1973 - July: ZZ Top “Tres Hombres”

What the Riff?!?

Yes, those bearded wonders, the trio of ZZ Top would find their breakthrough hit in LaGrange off their third album entitled Tres Hombres. With Billy Gibbons on guitar, Dusty Hill on bass, and Frank Beard (ironically the only member without a beard) on drums, ZZ Top would begin their climb to stardom via Texas blues/rock with this album. ZZ Top started in 1969 in Houston, Texas and are still playing together today after 50 years.
​We hope you enjoy this treat from the Texas blues trio as much as we do.

Waitin' for the Bus
Have Mercy! This is the first track on the album, and was inspired by "people watching" at the bus stop.

Jesus Just Left Chicago
The second track on the album has no noticeable break from the first, and you will often hear the two played together on the radio. Billy Gibbons said that this song was a gospel-inspired blues number.

Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
This hard driving Southern rock piece originated in a stop ZZ Top took one night at a roadside bar near El Paso to avoid a windstorm.

Have You Heard? This deep cut combines gospel and straight blues. Both Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill were offered $1 million to shave their beard, and they turned the money down. George W. Bush declared May 15th, 1997 "ZZ Top Day" as governor of Texas.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from "Match Game"
We're pretty sure the entire crew of this game was toasted the entire time.

STAFF PICKS:
“Walk Like a Man” by Grand Funk
Wayne's staff pick was a hit from the album "We're an American Band." Grand Funk Railroad had truncated their name to Grand Funk by this time.

“Diamond Girl” by Seals & Crofts
Rob features the softer side of rock with his pick, also from a Texas group. There were several hits from Seals and Crofts during the 70's.

“Brother Louie” by Stories
Bruce features a funky story about an interracial relationship and the intolerance of the couple's families.

“Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” by George Harrison
Brian's pick features Beatles alumnus Harrison in an acoustic-leaning prayer for peace. George Harrison was reluctant to talk to the media, preferring to have his song speak for themselves.

COMEDY TRACK:

“Watergate” by Dickie Goodman
This comedy collage spoofs on the scandal of Watergate and finishes us off for this week.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.