Shawn D.—December 28, 2005
This album may not be remastered yet on this edition but it's the only 70's record that wasn't 'futurized' when they made the transfer to CD for the first time. Soon there will be remasters of this disc and every other one from the 70's and most likely the 80's too up through 1990. But this disc is the original mix. It's the real thing! You'll notice it never was included on the ZZ Top Six Pack. They skipped this album but included 1981's El Loco instead. Don't ask me why. Or else it would have reverb added and had the drums redone and mixed differently to sound more like their 80's output. (Eliminator, etc.) So everyone out there listening to non-remastered versions of ZZ Top's First Album, Rio Grand Mud, Tres Hombres, Fandango, Tejas and El Loco OR The ZZ Top Six Pack, OR Greatest Hits or One Foot In The Blues are hearing futurized versions of the original vinyl. Sad but true. But this album has been pure all along on cd and will only get better on the remaster. It'll be nice if we see it soon. :) Long live The Top! Read more
Eugene Axe—February 12, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I'll agree with the other reviewers here when they say that this album takes a more commercial turn than their previous work, but it still retains that distinctive blues-rock ZZ Top sound. No complaints here! I think most people will be familiar with the popular "I Thank You", "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide", and "Cheap Sunglasses". Commercial or not, these are all great ZZ Top songs. I also quite like the blues-stylings of "A Fool for your Stockings" and the catchy closing song "Esther Be the One". "Manic Mechanic" is an interesting and distinctive song - does not follow the usual ZZ Top formula. "Lowdown in the Street" and "Hi-Fi Mama" are a couple more fun rockers. I like the sax work on "Hi-Fi Mama". Overall one of ZZ's best albums. Definitely recommended. Read more
FlyinDoc—November 20, 2023
This is a great sounding pressing of one of ZZ Top’s greatest albums! Great album at great price with timely delivery! Read more
Mike Dav—December 3, 2024
My favorite ZZ Top cd and this copy does not disappoint, sounds great. Read more
J.C.B—April 6, 2019
Like this album alot. Read more
Joseph C. Martinak—November 3, 2024
It's ZZ Top...get it. Read more
CRAIG SANBORN—February 13, 2021
Love this record and love this re-pressing. This is the point where The Little Band from Texas met The 80's MTV sensation. Old Texas blues with a modern twist. Its on my top ten records to be stranded on a Island list. This is why you can't find it on amazon music streaming. You need to own a copy for yourself. Remember, Esther Be the One! Read more
quietstorm—February 6, 2002
"A Fool For Your Stockings" alone makes this a worthy buy. I really dig the solos in Bad-Nationwide as well. If you want riveting solos, make sure you also get the landmark Tres Hombres, the music that gave some northern city boys like me a dose of mindblowingly good southern boogie. If there were a best-of category for stylish rednecks, these guys would get it. They are bad ass. Gibbons solos on his early work are legendary, spine-chilling affairs. My personal fave are the two solos in the song Beer Drinkers from Tres Hombres, followed by Waitin For the Bus (again from Tres Hombres), the Bad-Nationwide from this release tied with the end of Sharp Dressed Man from yet another release you can also consider. Don't judge by the samples, if you are a young person curious about these guys, and if you like electrifying hard rock guitar, just get these two albums, and turn it up! Read more
