The lyrics are referencing the infamous Chicken Ranch, an illegal brothel, that once operated outside of LA Grange Texas. It is the same brothel made famous in the movie Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starting Burr Reynolds and Dolly Parton.
My wife and I went to La Grange and went into the town historical building, which used to be the town jail. The sherriff that ran it was there for 40 years and solved every crime that was commited. He had a direct phone line ( mind you, the only one in town) straight to the madames office at the brothel, and when all the criminals would come in they would brag to the prostitutes about what they had done. The girls in turn would tell the madame and on to the sherriff who would arrest them. Also, the sherifs wife ran the jail, cooking, cleaning, all of it!
When I was a freshman in college '71 just south of Dallas...two of my older work buddies/college mates came up with a plan to head to The Chicken Ranch 🐔🏠 one Saturday evening after we got off work at the local grocery store... we worked at part-time...I went along with the plan until the last minute when I backed out...my Mom had a funny way of finding out or suspecting something when I did something she wouldn't approve of🤣😂...the other two guys went...made the long drive, stayed about an hour/spent their $$, then made the long drive back home...stopping and sleeping in their car on the way home...then 2 years later ZZ Top came out with this song...about my almost experience...☹
BB King inspired them...he was the King👑 of blues🎸🎶...they also liked ZZ Hill another blues artist....Billy Gibbons took the ZZ from Hill, but couldn't use King because it would sound so close to BB King....so he decided the next thing to King was being on Top...thus ZZ Top...it had nothing to do with wrapping papers...I'm a Texas boy
Bob Klumpp - you’re damn right! Was so great to be there. I was 12, dancing to La Grange and singin’ Sundown. ‘77 was my favourite music year for sure. ... 70s teenagedom set the tone for music happiness and cool reminiscing for life! 😀👋🇦🇺
Tres Hombres is the best. I remember when I was listening to it when I was a little kid at my older sister's friends house...I took a trip to La Grange Tx last year just to see the town.
Billy “The Reverend” Gibbons was a buddy of Jimi Hendrix. He’s one of the coolest most peace-loving cats you’ll ever come across. He did pinch the voice stylings and boogie woogie groove from old Chicago and delta blues. He was a big John Lee Hooker fan. He does it justice. Especially with that pinch harmonic talking guitar section.
nailed it. the whole second guitar solo in this song is nothing but pinch harmonics, and its fucking fire! its got all the makings for a perfect Rock and Roll song.
He's not talking about Jesus in the song..He's actually talking about a blues singer..I can't remember which singer...I think you can read about it if you go to...songfacts.💞
Never listen to ZZ Top while driving in the following states: Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Texas. By the time the cop pulled me over I had been slowing down and he clocked me at 104. That was a $58 fine lol.
Frank's Chicago Shuffle sounds effortless but it's one of the most challenging beats to play. His right hand keeps the quarter notes but his left hand on the snare is shuffling and still hitting the 2 and 4 consistently. To top it off, his right foot is consistently shuffling. I've been playing over 40 years and cannot master this beat; it's one SOB!
La Grange, was a little ditty about a “shack outside La Grange.” Mostly known as the Chicken Ranch, it was a Texas brothel, open from 1905 to 1973. A simple farmhouse with no signs advertising its purpose, the Chicken Ranch ran with the knowledge, if not the blessing, of local politicians and law enforcement.
Additional Fun Fact-- the movie The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas is set in that same brothel. The story is loosely based on the story of the brothel being forced out of business.
I take incredible joy in watching you discover some of my favorite music. Saw ZZ Top during their 40th anniversary tour last summer. Just an amazing experience.
In the 70's here in small town Alabama we would hit the backwoods gravel pit. Big bonfire at least 3 to 4 hundred people start Friday night end early Monday morning. Occasional fist fight but 99.9 per cent good times. If you were too waxed you couldn't leave till you sobered up. Cops left us alone we were bothering no one. Great times!
@@rickyjoyner8802 Yeah back in the 70's here in BC the cops would cover the only road in. Once you were in you were in. One of my favourite places was a place called Mud Bay. Great times. We was just lookin for some Tush.
@@vansongs there was always plenty of tush to go around. The free love drive didn't slow down till the early 80's and the aids invasion. Everyone got scared then. Made for a lot more monogamous relationships. Miss my 70's Godawful bad. Only bad part I can remember is losing some good friends to Viet Nam.
Jemel_AKA_Jamal - I really like your channel, man. I'm a 60 yr old guy that grew up listening to a lot of the music you review. I love that you appreciate it! Please keeping spreading the news! Thanks!
“THAT LITTLE OH BAND FROM TEXAS “, we are very proud of ZZTOP down here , I was 15 yrs . When I first saw them in Ft Worth Tx. I’ve seen them live 10 times .A Texan.Im 64 now. Texas veteran!
These guys are musical geniuses! If you ever watch them play live, you'll see that they can get a 5 piece band sound out of a three piece band. It's phenomenal!!
First of all, I just found you on the "TUBE" and signed up. I appreciate your love for music and that you are open minded. Van Halen, Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynryd, etc. Quick answers to one of your questions, Doobie Brothers were big in the 70's. I grew up in West Texas and the rumor was that a band got their name from the two big rolling papers that were sold. Zig Zag and Top. So they choose to call themselves, ZZ Top. A song that I would like you listen to is a mix of blues and rock. Stevie Ray style. What makes it off the hook is after you listen to it. The whole album and video was recorded by someone who had already played with the likes of B.B. King and others. He was 15 years old. Johnny Lang and the song is "Lie To Me." Title song for the album. "Rack'em Up" is awesome also. The album was released in 1997. One day before his 16 birthday. Music today is crap but you have opened the door to the vault and just scratched the surface. Happy listening and enjoy the ride. Jeff
The song you're probably thinking about is Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker. The members of ZZ Top were fans of Hooker and wanted a song that embodied that blues classic so La Grange was born.
Heck YEAH!! ZZ Top is one of the most underrated bands ever!! They are freaking awesome in concert! Fun fact- Stevie Ray Vaughn learned alot of his guitar skills from Billy Gibbons! Both good old Texas boys!! Thank you for your awesome reaction!!
well, at least they didn't lip sync, but they played to a taped recording. billy was not physically able to play rhythm and lead guitar in this song and others. they danced to the rhythm to make it look real, but he played the lead to a taped rhythm in concert. much of their music is dubbed in the studio.
@@if6turnedouttobe9 lmao who is playing the rhythm to this song? there is only the bass and the 6 string. again, who is playing rhythm guitar while he's playing the lead? a tape recorder. billy gibbons admitted himself he dubbed in the lead guitar in the studio version of this song. it's not the only one. they never did hoax me in their concerts i attended. once in a concert i was at, they got ahead of the tape, they all stopped playing for a full beat to get back in sync with the tape. it was obvious as hell. nobody wanted to hear they did this but billy gibbons admitted to it. fact.
See? Isn't that the ten thousandth suggestion to watch the movie Blues Brothers? :D We subscribers never give up. Is Jamel going to have to find a drive-in theater around his place to watch it? How come we're in a car today?
When I first heard the song "Brown Sugar" by ZZ Top I thought it had a hint of influence from Jimmy Hendrix, then I found out that Billy Gibbons opened for Hendrix and were friends... good song that has been lost in the pile of ZZ's all time hits.
You NEED TO listen to “Waitin For the Bus”/“Jesus Just Left Chicago”, it’s technically 2 songs, but they run together seamlessly from the first to the second. ZZ Top is a 3 man band known as that “little ole band from Texas”. I GUARANTEE YOU WILL GLAD YOU DID IT!!! GAARRRAAAWWWNTEEEEE IT BROTHER!!!
Back in the 70's we always had live bands to play at our proms. I grew up in the same area that ZzTop hailed from. They were the prom band for two of our high schools! Can you imagine that. Seen pictures in their yearbooks. They were most loved here in Texas. When Dusty Hill died , been playing ZZ Top music to remember him. Went to my kid's house in Houston. Listening to ZZ Top Greatest Hits!
@@victoriabrown1848 what a cool story! Thanks for sharing. Played at your school Prom. Were they any good back then? Raw for sure. Looking forward to your reply. RIP DUSTY. As Dusty would say take me with you Jesus.
I don't know if this is true but I heard it from Billy Gibbons in an interview. He said he was in the loft of a barn with z shaped raters. There was a sign that said "beware of zz top." He thought that would be a good name for a band he was forming. He may have been pulling the interviewers leg. The rolling paper thing makes more sense.
This song shows proper respect to John Lee Hooker's 'Boogie Chillen'. I did high school in Grand Prairie in Dallas County and to me this was always our theme. -signed your favorite lol ol white grandma. Btw- I saw them in concert in San Diego and they're just as perfect in concert as they are in recording.
I hear Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker too, though he might've used the same riff for both songs. ZZ Top definitely paid homage to the late great Mr. Hooker with this song though!
You are thinking of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom-Boom-Boom”, 1972. The “Haw-Haw-Haw”. John Lee Hooker actually took ZZ Top to court for copyright infringement over this song. They settled out of court. But it is one of the best songs EVER to drive really fast too...
It's musically more similar to Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips" (1966) , covered most notably by The Rolling Stones on the "Exile on Main Street" album (1972)
More ZZ Top please"Jesus just left Chicago/waitin on the bus","tush","cheap sunglasses","I need you tonight","party on the patio","pearl necklace","tube snake boogie"and"I'm nation wide","brown sugar" to get started on the ZZ Top train ☮️
@Possumlove According to Gibbons, the band he was in at the time got to play before Hendrix during a gig, and since his band didn't have enough material to fill their slot out they played Foxy Lady and Purple Haze. Right about halfway through the second song he noticed Hendrix himself was standing to the side of the stage (backstage area) just grinning with a "Look at the balls on this kid" face. Check out the documentary "That Little Old Band From Texas" (it's from last year IIRC), it's a lot of fun and surprisingly honest.
@@_Red_Hand_ I thought he was referring to the song "boogie chillin'" by john lee hooker. John lee hooker was the blues. Boogie? Most people grant Johnny johnson the found of boogie woogie which is a bit different but these are just semantics and icons.
Theres one that’s my personal favorite. They call it “I gotsta get paid”. It’s a cover from a rap song called “25 lighters”. Which ZZ Top blows them out of the water! Please react to it. There are 2 that are similar in name the one I mentioned and “I just got paid”. Both are awesome but “I gotsta get paid” is my favorite. Heck react to em both. Or You could react to every song they’ve ever done and we wouldn’t be mad!
My whole entire life I always wanted a second verse, but... The song is so goddamned groovy it's cool. The drummer is way underrated, by the way. Frank Beard. The only band member withOUT a beard!
"The name of the band was Gibbons' idea. The band had a little apartment covered with concert posters and he noticed that many performers' names used initials. Gibbons particularly noticed B.B. King and Z.Z. Hill and thought of combining the two into "ZZ King", but considered it too similar to the original name. He then figured that "king is going at the top" which brought him to "ZZ Top"" Source: Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZZ_Top
The other part I recall is that they wanted their albums easy to find & with a name like ZZ Top they would always be at the end of the racks in a record store :-)
I first heard this track about twenty five years ago and I listened to it back to back about thirty times. To this day it still raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
Fun Fact: Billy Gibbons (the guitarist) toured with Jimi Hendrix in, I think, 1969. And Hendrix said he was a big fan of Gibbons and they learned alot together. This is before ZZ Top was formed.
Check “apologies to pearly” on Rio grande mud. Played on a Stratocaster gifted to Billy gibbons by Hendrix. The pearly in question was Billy’s les Paul
This reminds me of the good old days, when there was no smart phones or internet, when a friend or relative comes over and we sit in the car and just start hearing to some music and have good, crazy conversations. I know alot of you can relate. Good Times. You nailed it bro by reacting it in your car.
Um. ZZ Top didn't sing with John Lee Hooker to make a version Boom, Boom, Boom (at least not a song I've ever heard). There's a video on YT that claims to be ZZ Top and John Lee singing Boom, Boom, Boom. However, that video is mislabled and it's Big Head Todd NOT Billy Gibbons. Granted, it's a great version of John Lee's song, just not with ZZ Top.
I've known what Billy was talkin' 'bout since I was 10 years old and Marvin Zindler exposed the Chicken Ranch on Eyewitness News in Houston. The Chicken Ranch got it's name during the Great Depression when patrons would pay for the girls' time with chickens. So many chickens outside in the yard, it got the nickname.
Originally there were called the moving sidewalks. Used to be a bar band, played a lot in Pasadena, Texas. ZZTOP is basically a tribute to the rolling papers of the day. Zig Zags and Tops.
That "little ol' band from Texas" 🇨🇱 Z Z TOP! Oh hell yeah! I'm from Austin 🇨🇱 so naturally I love me some SRV and Z Z!♥️ Our wise state legislature made them the Official Band of the Republic of Texas 🇨🇱! Amazing that these same three guys have been together since '69!😲 Highly recommend you check out their first 3 albums.🤗 Very smooth blues/rock.😁 "Shakin' Your Tree" is one of my favorites!💯 The lead guitarist🎸, Billy Gibbons, gave Stevie Ray Vaughn a custom guitar that Stevie plays in the "Cold Shot" music video!🤯 Love your reactions and hope you explore more Z Z Top.♥️✌️
You asked about the name "zztop" the thing with them, they started as a Texas based blues-rock band, BB King was considered King of the blues at that time, the "top," guy, so they were gonna call the band "ZZ King" in honor of BB, but decided it was corny then went with ZZ Top. Yeah; that and Tush were probably their biggest early hits, but "legs," was probably their biggest global smash, crossing into the pop and country charts
Do ZZ Top "Manic Mechanic" "Waitin for the bus/Jesus just left Chicago" "Sure got cold after the rain felt" Or "I gotsa get paid" Some old ZZ stuff Please
When i was in high school back in the 70's This is the first song i learned in our guitar class. Im almost 70 now still rock to this music. Thanks Jamel
"We had a little apartment, a little hangout room that was lined with those rainbow-colored blues posters you’d say nailed to the telephone poll, [listing] who was coming to town.” As the guys looked at the posters, Gibbons said they realized “it was odd how many current names had initials - O.V. Wright, D.C. Bender, and of course B.B. King - he was down on this end of the alphabet, then it was Z.Z. Hill.” Billy recalled thinking, “Jeez, ZZ and King, that’s a good combo.” He then decided that ZZ King was too similar to B.B. King, thinking: “King being at the top, I said, ‘Okay, so it’s gonna be ZZ Top, and that’s the way it is.”(Billy Gibbons, an interview on Ultimate Classic Rock Nights)
@@rhizomorph-music I stand by my comment. I've read and listened to Billy Gibbons' interviews. Not sure where you got your story from, but you're certainly free to believe whatever you want.
"The name ZZ Top, according to band member Billy Gibbons, came from a tribute to B.B. King. The band originally were going to call themselves “Z.Z. King” in King's honor, but then decided it was too similar to B.B. King. Because B.B. King was at the “top” of the blues world, they changed it to ZZ Top"
@@dougjackson4133 What do you mean, "Not ZZ King"?? Yes, ZZ King! ZZ King is what they were originally going to call the band, and then later decided on ZZ Top. I never said that the "ZZ" part of ZZ Top wasn't in reference to ZZ Hill. I only stated that the name was originally going to be ZZ King... And that's a fact! If you disagree, argue with Billy Gibbons about it, not me, because this fact came directly from his mouth.
Whenever I see a kid your age go crazy for old tunes I feel like the world can be saved. Thanks.
I feel the same! Young people have no idea what real music is all about but when they hear it they get hooked.
Dude isnt a kid at all. He is my age, and I grew up on this shit. He was just never exposed. That's all right and that's OK.
:)
@@theakh4238 haha...the dude is a kid. This guy is my son's age.
I agree this coment !!!!!!
The lyrics are referencing the infamous Chicken Ranch, an illegal brothel, that once operated outside of LA Grange Texas. It is the same brothel made famous in the movie Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, starting Burr Reynolds and Dolly Parton.
It got shut down only months after the song was released.
My wife and I went to La Grange and went into the town historical building, which used to be the town jail. The sherriff that ran it was there for 40 years and solved every crime that was commited. He had a direct phone line ( mind you, the only one in town) straight to the madames office at the brothel, and when all the criminals would come in they would brag to the prostitutes about what they had done. The girls in turn would tell the madame and on to the sherriff who would arrest them. Also, the sherifs wife ran the jail, cooking, cleaning, all of it!
It made Marvin Zindler a star.
When I was a freshman in college '71 just south of Dallas...two of my older work buddies/college mates came up with a plan to head to The Chicken Ranch 🐔🏠 one Saturday evening after we got off work at the local grocery store... we worked at part-time...I went along with the plan until the last minute when I backed out...my Mom had a funny way of finding out or suspecting something when I did something she wouldn't approve of🤣😂...the other two guys went...made the long drive, stayed about an hour/spent their $$, then made the long drive back home...stopping and sleeping in their car on the way home...then 2 years later ZZ Top came out with this song...about my almost experience...☹
And only $10 !! You can't get a deal like that anymore! :-)
Zig Zag and Tops were both popular brands of rolling papers used by those who like to roll their own "cigarettes".
Still Are, Steb.
Tops 1.5 were my favorite rolling papers!
They talk about how the name was come up with in "That Little Ol' Band from Texas." It was inspired by BB King.
BB King inspired them...he was the King👑 of blues🎸🎶...they also liked ZZ Hill another blues artist....Billy Gibbons took the ZZ from Hill, but couldn't use King because it would sound so close to BB King....so he decided the next thing to King was being on Top...thus ZZ Top...it had nothing to do with wrapping papers...I'm a Texas boy
left-handed cigs ?
Every time I listen to "La Grange", so do my neighbors.
Jeff P Now THATS good !! I may want to use that line !
TOtally gonna use that line 😉😂✌
Almost as good as "My neighbours are listening to some great music today, whether they like it or not"
LOL! Best line I've heard in a long time. And so true!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Imagine being a teenager in the 70s. We didn't have to make playlists and stuff. We just turned on the RADIO!
Bob Klumpp - you’re damn right! Was so great to be there. I was 12, dancing to La Grange and singin’ Sundown. ‘77 was my favourite music year for sure. ... 70s teenagedom set the tone for music happiness and cool reminiscing for life! 😀👋🇦🇺
So very true, even todays classic rock stations only play a select few and play them over and over... nothing like it was in the 70's and early 80's.
Yep... '77 was heaven...
Yeah yall were lucky...
Fuckin A tight brutha
My very favourite ZZTop song! I got to hear them play it live a few years ago and it was amazing! Their whole concert was one of my favourites.
The entire Tres Hombres album is classic treasure.
Yeah man, the original vinyl.
Ed B I bought the Album in '77 when I was about 12. Mowed lawns for a couple of months to get the cash. Formed my musical tastes for life. 🤘🇦🇺
I would love to hear him react to Mexican blackbird 😂
Yesss
Tres Hombres is the best. I remember when I was listening to it when I was a little kid at my older sister's friends house...I took a trip to La Grange Tx last year just to see the town.
Billy “The Reverend” Gibbons was a buddy of Jimi Hendrix. He’s one of the coolest most peace-loving cats you’ll ever come across. He did pinch the voice stylings and boogie woogie groove from old Chicago and delta blues. He was a big John Lee Hooker fan. He does it justice. Especially with that pinch harmonic talking guitar section.
ZZ Top opened for Hendrix when they were Moving Sidewalks.
'dust my broom' was an old elmore james delta blues
i think zztop got sued for it.
nailed it. the whole second guitar solo in this song is nothing but pinch harmonics, and its fucking fire! its got all the makings for a perfect Rock and Roll song.
I remember seeing an interview where Jimi said Gibbons was one of the best guitarists he knew. Thanks for reminding me of that.
Jimi actually said in an interview that Billy was his favorite guitarist.
0:55 "Am I thinking of the same song?"
You're probably thinking of John Lee Hooker and if you're not, you should be.
Boom, Boom, Boom
That’s right, ZZ Hooker.
And George Thoroughlygood
Boogie Chillen!
ruclips.net/video/G4pp02_GN9A/видео.html JLH Boogie Chil'en
🤘Billy Gibbons🤘
"Jesus Just Left Chicago" dripping in blues!
You have to listen to waitin for the bus THEN jesus just left chicago..💞
He's not talking about Jesus in the song..He's actually talking about a blues singer..I can't remember which singer...I think you can read about it if you go to...songfacts.💞
That's my favorite ZZ Top song. Good call.
Tres Hombres
Maybe even more bluesy is Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell.
Be careful playing this in a car, you'll be going 100 mph and not even notice!
Then again, I nearly got nailed for speeding to the finale to The William Tell Overture (full symphonic version)!
I am incapable of driving unless I listen to La Grange !.....The crackle of the V8 at 100MPH and ZZ Top !....Awwww!
113 and I have the ticket to prove it! LOL
or 5 miles an hour and not notice!
There's a certain giddy up to it that makes ya wanna drive like that!! 🤗❤
The song doesn't really have an ending. Seeing them play this in concert the song just kept going for 8 minutes, it was so epic
I saw them in concert back in 96, you're spot on 😅they were incredible live & La Grange felt like it went like 2-3 times longer than the rest
40 years+ now every time I hear this Riff my brain cant stop going "A-how, how how how" hahahaha
Did you rolker skate to.it? Big time in my.rolker skating days75 to78
Never listen to ZZ Top while driving in the following states: Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Texas. By the time the cop pulled me over I had been slowing down and he clocked me at 104. That was a $58 fine lol.
130 in MS, listening to la grange
😂💯💯💯💯💯
👍👍👍
Lol for a second there I was thinking to myself...these are states where you should specifically listen to ZZ Top. Most of all Texas 😂
77 in a 55 in in NY but that was $650 dollars.
Frank's Chicago Shuffle sounds effortless but it's one of the most challenging beats to play. His right hand keeps the quarter notes but his left hand on the snare is shuffling and still hitting the 2 and 4 consistently. To top it off, his right foot is consistently shuffling. I've been playing over 40 years and cannot master this beat; it's one SOB!
Another vote for "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide". Among the best songs ever written.
Great song!
Ditto!!!
I support this notion.
Agreed
"They're smoking Lucky Strikes, and wearing nylons too" :) yes he needs to hear it.
La Grange, was a little ditty about a “shack outside La Grange.” Mostly known as the Chicken Ranch, it was a Texas brothel, open from 1905 to 1973. A simple farmhouse with no signs advertising its purpose, the Chicken Ranch ran with the knowledge, if not the blessing, of local politicians and law enforcement.
Additional Fun Fact-- the movie The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas is set in that same brothel. The story is loosely based on the story of the brothel being forced out of business.
They got a lotta nice girls out there. 🙈🙉🙊
@@fighthypocrites7036 Just a little bitty pissant country place . . .
truth! had my cherry popped in LaGrange as a 19 year old GI stationed at Begstrom AFB, 1971...
Allan Erickson that's pretty sad
I take incredible joy in watching you discover some of my favorite music. Saw ZZ Top during their 40th anniversary tour last summer. Just an amazing experience.
Keg of Beer, ounce of weed & ZZ Top, that's how we started the parties back in the old days!
@William Lewis EACH person ! LOL !
In the 70's here in small town Alabama we would hit the backwoods gravel pit. Big bonfire at least 3 to 4 hundred people start Friday night end early Monday morning. Occasional fist fight but 99.9 per cent good times. If you were too waxed you couldn't leave till you sobered up. Cops left us alone we were bothering no one. Great times!
@@rickyjoyner8802 Yeah back in the 70's here in BC the cops would cover the only road in. Once you were in you were in. One of my favourite places was a place called Mud Bay. Great times. We was just lookin for some Tush.
@@vansongs there was always plenty of tush to go around. The free love drive didn't slow down till the early 80's and the aids invasion. Everyone got scared then. Made for a lot more monogamous relationships. Miss my 70's Godawful bad. Only bad part I can remember is losing some good friends to Viet Nam.
ZZtop "I'm bad, I'm nation wide"
awesome song.
The irony is the drummer don't have a beard...and his name is Frank Beard
Lol but he does
Frank has a beard on the cover of El Loco.
Their rule is if you are in the band you have to have a beard but you can only have one. His last name is Beard so that is the only one he can have
@@Kairukurumi I did not know that lol
And Freddie Bigdick doesn't HAVE a big dick!!!
The volume on my stereo does not go high enough for this song!!! It's legendary!
It goes to 11.
Netflix has a new ZZ Top documentary that is really good.
Robert Fouquet yep, it's outstanding 💯
Ah how how how
Really wish they hadn't remastered the drums
Robert Fouquet I saw it but it left out so much! Good nonetheless.
You have to get "The Complete Studio Albums (10CD)" for the original mix. They are wonderful...
Jemel_AKA_Jamal - I really like your channel, man. I'm a 60 yr old guy that grew up listening to a lot of the music you review. I love that you appreciate it! Please keeping spreading the news! Thanks!
"I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" is one of the all time greats. You'll dig it.
“THAT LITTLE OH BAND FROM TEXAS “, we are very proud of ZZTOP down here , I was 15 yrs . When I first saw them in Ft Worth Tx. I’ve seen them live 10 times .A Texan.Im 64 now. Texas veteran!
These guys are musical geniuses! If you ever watch them play live, you'll see that they can get a 5 piece band sound out of a three piece band. It's phenomenal!!
JAMEL GOT KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR HAVING THE COOL TUNES TOO LOUD. AND HE IS NOW LIVING IN HIS CAR. LOL
😂😂
Just like sooooo many others before him hahaha! Sometimes ya jus gotta listen to good tunes in a car 🤗❤
🤣😂😅😂🤣😅
Jamel, you are a ray of sunshine
First of all, I just found you on the "TUBE" and signed up. I appreciate your love for music and that you are open minded. Van Halen, Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynryd, etc.
Quick answers to one of your questions, Doobie Brothers were big in the 70's.
I grew up in West Texas and the rumor was that a band got their name from the two big rolling papers that were sold. Zig Zag and Top. So they choose to call themselves, ZZ Top.
A song that I would like you listen to is a mix of blues and rock. Stevie Ray style. What makes it off the hook is after you listen to it. The whole album and video was recorded by someone who had already played with the likes of B.B. King and others. He was 15 years old.
Johnny Lang and the song is "Lie To Me." Title song for the album. "Rack'em Up" is awesome also. The album was released in 1997. One day before his 16 birthday.
Music today is crap but you have opened the door to the vault and just scratched the surface.
Happy listening and enjoy the ride.
Jeff
The song you're probably thinking about is Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker. The members of ZZ Top were fans of Hooker and wanted a song that embodied that blues classic so La Grange was born.
"That little ol' band from Texas". Hits include, but not limited to:
"Tush"
"Sharp Dressed Man"
"Gimme All Your Lovin"
"Legs"
"Cheap Sun Glasses"
Gimme All Of Your Lovin & I Need You Tonight are the lady grabber, rock & blues songs!
Slip inside my sleeping bag. Is a good one too don’t know if that’s the title
One of my favorites by them is a more recent one called "I Gotsta Get Paid."
little ol' 3 piece Band from Texas.
TV Dinners
Heck YEAH!!
ZZ Top is one of the most underrated bands ever!! They are freaking awesome in concert!
Fun fact- Stevie Ray Vaughn learned alot of his guitar skills from Billy Gibbons!
Both good old Texas boys!!
Thank you for your awesome reaction!!
Underrated by some. Not by me for sure, or by far
well, at least they didn't lip sync, but they played to a taped recording. billy was not physically able to play rhythm and lead guitar in this song and others. they danced to the rhythm to make it look real, but he played the lead to a taped rhythm in concert. much of their music is dubbed in the studio.
@@axlegrind4212: No they didn't...Trust me...just trust me...They do fills on a few notes here and there but not on this song...
@@if6turnedouttobe9 lmao who is playing the rhythm to this song? there is only the bass and the 6 string. again, who is playing rhythm guitar while he's playing the lead? a tape recorder. billy gibbons admitted himself he dubbed in the lead guitar in the studio version of this song. it's not the only one. they never did hoax me in their concerts i attended. once in a concert i was at, they got ahead of the tape, they all stopped playing for a full beat to get back in sync with the tape. it was obvious as hell. nobody wanted to hear they did this but billy gibbons admitted to it. fact.
@@axlegrind4212: You're not a musician Axle...Nor have u ever recorded anything in a studio...Cheers...
They are talking about a infamous house of “Ill Repute” !!
I remember when Marvin Zindler broke it up. He as a notorious investigative reporter in Houston. Place had been there for near 100 years.
BTJ Marvin Zindler Eyeeeeeee Witness News!! 😝
@@btj1844 Mr. Slime in the ice machine himself......lol
John Lee Hooker- Boom, boom.It’s on the Blues Brother’s Soundtrack. Check it out. That was the inspiration for this song.
See? Isn't that the ten thousandth suggestion to watch the movie Blues Brothers? :D We subscribers never give up. Is Jamel going to have to find a drive-in theater around his place to watch it? How come we're in a car today?
Who else loves "Cheap Sunglasses" and "I'm Nationwide"?
Cheap Sunglasses is so underrated. Sharp Dressed man and Legs are much better known but not as good.
Here!
Cheap Sunglasses is one of the coolest jams ever made.
Only when the light from my gold tooth display hurts my head in the morning.
Got me under pressure is my favorite one by them
When I first heard the song "Brown Sugar" by ZZ Top I thought it had a hint of influence from Jimmy Hendrix, then I found out that Billy Gibbons opened for Hendrix and were friends... good song that has been lost in the pile of ZZ's all time hits.
You NEED TO listen to “Waitin For the Bus”/“Jesus Just Left Chicago”, it’s technically 2 songs, but they run together seamlessly from the first to the second. ZZ Top is a 3 man band known as that “little ole band from Texas”. I GUARANTEE YOU WILL GLAD YOU DID IT!!! GAARRRAAAWWWNTEEEEE IT BROTHER!!!
Arc Light Yes I have. It is a common question asked by new people. We tell them we are “Dudes”’and not “Duds”.
Arc Light for more information you can go to Dudeism.com
It's a John Lee Hooker riff. Even over here in Europe we venerate John Lee Hooker.
It's a standard blues riff. Many people have used it Muddy Waters Etc.
slim harpo "Shake Your Hips"
I saw Hooker and Canned Heat jamming on this -- for 45 minutes! Those were the days!
To be fair though, when it comes to that style Bo Diddly probably did it first. :)
doesnt hit my ears that way. please listen to Shake Your hips by Slim harpo or The Rolling Stones cover (Hip Shake) peace
John Lee Hooker. That's where that basic riff came from, brother.
Also On the Road Again by Canned Heat.
The original sound was John Lee Hooker
"Boogie Chillen'"
with the HOW HOW HOWS coming from "Boom Boom"
YA KNOW IT!
John Lee Hooker did everything! I tried to see him in concert but i lost. He was fantastic.
I thought the name was boom boom because of blues brothers :p
@@trorisk It came out in 1962
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_Boom_(John_Lee_Hooker_song)
@@trorisk ruclips.net/video/nE5AyDiUH7w/видео.html
Check out more 70's era ZZ Top -- "Nationwide," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Just Got Paid," "Tush," ...
Mike Caetano love Tush ♥️
Play Sharp dressed man.
Balinese
Heard it on the X
Arrested for Driving While Blind
It's Only Love
Move It on Down the Line
@@martymar1964 thank you for choosing the TRUE ZZ Top!! Anything from there first 3 albums. BALINESE
Just remember that there are only 3 dudes making this music. THREE.
The best 3 man band ever! RIP DUSTY HILL. Then Triumph then Rush
@@tomh5006 Don't forget Motörhead.🤘😉
Zig Zag paper
Back in the 70's we always had live bands to play at our proms. I grew up in the same area that ZzTop hailed from. They were the prom band for two of our high schools! Can you imagine that. Seen pictures in their yearbooks. They were most loved here in Texas. When Dusty Hill died , been playing ZZ Top music to remember him. Went to my kid's house in Houston. Listening to ZZ Top Greatest Hits!
@@victoriabrown1848 what a cool story! Thanks for sharing. Played at your school Prom. Were they any good back then? Raw for sure. Looking forward to your reply. RIP DUSTY. As Dusty would say take me with you Jesus.
5:52 ZZ stands for Zig Zag and Top comes from Topps -- both are brands of rolling papers
I always suspected that.
I don't know if this is true but I heard it from Billy Gibbons in an interview. He said he was in the loft of a barn with z shaped raters. There was a sign that said "beware of zz top." He thought that would be a good name for a band he was forming. He may have been pulling the interviewers leg. The rolling paper thing makes more sense.
I always thought it was a play on the name of BB King.
@@CravingBeer I always thought that too!
That’s what I’ve always thought it was too. ZZ Hill, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland. A play on names like that.
This song shows proper respect to John Lee Hooker's 'Boogie Chillen'.
I did high school in Grand Prairie in Dallas County and to me this was always our theme.
-signed your favorite lol ol white grandma.
Btw- I saw them in concert in San Diego and they're just as perfect in concert as they are in recording.
I hear Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker too, though he might've used the same riff for both songs. ZZ Top definitely paid homage to the late great Mr. Hooker with this song though!
You are thinking of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom-Boom-Boom”, 1972. The “Haw-Haw-Haw”. John Lee Hooker actually took ZZ Top to court for copyright infringement over this song. They settled out of court. But it is one of the best songs EVER to drive really fast too...
It's musically more similar to Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips" (1966) , covered most notably by The Rolling Stones on the "Exile on Main Street" album (1972)
Fun Fact - the only band member without a beard is the drummer, Frank Beard.
Ironic... lol
Broken God damn record in every freaking ZZ Top, video get a life who don't know jackass no new news here
I was hoping for this comment so I didn't have to post it!
Je snake Chill out and go have a drink. It's one of the amusing parts of the band.
Fuck expectations.
More ZZ Top please"Jesus just left Chicago/waitin on the bus","tush","cheap sunglasses","I need you tonight","party on the patio","pearl necklace","tube snake boogie"and"I'm nation wide","brown sugar" to get started on the ZZ Top train ☮️
We played this song at midnight to bring in 1974. Jeff P, not only did the neighbors hear it, but the entire town heard it. :D
Do 'Just Got Paid', then you might afford to go to that shack outside LaGrange. 😁
I've had that riff stuck in my head since yesterday
La Grange is based on same beat as Boogie Chillin’ by John Lee Hooker
Yeah, they gotta lotta nice girls.
I share Just got paid, every time I get a bonus!
Have to do “Waitin’ go the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago” together... great Texas Blues. They’re legends in the game & immortal here in Houston.
ZZ will always be at the end of the bands in the music store. perfect marketing and easy to find
When Jimi Hendrix was asked who his favorite guitarist was....the guy you just listened to was his answer.
@Possumlove According to Gibbons, the band he was in at the time got to play before Hendrix during a gig, and since his band didn't have enough material to fill their slot out they played Foxy Lady and Purple Haze. Right about halfway through the second song he noticed Hendrix himself was standing to the side of the stage (backstage area) just grinning with a "Look at the balls on this kid" face.
Check out the documentary "That Little Old Band From Texas" (it's from last year IIRC), it's a lot of fun and surprisingly honest.
The sound is called "Boogie" invented by John Lee Hooker, check him out.
Good point! Without John Lee Hooker there would be no zz top!
Lol boogie was not 'invented' by hooker.
@@_Red_Hand_ How about popularized?
@@randy8297 yes sir.
First boogie songs were arround 1930's
Hooker did call himself king of boogie.
And in the 70's disco claimed that word.
@@_Red_Hand_ I thought he was referring to the song "boogie chillin'" by john lee hooker. John lee hooker was the blues. Boogie? Most people grant Johnny johnson the found of boogie woogie which is a bit different but these are just semantics and icons.
Man, 1973 I was living and working in Columbus, Ohio when I first heard this. BAM BAM BAM Love it and love your reaction.
Bass, guitar, and a drum.
The sounds they make with just 3 instruments is amazing.
Yes in the beginning
ZZ Top is one of the coolest groups you're going to run into and this is one of their coolest songs.
Live at daryl's house lagrange is f'n amazing. Billy never sounded so dirty and crunchy.
And Billy tells a great story about meeting BB King
An amazing episode of Live at Daryl's House!
Going to check that out now!!
The other song you were thinking of is "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum.
tack160 yep he is lyin
"It's one thing to hear music, and it's one thing to listen." Yeah.
Man, You are my favorite you tube channel during these hard times. Thanks for making me re-enjoy these great songs. Be blessed.
Theres one that’s my personal favorite. They call it “I gotsta get paid”. It’s a cover from a rap song called
“25 lighters”. Which ZZ Top blows them out of the water! Please react to it. There are 2 that are similar in name the one I mentioned and “I just got paid”. Both are awesome but “I gotsta get paid” is my favorite. Heck react to em both.
Or You could react to every song they’ve ever done and we wouldn’t be mad!
Jamel AKA Jamal, John Lee Hooker did a song called "boom boom boom", sounds dang near identical 😊👍 great reaction!
Close to that riff but not exact cause of copyright infringement laws ...
My whole entire life I always wanted a second verse, but... The song is so goddamned groovy it's cool. The drummer is way underrated, by the way. Frank Beard. The only band member withOUT a beard!
"The name of the band was Gibbons' idea. The band had a little apartment covered with concert posters and he noticed that many performers' names used initials. Gibbons particularly noticed B.B. King and Z.Z. Hill and thought of combining the two into "ZZ King", but considered it too similar to the original name. He then figured that "king is going at the top" which brought him to "ZZ Top""
Source: Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZZ_Top
The other part I recall is that they wanted their albums easy to find & with a name like ZZ Top they would always be at the end of the racks in a record store :-)
They have never said how they came to pick the name. Another story is it’s a mesh of zig zags and Tops rolling papers
A musical journey would be incomplete without Humble Pie "Thirty Days In The Hole". An amazing song.
I think this type of swing is called the "Texas Shuffle," ZZ Top and SRV were masters of it.
The story about the "ZZ" was always that they wanted to be easy to find in the alphabetical stacks in the music store, heh.
Cause AA Top just doesn't sound that catchy... Maybe for alcoholics.
Billy Gibbons was also into guys like JJ Cole but specifically BB King and ZZ Hill he drew as inspiration for the name
I've always heard it was a reference to Zig Zags made by the Topps paper company
Russell Gil I’ve always heard the same
@@DustyBleeker lolz hillarous comment
Holy cow "it's one thing to hear music, it's one thing to listen to music" I've always felt that way.
I first heard this track about twenty five years ago and I listened to it back to back about thirty times. To this day it still raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
Fun Fact: Billy Gibbons (the guitarist) toured with Jimi Hendrix in, I think, 1969. And Hendrix said he was a big fan of Gibbons and they learned alot together.
This is before ZZ Top was formed.
Yes you are correct. He was in a band called "The Moving Sidewalks" Hendrix said he was one of his favorite Guitarists at the time.
There’s an interview with Jimi on the Dick Cavett show where he says Billy is his favorite player...
Check “apologies to pearly” on Rio grande mud. Played on a Stratocaster gifted to Billy gibbons by Hendrix. The pearly in question was Billy’s les Paul
This is the other one that sounds like this: John Lee Hooker and ZZ Top - Boom Boom Boom
I think Boom Boom Boom sounds better than La Grange
Yeah, " Boom Boom Boom " . True enough. And, CBS used that as part of the soundtrack for " NCIS: New Orleans " .
This reminds me of the good old days, when there was no smart phones or internet, when a friend or relative comes over and we sit in the car and just start hearing to some music and have good, crazy conversations. I know alot of you can relate. Good Times. You nailed it bro by reacting it in your car.
Love John Lee Hooker - I've been requesting him and Albert King lately. Need more Blues up in here!
Um. ZZ Top didn't sing with John Lee Hooker to make a version Boom, Boom, Boom (at least not a song I've ever heard). There's a video on YT that claims to be ZZ Top and John Lee singing Boom, Boom, Boom. However, that video is mislabled and it's Big Head Todd NOT Billy Gibbons. Granted, it's a great version of John Lee's song, just not with ZZ Top.
ZZ Top sounds just like this live. Its incredible. Always spot on.
You really should try “Waitin’ on the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago”. Pure blues, hot guitar. About a guy coming home from prison.
The guitarist is Billy Gibbons, he was Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitarist.
Him and Terry Kath (Chicago). Two of Hendrix's favorites. ruclips.net/video/7uAUoz7jimg/видео.html
He taught Jimi how to play slide guitar.
And Jimi was Lemmy's favourite guitarist !
Thought jimi’s favorite was johnny winter
So refreshing to see your reactions to songs I love, but forgot or grew tired of! Brings a freshness back to these great songs! Love it!
Jamel if you're checking out ZZ Top then you'll want to react to "Tube Snake Boogie". 😇
Blow Your Top, Blow Your Top
Pearl Necklace 😆
If he won’t his SISTER WILL!!
And "Pearl Necklace"
It was always said, but I have never really confirmed it, that the "ZZ" meant Zig Zag, and Top. They were both rolling papers.
Ain't nobody knows what he's talkin' about, and that's one of the (many) things that makes this song great (a-how-how-how).
I've known what Billy was talkin' 'bout since I was 10 years old and Marvin Zindler exposed the Chicken Ranch on Eyewitness News in Houston.
The Chicken Ranch got it's name during the Great Depression when patrons would pay for the girls' time with chickens. So many chickens outside in the yard, it got the nickname.
"Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" is a good one.
Here Here
A classic. Every house party in the 80s had this hittin' in the background!😁
Originally there were called the moving sidewalks. Used to be a bar band, played a lot in Pasadena, Texas. ZZTOP is basically a tribute to the rolling papers of the day. Zig Zags and Tops.
That "little ol' band from Texas" 🇨🇱 Z Z TOP! Oh hell yeah! I'm from Austin 🇨🇱 so naturally I love me some SRV and Z Z!♥️ Our wise state legislature made them the Official Band of the Republic of Texas 🇨🇱! Amazing that these same three guys have been together since '69!😲 Highly recommend you check out their first 3 albums.🤗 Very smooth blues/rock.😁 "Shakin' Your Tree" is one of my favorites!💯 The lead guitarist🎸, Billy Gibbons, gave Stevie Ray Vaughn a custom guitar that Stevie plays in the "Cold Shot" music video!🤯 Love your reactions and hope you explore more Z Z Top.♥️✌️
Billy Gibbons was Jimmi Hendrix's favorite guitar player.
Vicente Velasquez They (The Moving Sidewalks) did tour with Jimi and The Doors in the late 60’s.
Billy Gibbons was also Jimmi Hendrix's guitar tech as well.
You asked about the name "zztop" the thing with them, they started as a Texas based blues-rock band, BB King was considered King of the blues at that time, the "top," guy, so they were gonna call the band "ZZ King" in honor of BB, but decided it was corny then went with ZZ Top. Yeah; that and Tush were probably their biggest early hits, but "legs," was probably their biggest global smash, crossing into the pop and country charts
Billy was also a big fan of ZZ Hill a blues player From the 60s & 70s.
Do ZZ Top
"Manic Mechanic"
"Waitin for the bus/Jesus just left Chicago"
"Sure got cold after the rain felt"
Or "I gotsa get paid"
Some old ZZ stuff
Please
I live by La Grange. It was a house of ladies if you get my drift.
Welcome to my world 😉 ZZ Top has always been one of my favorites. When you hear their music you actually feel their music. Enjoy!
Best driving music EVER!
George Thorogood "Bad To The Bone"
If you enjoyed this ZZ classic, then you should enjoy George. :)
"Legs" and "sharp dressed man" are THE music videos of the 80's
And that is when they lost me.
That funny, that's when I found them lol
When i was in high school back in the 70's This is the first song i learned in our guitar class. Im almost 70 now still rock to this music. Thanks Jamel
"We had a little apartment, a little hangout room that was lined with those rainbow-colored blues posters you’d say nailed to the telephone poll, [listing] who was coming to town.”
As the guys looked at the posters, Gibbons said they realized “it was odd how many current names had initials - O.V. Wright, D.C. Bender, and of course B.B. King - he was down on this end of the alphabet, then it was Z.Z. Hill.”
Billy recalled thinking, “Jeez, ZZ and King, that’s a good combo.” He then decided that ZZ King was too similar to B.B. King, thinking:
“King being at the top, I said, ‘Okay, so it’s gonna be ZZ Top, and that’s the way it is.”(Billy Gibbons, an interview on Ultimate Classic Rock Nights)
Wrong. It combined the two biggest rolling paper brands of the time, Zig Zag and Top.
@@rhizomorph-music I stand by my comment. I've read and listened to Billy Gibbons' interviews. Not sure where you got your story from, but you're certainly free to believe whatever you want.
@@rhizomorph-music you are the one who is mistaken. thas some old bullshit rumor.
ZZ TOP best song "🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺"Beer drinkers and hell raisers"
ZZ Top came to West Berlin ~ 1986 when I was stationed there and were awesome. The whole playlist including La Grange was fantastic.
"Heads in Mississippi" is a raucus blues rocker worth your time.
I think “Tush” is also a very well-known ZZ Top song :)
All of this outstanding music that your discovering is the soundtrack of my life
"The name ZZ Top, according to band member Billy Gibbons, came from a tribute to B.B. King. The band originally were going to call themselves “Z.Z. King” in King's honor, but then decided it was too similar to B.B. King. Because B.B. King was at the “top” of the blues world, they changed it to ZZ Top"
Not ZZ King, ZZ Hill
ZZ Hill is where they got the ZZ
I always thought the name was a nod to rolling papers 😄
@@dougjackson4133 What do you mean, "Not ZZ King"?? Yes, ZZ King! ZZ King is what they were originally going to call the band, and then later decided on ZZ Top. I never said that the "ZZ" part of ZZ Top wasn't in reference to ZZ Hill. I only stated that the name was originally going to be ZZ King... And that's a fact! If you disagree, argue with Billy Gibbons about it, not me, because this fact came directly from his mouth.
@@nancyscogin7549 I guess that means you're a pot head? Don't get mad, just asking.
Pearl Necklace has always been my fav. Jammin to that while delivering pizzas with my t-tops off and windows.
My mom always said don't sing that I got older found out why lmao
That is some good ol Texas boogie woogie. That's cool you appreciate ZZ Top. I've seen 'em twice and they never disappointed me.
"Heard it on the X" Needs to be high on your list
THE FANTASIC VIBE OF THE 1970s ,,