2004 Tourdates>

A career's worth of music by the "little 'ol band from Texas" will be compiled for "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ: The ZZ Top Box." Due Oct. 14 from Warner Bros., the four-disc set will boast 80 remastered tracks spanning material from 14 albums released by the Lone Star State trio between 1968 and 1992. Included will be an 80-page book boasting a tell-all biography of the band, a track-by-track account by group members Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard and rare photos and memorabilia from the ZZ Top archives. A limited edition of 15,000 copies will be boxed in BBQ shack-inspired packaging. That set will feature card-stock cut outs that complete the BBQ scene and flip-book animation of the band's famed stage moves. Respected engineer Bob Ludwig remastered all tracks using the original masteyr tapes. Everything from early cuts such as "Just Got Back From Baby's" and notorious favorites "Tush" and "Tube Steak Boogie" are included, as are the band's hits "Sharp Dressed Man," "Legs" and "Sleeping Bag." "Chrome..." will also boast a handful of "medium rare" cuts: a Spanish-language version of "Francene," a live take of "Cheap Sunglasses" and remixes of "Legs," "Viva Las Vegas," "Give It Up" and "Velcro Fly." As previously reported, ZZ Top's latest studio album, "Mescalero," is due Tuesday (Sept. 9) via RCA (and a day earlier internationally). The album was delayed due to a restructuring of the label during the spring. The 16-track album was produced by lead singer/guitarist Gibbons. The band recorded 15 original tracks for "Mescalero," as well as a cover of "Tramp," popularized by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas in the late 1960s. Billboard.com View tracklist here>>

The new Mescalero album, click here for a track by track
review...


Photos from Stockholm 2002

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