[rating=3.00]
Texas icons ZZ Top released a Live From Texas record in 2008, but as is the case with most artists releasing live albums later in their careers, the set is rife with warhorses that occasional has them on autopilot. Back in 1980 though, the band still had a hell of a lot to prove with “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man” still gleams in the eyes of the bearded Billy Gibbons and crew.
And it’s that passion that provides most of the highlights of this recording culled from Germany’s television program Rockpalast back in 1980 when the beards only went down a foot past their Adam’s apple. ZZ Top settles into a decent cover of Sam & Dave’s “I Thank You” which is more soul and blues than blues rock before a groovy “Waitin’ For The Bus” comes along. But the first big surprise comes with “Jesus Just Left Chicago” which – if you listen closely – sounds remarkably similar to AC/DC’s “Ride On,” a deliberately built bluesy blast. “Fool For Your Stockings” is in the same vein. Sadly the first clunker however is “Manic Mechanic,” a kitschy offering that is filler at best.
When they hone in on the Texas blues they’ve made a career from, songs such as “Lowdown In The Street” and “Cheap Sunglasses” shine. The big beefy number – as has been the case for most of their career – is the opening to “La Grange” which comes off perfectly. “Have mercy everybody!” Gibbons or Hill can be heard saying. Have mercy indeed!
