Customer Reviews

Live From Texas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Look, ZZ Top in 2008 is no ZZ Top in 1973, or 1983, for that matter. They've aged a ton (everybody in the band as of 2008 is 59 years of age!), and they are no longer MTV hitmakers. But these Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are back and at it with a live album recorded in their home state of Texas.

'Live from Texas' captures the essence of ZZ Top in concert. Performing their '70s, '80s and early '90s classics, and still donning those classic beards, if you can't score tickets to a show, this is the next best thing.

However, the reviewer who stated the sound quality isn't perfect is correct. It's not muddy, and it's nowhere near as bad as he made it sound, but it's still not excellent. This was released on Eagle Records, and not Warner Bros. or RCA, their two record companies.

It's a good show. 'La Grange,' 'Got Me Under Pressure' and 'Sharp Dressed Man' are all incredible live. Of course I've seen them performed live on TV over the years, but it's so cool to have it on CD!!! Billy's voice is great for a man at the age of 59, and this proves the band is still superb.

One complaint: I wish they would have played 'She Loves My Automobile' at this show. At the Willie Nelson birthday concert several years back, ZZ just played a superb version of the song (with Willie, of course!), but the song is so great played live, and it would fit in perfectly on this live album.

But the complaint is more a personal thing than anything. Other than that, it's great! If you, like me, have been waiting for Billy, Dusty and Frank to release a live album ('Fandango!' doesn't count), than you will probably be satisfied. If you can past the fact that they aren't 24 and 34 (their ages in 1973 and 1983) anymore, you should be fine.

Highly recommended for any ZZ Top collector. Casual fans who aren't really used to ZZ Top just yet are advised to buy 'One Foot In The Blues,' 'Greatest Hits' or 'The Best of ZZ Top.'

A great show from their home state of Texas!

ENJOY!!!

I bought this CD for the extended version of Blue Jean Blues. I knew from the first track with the audience noise and poor mixing that I'd been had again. The performance is mediocre if you listen beyond the poor mix (muddy is an appropriate adjective). Granted the vocals reflect years of beer/whiskey-drinkin' and hell-raisin'. The bulk of the presented performances reflect their popular Eighties hits, not their best material. The biggest disappointment is after the track "Tush", where dialog about shopping at a dollar store abruptly ends the CD. Did anyone preview the CD before it went to "pressing"? Even as a "compleatist", I would pass on this given a second chance.

I have to be honest here--I'm one of the biggest fanzz of ZZ Top in the world. I've seen the band at least a dozen times in various venues and locales. I am a bit biased; however, I can be honest when the boyzz put out a product that doesn't stand the test of time (Afterburner, anyone?).
Fortunately, the release of "Live From Texas" is not one of those lowlights.
Amazingly, this concert CD is the first complete live set ever released by the band (the only previous live releases have been side 1 of the 1975 album "Fandango!" and the second half of the 1999 CD "XXX", as well as various CD single or CD reissue bonus tracks). Their original manager/producer/empresario Bill Ham felt that releasing live material would discourage people from going to see the band live.
I was at the taping of this live CD (the DVD/BluRay version was released earlier in 2008, with extras making it worth the purchase) at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas in November of 2007, and as usual, the Boyzz didn't disappoint. They played well, with the rhythm section of Dusty Hill and Frank Beard displaying their usual "1+1=4" perfection and the fine fretwork of the Reverend Willy G (Billy Gibbons) in full effect.
The CD (and DVD) play to the strengths and personalities of the band very well--you'll recognize almost every song within a few seconds, even if you're only a casual fan.
The only criticism is this--the band didn't pull out more "deep tracks" or "lost gems" to document this historical occasion (The DVD does have the excellent bonus track of Hendrix's "Foxy Lady"); it also would have been nice to hear some (or even ONE) track from their RCA releases (some of which were played at the show), but for the obsessive fan/collector (such as myself) or the casual fan of the band, this is a must-buy disc.

Good Vibes To Y'all...

ZZ Top has released a couple of albums in the past with a few live tracks mixed in with studio tracks. Live from Texas is the first time they have released an entirely live album and the results are smokin'! All of the songs you want to hear, and a couple you might not expect, are included. The band's tightness allows the album to rock and flow and every track is delivered with precision. Billy Gibbons' guitar work is always amazing, and it sounds great on this CD, while Dusty Hill and Frank Beard supply the rythym that makes ZZ Top chug and burn with their own signature sounds. There is also a DVD release of this CD, which I saw on TV and won't leave you disappointed, either.

I saw these guys several times in the 70s, and they played every note of every song live. If only they did this today. This CD is maybe one half live, if that. Listen to the vocals on Legs. That is obviously the studio vocals from the original recording. I know the 80s material is tough to pull off in concert without some help, but at least play the old 70s stuff live.

The thing is no matter what you think of this recording there is a GREAT and I mean really GREAT cd waiting out there. It is the 1980 Rockpalast show. My goodness just watch it on youtube. Billy is at his best . Dusty at his smoothest. Frank at his Frankest. COME ON ZZ gives us what we want. We love yall and love that you still jam, but we real true fans love tho old old stuff ( anything before MTV.)PLEASE give it to us man.

they had a good time making this recording, and they can still make it happen! the years of playing together shows as this tight trio bring that texas boogie to the masses, and does a damn fine job of doing it!

At long last, ZZ's first proper live album -- over 30 years after the band was formed!! The question is, do they even sound like ZZ Top anymore? Not much, I hate to say. The band seems like a ghost of their old razor-sharp, fiery selves in spite of a genuine effort to come across as energized and relevant. Oh, and then there's that awful sound quality. ZZ is going to have to dig up some live material straight out of the glory day vaults to make up for this stinker.

First the vox. Listen to the samples and ask yourself if this is Gibbons singing -- that raspy, wiry voice filled with subtle tonalities has been replaced by a Tom Waits monotone gruff empty of all range. And it's like that on all the songs. I thought they had on a guest singer!! The trademark Gibbons vocals are gone, shot down the ages, and what remains is seldom recognizable. The exception is "Legs" which by this point sounds awkwardly strained and tremulous and, like the album itself, comes too late. Hill sings on a couple of occasions and while he's conserved his vocals better, they don't play off Gibbons' voice any more. Hill sticks out like a sore thumb whenever he opens his mouth.

And now the sound. It ain't great. It's mushy, echoey, and cluttered. Sound separation is inadequate and the result is frustrating. Even the playing lacks finesse. It just bulldozes on.

And finally the question. Why the heck did the boys put this off for so long???? This is a shadow of their former prowess and presence. It's a colossal example of a missed opportunity. Such a letdown.

They'd better have live material in the vaults...or else one of classic rock's best live acts will go down in history as sounding like plank of wood hitting the floor in an echo chamber. Or worse still, they'll think we fans were nutters for raving about ZZ at all!

I've downloaded many ZZ top shows recently, MANY. This recording is average at best. It doesn't quite sound like a soundboard recording, nor does it sound like an audience recording. The recording is just average. I doubt the recording was remastered or tweaked much if any. The real treat here must be the boys playing "Blue Jean Blues". The band doesn't really play this song anymore, unfortunately this is probably why it was lacking. It was a poor live version of the song. Billy, Dusty and Frank seemed to be a bit rusty o this song. Anyway, I supported the band by buying this live recording and also the dvd. I also purchased the 1980 Essen, Germany dvd and the live cd of the same show. Plus I bought "Rio Grande Mud" and "Afterburner". Oh, also I bought the recent remasters of the ORIGINAL MIXES of Tres Hombres and Fandango. I enjoyed downloading all of those live recordings so I felt it was only RIGHT to throw some money at the band by buying their products. ZZ Top out to get in on the "Instant Live" market a little. Give fans a chance to buy some professionally recorded live concerts. Don't record ALL of the concerts, give us music fans a chance to still record your shows, but tape and SELL some of your live shows Billy, Dusty and Frank. You guys are still rocking like crazy. : )

For a long time I've been lamenting the absence of a live disc in ZZ Top's catalogue. Finally that oversight has been amended with Live From Texas. Now, this disc was recorded in 2007. Not exactly the band in the their prime. I, and I'm sure most fans, would have preferred a live release recorded in the mid 70s to mid 80s. A high-quality late 70s ZZ Top live release would be at the top of my must-buy list. Correction: I have just discovered that a vintage ZZ Top live recording has been made available: Live In Germany 1980, so it appears my wish has been granted. Thank you to the band and the record label for making this happen. Please release more vintage recordings!

However, as anyone knows who has seen these guys live lately, they still rock as hard as ever. Live from Texas is a very good document of what a 21st century ZZ Top live show is like. The setlist is predictable for the most part. They cycle through the requisite hits, occasionally throwing in a lesser known song here and there. Having said that, this is hot, hot stuff. Reverend Billy G is in colossal form. My two favorite tracks, Just Got Paid and Blue Jean Blues both spotlight Billy rocking out with some serious guitar work. As always the legendary rhythm section of Dusty Hill and Frank Beard and solid and spot on. So, it's not perfect but finally ZZ Top has a live album, and it rocks!!