Customer Reviews

Rio Grande Mud

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I am a recording engineer and sound mixer. I grew up in Texas, listening to and watching ZZ Top. The first two ZZ Top albums were released on vinyl records. Tres Hombres was the first to be released on Compact Disc. When the inevitable popularity of the CD overtook the market, Bill Ham thought it would be a great idea to release the first six albums on CD, which they affectionately called the "six pack." While remastering this compilation, somebody (who knows, but who controlled all of ZZ Top's musical movements??) got the bright idea to re-edit, reproduce, re-arrange and remix the first three albums. At the time, there was a new device in the studios that was known as a "digital echo" device for adding reverb and delay textures to sounds. Most notably, Phil Collins was using this echo device to enhance his drum sounds. ZZ Top's producer (you know who) decided it was the way to go as well, that the new sounds would attract the day's "new audience." The echo and reverb patterns on the "six pack" were so much bigger and wetter than on the original first three albums. Then I started to notice that there were different vocal performances and different guitar riffs in a few places. Talk about re-arranging an original! At a later time, the reproduced versions released on the "six pack" were then released on individual CD's which contain the original artwork of the first three albums. However, they are definitely NOT the original recordings. This process is much like Jimi Hendrix's producer, who went into the studio after Hendrix died and actually hired a player to finish the guitar work on recordings that were incomplete when Hendrix died. Those recordings were subsequently released as "Hendrix's final unrealeased recordings." Suffice it to say, that if the world's art museums decided that certain Rembrandt or DaVinci paintings looked "faded" or weren't "up to date with today's audience," and they repainted certain brush strokes on these masterpieces, the world art community would have a cow! Don't buy these CD's, they are not ORIGINAL works. They have been repainted to fit what someone thought would be a new and "catchy" idea.

Of course the music is great, but the bozo who remixed it botched another masterpiece. It really baffles me that someone had the nerve to tamper with these albums. It's like prying open a time capsule from 1972 and putting a laptop computer and a playstation inside of it. Drum machines and slick effects weren't on the original, so what the hell? Do they want to go add drum machines and overdubs to old Robert Johnson records too? Anyway, if you want this album on CD, just contact me. I'll gladly give you mine.

As part of an attempt to capitalize on the success of their Eliminator sound, ZZ Top decided to go back into the studio and remix and also re-record parts of their first 6 albums thinking it would make them more money and entice fans of their newer sound to go back and buy their earlier records. Well guess what, in the process their older fans who were used to the original versions on the old cassettes and albums were shocked when they listened to any of these first generation CD releases. They heard bogus reverbed drums, and entire sections of both music and vocals re-recorded. Talk about tarnishing the legacy of a great band's output. Well someone finally wised up and now at least Tres Hombres and Fandango are now available in original mix, remastered form. So stay away from this trash and wait for the entire back catalog to be released in it's original mix, remastered form on CD.

In doing a comparsion as to what my Vinyl copy of "Rio Grande Mud" HAS and what my CD version of the album off "The ZZ Top Sixpack" DOESN'T have I noted: 1. My Vinyl copy has a very cool fade out on the song "Francine" in which Billy Gibbon's plays harmonics on the guitar that actually sound like bells ringing! My CD version doesn't have that. 2. My Vinyl copy has an absolutely killer slide solo on "Just Got Paid". My CD version has a very small, limited slide solo. In fact the only thing my CD version has that my Vinyl doesn't have is a very cheesy, annoying, fake, digital echo sound thoughout the entire album. Come on guys! Admit remixing this classic album was a mistake and give us back the original version! The CEO of Coca-Cola admitted that changing the formula for Coke was a mistake and they changed it back! Why would you do this?!! I'd say buy the CD but realize there's a much better version somewhere out there. And while I'm at it, put back Frank Beard's great drum work at the end of "Backdoor Love Affair" on their first album! Why they cut that out I'll never know!

Why the hell did they do this? I would LOVE to find someone that could sell me all of the ZZ Top cd's from the first though Deguello that are ORIGINAL, and not remixed with all kinds of fancy echo crap. I don't want "slick" effects...I want the old, hard drivin' power trio "Little Old Band From Texas" that I grew up with. I'm SO sorry I ever bought any of these.
Give me back my vinyl...
DON'T BUY IT!!

God, I hate this remix! So does Billy, in fact, for those who are wondering who remixed this. In the December 04 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine, Billy says, and I quote, "There were some odd releases previous to Chrome, Smoke, & BBQ that had been remastered and I think re-mixed." See, he doesn't like it that much either. But I can't give this thing less than 5 stars because the music does shine through. I can't let what the record company did ruin this for me. This is my favorite ZZ Top album, the perfect combination of great songs and blues instincts. I love everyone of their albums, but this one is my absolute favorite. From Francine to Just Got Paid to Bar-B-Q to Whiskey'n Mama (my personal favorite ZZ tune) these guys rock out and play with passion. I literally think Billy's strings are burning up when he plays slide on Just Got Paid and Whiskey'n Mama. It makes me realize how lucky we are to have them around today. They have not made one bad album ever! A couple of a okay ones, but they're still listenable! ZZ Top is one of my top five favorites ever, right along with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jimmie Vaughan. Here's my advice: buy this cd, but realize that it will sound way different than what was originally released, enjoy it for what it is, and pray to God that Warner will follow up the great box set Chrome, Smoke, and BBQ with the all of the original albums completely remastered. Peace, love, and ZZ Top!

My advice to any of you who get nauseous (such as myself) from attempting to listen to the screwed-up sound quality of the CD of this awesome recording is, try to get your hands on the original LONDON vinyl (or all of their first 5 albums for that matter) at all cost, record it through a sound card, or similar professional digital recording equipment, burn it onto a CD-R and stick it in the jewel case of the original store-bought CD. You'll be glad you did. My burning question is why the hell alienate your long-time hard-core fans in favor of a bunch of 80's MTV teenyboppers (i.e. Eliminator, Afterburner albums etc.) who have no idea about the true value of great classic blues-based Rock'n'Roll. Those who grew up on this band, and know the original sound are the only ones who will appreciate what ZZ Top were all about in the 70's. Great Rock'n'Roll in any case! 5 stars for the music alone!

Rio Grande Mud ranks right up there with Tres Hombres and Deguello as ZZ Top's finest work. Their debut was good, but Rio Grande Mud is many times better. It rocks harder and the songs are better. Billy Gibbons' guitar smokes throughout the album! The little band from Texas really began to hit their peak with this album. This is the way blues rock is supposed to be played. However, the follow up to this record, Tres Hombres, is even better.

This great album deserves a better CD though. It was remixed with heavy echo and synthesized drums. It really needs a new CD with the mix from the original vinyl record. The music deserves 5 stars, but the CD does not.

yeah re-mix sucks but it's still great zz. admit you were wrong and make it right!

I think the first three ZZ Top albums are a great examples of Texas Blues Rock, ZZ Top style. Before Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons ruled the rock guitar world. I bought all the ZZ Top LP's in the early 70's and Rio Grande Mud, ZZ Top's second release is a favorite of mine. Rio Grande Mud has some very strong cuts. Francine, Just Got Paid, Ko Ko Blue, Bar B-Q and Whiskey Mamma all rock! Billy Gibbons guitar work is superb. The LP also includes some of your standard slower blues numbers. All in all a great introduction to that "little ole band from Texas". I bought the ZZ Top six pack a while back and I was very disappointed to find modification to the original sound. Lots of overblown reverb and artificial drums were added to the first three LP's and Fandango. Maybe the originals can re-released as vintage ZZ Top someday. I think the only original versions available are on the "Best of ZZ Top".