months ago
I am a guitar player and this is just fare>
ogopogopark 10 months ago
@ogopogopark Fare-verb (used without object)
to experience good or bad fortune, treatment, etc.; get on: He fared well in his profession.
So as a guitar player, are you saying it's good or bad.
joetamm 10 months ago
@ogopogopark You may be a guitar player, but believe me, you'll never be Billy Gibbons.
knhoj59 9 months ago in playlist zz top
@knhoj59 And your point is....
joetamm 9 months ago
@joetamm Good guitar players are a dime a dozen, there's thousands of guys (and girls) who can play well, but there's only a handful who have the ability to write and perform their own music, let alone do it for as long and well as Billy. If ogopogopark thinks he can do it better, he should put up or shut up.I doubt if he could ever come close to the virtuosity and genius of Billy Gibbons. Ridiculous!!!
knhoj59 9 months ago
Appreciate the video joetamm. The audio...eh, not so much but I know it's not your fault. Live is tough to convey. I love this tune. I put it on the jukebox at a barroom I hang at. Back to the video (or pictures)...Billy Gibbons is like Lon Chaney (a man of a thousand faces). Sumbitch looked so different as the years went by. He went from nerdy guy in glasses to cowboy to the bearded man with the funny hat and all points in between. One thing that never changed was his mastery of guitar.
bthor76 10 months ago in playlist zz top - zz top's first album
@bthor76 The audio was probably done on a small cassette recorder, in '70 thats all you could use other than a professionally done live album.
joetamm 10 months ago
One of my favorites. I love this version . Thanks ....Cisco
colorado4691 1 year ago
RIGHT ON, BRUTHAAA!!!
phillipislbj 1 year ago
Fort Worth Feb 1972, one of my fav zz bootlegs ever
kingcrimson1972 1 year ago
Great pics, thanks for posting
Suuperman5461 1 year ago
3:20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
59darkburst 1 year ago
i always saw gibbons witha standard.
seeing a custom in his hands at 1:11 i think...
customs sound too bright for me,but still great sounding.
gibsongold1970 1 year ago
@gibsongold1970 He used Pearly almost exclusively. The still photo of BG with the black LP Custom that I used is from very early in the band's days.
joetamm 10 months ago
This is INSANE! Thank you for posting this! Billy didn't get the recognition that other guitar players got back then, but he smokes them all!
Filter428 1 year ago
is that chog in the back ground "right on brother"
FEEDTHEDEER1 1 year ago
You said if you're a guitar player..well I'm not but you couldn't find anyone that appreciates good guitar playing more than me..I felt reborn :-)
claptongroupie 1 year ago
awesome posting a treasure trove of zz they rock bigtime
627257stingray 1 year ago
Wow! This really is awesome.Billy Fuggin' Gibbons! Hendrix was right about him!
mrwizard62 1 year ago 3
"My friends all told me"... When I first heard this song way back in '71 I thought ole Billy was singing, "My grandma told me..."
Either way, this song still rocks...HARD!
muzikkraz 1 year ago
@40Rtruss well, it used to be under favourite, but now it's a stupid list..
callthemall 1 year ago
In case no one had noticed, They go into Cream's version of "I'm So Glad" at about 6:00 even.
drockkclapton 1 year ago 2
@drockkclapton I noticed that when I first heard it. Gibbons was very influenced what the Brittish guitar guys were up to; Peter Greene, Paul Kossoff, Beck and Clapton.
joetamm 1 year ago 2
@joetamm yOU BETTER believe it! he also used a quarter as a pick a few times doing this one. this is an awesome post.
Suuperman5461 1 year ago
@drockkclapton yes I noticed that
claptongroupie 1 year ago
@drockkclapton Didn't mean to leave out the non-guitar players, but there is a treasure trove of licks for guitar players in this sampling of GIbbons playing. So you'd have to be a guitar player to glean the licks from him.
joetamm 1 year ago
THIS IS 1 OF MY FAV SONGS!!! thankx x sharing, do U know what bootleg it is?
dirtyTony666 1 year ago
@dirtyTony666 This is a bootleg recording of a Ft. Worth show from around '70 or so, right before Rio Grande Mud came out.
joetamm 1 year ago
@9balll Me too!
joetamm 1 year ago 7
I love the lick @ 7:10!!! Thanks for uploading these. C U @ The LPF Joe
mainerd72 1 year ago
Joe, thanks for posting, there all just great !
DiggerFandangoZZ 1 year ago
Joe, thanks for posting, there all just great !!!
DiggerFandangoZZ 1 year ago
Joe, thanks for posting, there all just great !!!
DiggerFandangoZZ 1 year ago
This is amazin ilove it!
TEXMEXY 1 year ago
Love the "I'm So Glad" quote @ 6:04 ish and the Duane/ABB/YDLM tribute @ 7;25 to 8:09
impala327 1 year ago
Man, thanks for putting this clip and the rest of this series up. What is the source material? Has anybody got any old live video footage? There used to be a great b/w tv clip of "Chevrolet" up, but is long since removed. I'm hungry for lots more (just like I wish I could sit down to the table on the inside of Tres Hombres!).
Halfsour1 1 year ago
When was this 71?
solomonjames2007 1 year ago
@solomonjames2007 '70 maybe, Gibbons mentions Francene as a new song they have comin out, they did that one right before Brown Suger, so it must have been right before Rio Grane Mud.
joetamm 1 year ago
@solomonjames2007 the album is from '76,check the back-sleeve,greetz
MrKallabaz 1 year ago
@MrKallabaz '76, what album are you talkin about, this a live bootleg that was recorded before Rio Grande Mud was out.
joetamm 1 year ago
Awesome!
Elzozo 1 year ago