Original Album Series

Product was delivered quickly and in perfect condition. A great set of early ZZ Top albums as originally issued.

I've liked ZZ Top ever since they first appeared on my radar with "La Grange." Nonetheless, I haven't had any of their recordings since I got rid of my vinyl back in the '90s. I've been reading the new book "Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead" and got inspired to get these early releases. I've purchased a couple of other such 5-CD collections, and haven't been disappointed yet.First, I have to say that these recordings sound great and are certainly better than the original mixes of the 1970s. Second, I don't mean any disrespect to Gibbons and the guys, but to me these five recordings represent the best of the band. The first couple of discs reveal the inspiration of traditional blues singers and early Rolling Stones and Manfred Mann. This is a good thing in my book. All artists borrow until they find their own footing, and BFG is no exception. When I first heard ZZ Top, I lumped the band together with Canned Heat, but soon came to see the vast difference despite the similar aesthetic of the two bands. ZZ Top has developed over the years, but I like this early stuff the most.

Like the group

Texas-based southern rock/blues trio ZZ Top has become a respected force in the modern music scene, and deservedly so. This collection is a relatively well-selected choice of 5 of their best-remembered albums, spanning a career that gradually lifted them to commercial success. They have a good musical sense and feel for the blues. They can be serious and also have a sense of humor, flaunting a party-animal side that you have to love......for instance, it's no secret that the band took their name from their 2 favorite brands of cigarette rolling papers (even though they didn't claim to be rolling tobacco). Songs of drinking and hookers etc. blend well with their more serious side. Guitarist Billy Gibbons is a talented frontman, while bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard add admirably to the mix. This collection begins with their second album from the early '70s, Rio Grande Mud, which brought them radio play with Just Got Paid, a great example of the bluesy tone of this disc.....although that tune probably got more popular after their third album, Tres Hombres gave us the big hit La Grange (about a Texas cathouse), blues medley "Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago and the rockin' Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers. Their fourth album Fandango was not nearly as impressive overall, but it brought us the huge hit, Tush. One live side combined with a side of short, quick tunes made the album seem rushed and uninspired, but it did have great moments, such as Blue Jean Blues. Then this collection skips to their sixth album, Deguello because it gave us the huge hit Cheap Sunglasses, the popular I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide and their cover of the old Motown hit, I Thank You, which was co-written by The Temptations' Dave Porter and Isaac Hayes (who is best remembered for writing the music score for the '70s movie Shaft, and is more recently known as the voice of Chef on the animated series South Park). Deguello is a great improvement over their fourth album. Then for the last disc of this collection, they jump one or two albums ahead to Eliminator, which is the '80s album that brought us the hits, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin'. Although the album is a bit over-produced in a typically '80s fashion (this was obviously done to increase the chances of making this work sell better), it is a little spotty, but predominantly a good album. (note how their album titles often playfully boast their Texas origin)I've seen reviews on this site claiming this collection was poorly remixed and remastered. It's difficult for me to argue. I'm not the world's biggest audiophile. Admittedly, these discs are not all remastered to an optimum volume and quality.....and they don't even match each other in quality. But they sound good on a decent stereo. And for me, this is a pleasant collection of well-selected albums that go well together and is a fine showcase of an impressive career that gradually brought this powerful group to the level of popularity they deserve. Audiophiles may be right to complain, but I find this a real fun collection that I'm going to thoroughly enjoy!!

Some real toe tapping music.

Really nice pack of 5 cd’s

Sure jogged my memory of all the tasty morsels said band turned out during what I think was Rocks best - fertile and original musical era. Late 60’s,70’s and early 80’s Our collective age is showing but ZZT carved out original classic after another , and I am proud and also lucky, to have grown up during such a productive , juicy musical era !!Ya Didn’t have to do it but you did , but you did. And I thank you ! Muchos Gracias boys

This is a great buy. I can only find one flaw on one album. On Master of Sparked on Tres Hombres, there is some very slight distortion, which the track has always had. Is the collection perfect? No, buy it's not bad at all. For the price, you can't beat it.