ZZ Top is best known for the hits such as “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” But, for the hard rock-infused blues riff of “La Grange,” it was one of those songs that the band needed to add to fill time on the record for it to be complete. Little did the three members of the band know, the single would skyrocket into the Billboard Hot 100 and help the record it was on, Tres Hombres, reach the No. 8 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
For 51 years, the three members of ZZ Top traveled the world and brought their blues rock and roll to audiences. Now, 56 years later, the band is still going strong – even after the death of bassist Dusty Hill. But during their time, the trio of Billy Gibbons, Hill and drummer Frank Beard was untouchable.
Tres Hombres kicks off with “Waitin’ for the Bus.” Gibbons intros with a groovy light riff that hooks listeners. Before ZZ Top, Gibbons was in a band called The Moving Sidewalks that, at one point in time, opened for Jimi Hendrix. A certain myth grew that Hendrix called Gibbons “the greatest guitarist of all time.” Even though unproven, just listening to the solo on “Waitin’ for the Bus” gives an inkling that Hendrix was onto something.
Track two is one that has become a staple in the band’s live set. “Jesus Just Left Chicago” picks up on the blues and southern style that have shaped the band. There’s a nice crunchy quality to Hill’s bass that fits well with Beard’s drumming, which allows Gibbons to go off the track and solo throughout the song. Just by looking at ZZ Top, from their clothes to their long and iconic beards (except for Frank Beard, ironically), you can tell how cool they are. If you couldn’t see them in person, just by listening to “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” the band’s coolness seeps through the speakers and melts all ears in range.
From a lyrical standpoint, song three, “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers,” isn’t great. But Gibbons and Hill have a great call and response. This is the listener’s first time, on this record, to hear Hill’s outstanding voice. It’s higher and cleaner when compared to his compadre on guitar. Like in typical ZZ Top fashion, Gibbons peels off on a solo while Beard and Hill anchor the song to allow Gibbons to return and close out the tune.
At the halfway point of the record, listeners are greeted with “Move Me on Down the Line,” which is a nice, steady rock tune. The two tunes prior, “Master of Sparks” and “Hot, Blue and Righteous,” saw the group experiment with a slower tune and blues approach. “Move Me on Down the Line” is a more raw and stripped-back tune. Gibbons and Hill both carry out the chorus while keeping the song simple and stripped back.
On song six, “Precious and Grace,” Gibbons approaches the song with a heavier and meaner approach. This riff is one of the hardest ones to appear on the record. I like that it comes after a lighter riffed tune. It seems to have more of a snarl and bite. Beard attacks the drums with more of an edge that also steers the tune down a darker alleyway. While Gibbons’ solo is shortened slightly as the band gets into a tight mini jam/groove, which is tightened with Hill’s superb bassline. “Precious and Grace” is the most underrated tune on the record that deserves more attention.
The timeless “La Grange” greets listeners as the seventh tune on the album. Beard tapping away on the rim of the drums mixed with the iconic riff is warm and familiar to listeners. This powerhouse of a song never fails to get fans up and dancing. Even though this song was tossed on the album as a late add-on, it runs longer than any other song on the record. That might be because of Gibbons’ extensive solo halfway through the record, which bridges the two halves of the song together.
For the band, “La Grange” is more about the music than the poetic lyrics. Three-fourths of the album is all rhythm and guitar solos, which makes this one of the best rock songs in history. From the first solo, every fan knows what song it is and every fan immediately responds. In live versions, the tune is extended even longer with more blues riffs and hard rock beats.
The album closes with song 10, “Have You Heard?” It’s a slow-moving tune that quietly brings the album to a close. Gibbons and Hill harmonize on the chorus, which isn’t heard often on this record. Instead of going out with a massive bang, the band elected for a more subtle ending, which most bands don’t do often but is appreciated when they do.
Over 52 years later, ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres is still an influential and iconic record in the band’s history. From deep cuts like “Precious & Grace” to more popular and mainstream tunes like “La Grange,” it’s a blue showcase on this record. If the band did not include “La Grange,” it’s hard to imagine the band as it is and imagine whether or not they’d be as successful as they are today. Whether you listen to albums on vinyl or through streaming, Tres Hombres is a record worth listening to front to back.
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracklisting:
1. Waitin’ for the Bus
2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
3. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
4. Master of Sparks
5. Hot, Blue and Righteous
6. Move Me on Down the Line
7. Precious and Grace
8. La Grange
9. Sheik
10. Have You Heard?
Follow ZZ Top Online:
My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.