By: Tracking Angle

August 2nd, 2024

Category:

News

Rhino High Fidelity's First Multi-LP Box Set Goes to ZZ Top!

comprises albums from 1971-1976 (press release isn't precise about cutting source)

LOS ANGELES—Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi) returns with the latest addition to its acclaimed limited-edition, high-end vinyl reissues with the first-ever boxed set release. ZZ Top From The Top: 1971-1976 includes ZZ Top’s First Album (1971), Rio Grande Mud(1972), Tres Hombres (1973), Fandango! (1975), and Tejas (1976). This Hi-Fi release celebrates their musical excellence and includes detailed liner notes by James Austin in conversation with frontman Billy Gibbons. Limited and numbered to 2,000 copies, the collection is available today exclusively at Rhino.com and internationally at select WMG stores.

Rhino High Fidelity has set the industry standard for sound quality and packaging, demonstrating Rhino's 45-year legacy of award-winning audio releases. To ensure an unmatched listening experience, Kevin Gray expertly cuts lacquers and Optimal handles the 180-gram vinyl pressing. The attention to detail extends to the aesthetic experience, with glossy covers and "tip-on" jackets reminiscent of vinyl’s golden age.

ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, with vocalist/guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and rhythmist Frank Beard. The band has become known for their colorful, creative sound that leverages the legacy of the electric blues. The trio released their 1971 debut, ZZ Top’s First Album, produced by Bill Ham. The record established the band's roots in blues, boogie, hard rock and southern rock. Gibbon shares, “As trios go, the rhythm section, bass and drum backing the guitar, was getting solid. That and the band’s playing style ignited a surreal kind of automatic cerebral contact communication.”

Rio Grande Mud, released in 1972, maintains the blues flavor and saw ZZ Top dive deeper into the songwriting process. It was their first album to chart, reaching No.104 on the Billboard 200. Their single “Francene” became an instant fan favorite becoming the band’s first charting record, hitting No.69 on the Billboard Hot 100. ZZ Top reached a commercial breakthrough with their third studio album, Tres Hombres. The certified gold album peaked at No.8 on the Billboard 200, and the single “La Grange” charted at No.41. Their first time working with producer Terry Manning at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Gibbons attests the collaboration to the band’s success, “[t]he jump from Texas to Tennessee reinforced that pure rock n roll spirit lingering large from both ends.”

Their 1975 release, Fandango! is a gold-certified collection of both live and studio tracks and is home to the popular classic rock radio hit “Heard it on the X '' and their first Top 40 single, “Tush '', which peaked at No.20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The fifth and final album in this collection, Tejas, meaning “friends” in Caddo and a reference to the band's home state, was released in 1976. The gold-certified record peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard200 and is seen as a transitional record, incorporating modern equipment. The opening single, “It’s Only Love’ is a strident Texas shuffle and reached No.44 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Rhino High Fidelity will continue to tap into Warner Music’s extensive music catalog, bringing music enthusiasts and audiophiles superlative versions of landmark albums from diverse genres, including jazz, blues, rock, pop, and beyond. The series will introduce two classic albums quarterly, maintaining the same exceptional audio and packaging quality that has quickly defined Rhino High Fidelity.

From The Top: 1971-1976

Tracklist

ZZ Top’s First Album

Side One

1. “(Someone Else Been) Shaking Your Tree”

2. “Brown Sugar”

3. “Squank”

4. “Goin’ Down to Mexico”

5. “Old Man”

Side Two

1. “Neighbor, Neighbor”

2. “Certified Blues”

3. “Bedroom Thang”

4. “Just Got Back From Baby’s”

5. “Backdoor Love Affair”

Rio Grande Mud

Side One

1. “Francine”

2. “Just Got Paid”

3. “Mushmouth Shoutin’”

4. “Ko Ko Blue”

5. “Chevrolet”

Side Two

1. “Apologies to Pearly”

2. “Bar-B-Q”

3. “Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell”

4. “Whiskey’N Mama”

5. “Down Brownie”

Tres Hombres

Side One

1. “Waitin’ For the Bus”

2. “Jesus Just Left Chicago”

3. “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”

4. “Master of Sparks”

5. “Hot, Blue and Righteous”

Side Two

1. “Move Me on Down the Line”

2. “Precious And Grace”

3. “La Grange”

4. “Shiek”

5. “Have you Heard?”

Fandango!

Side One

1. “Thunderbird”

2. “Jailhouse Rock”

3. “Backdoor Medley”

a. “Backdoor Love Affair”

b. “Mellow Down Easy”

c. “Backdoor Love Affair No.2”

d. “Long Distance Boogie”

Side Two

1. “Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings”

2. “Blue Jean Blues”

3. “Balinese”

4. “Mexican Blackbird”

5. “Heard it on the X”

6. “Tush”

Tejas

Side One

1. “It’s Only Love”

2. “Arrested for Driving While Blind”

3. “El Diablo”

4. “Snappy Kakkie”

5. “Enjoy and Get it On”

Side Two

1. “Ten Dollar Man”

2. “Pan Am Highway Blues”

3. “Avalon Hideaway”

4. “She’s a Heartbreaker”

5. “Asleep in the Desert”

Comments

2024-08-03 09:35:29 AM

Come on wrote:

Mike Mettler on analogplanet says, it’s cut AAA by Kevin Gray. If he concludes this by the OBI information, it still might be unclear, if it’s cut AAA or just cut from the original analog tapes, which can be two different things (as you indicate in brackets in you sub header).
- 2024-08-03 04:41:36 PM
  
  bwb wrote:
  
  Which is the exact same point I brought up about the UHQR Bill Evans releases where all it says is "Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original analog tapes."
  
  When I questioned how we could know they are AAA when they had basically the same blurb in the press release, I was dismissed by our host who said "It is AAA. I don't know how it can be more clearly stated." Now with the same statement we are questioning it?
  - 2024-08-03 07:24:10 PM
    
    Come on wrote:
    
    It’s correct. Although Chad for sure knows better than anyone else, how to be really clear, there’s nothing written anywhere in the documentation or on the stickers of the UHQR’s or any other of his releases.
    
    The reason, why we anyway trust, that those releases are produced all analog is, because he told so in videos or interviews and because he always makes clear, when one of his productions is done with a digital step. This is not the case with most other reissue companies, also not with Rhino.
- 2024-08-04 08:59:08 PM
  
  Michael Fremer wrote:
  
  The press release did not make this clear or reference it at all. I had to go to the airport right after I posted that but will have it clarified Monday
2024-08-03 05:57:53 PM

Rob Wynn wrote:

I don’t know what the official press release says but the email to customers and the order page itself both start with this statement: “AAA Cut From The Original Stereo Master Tapes By Kevin Gray”.

… so “AAA” are the first 3 letter used.
- 2024-08-03 07:12:54 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  Good to know…then it comes from there and just the press release was unclear (as most declarations are unclear).
2024-08-03 06:51:37 PM

Marc wrote:

Can you get this boxset in Ireland? Kindest Regards, Marc
2024-08-03 09:48:37 PM

Silk Dome Mid wrote:

My original LPs are in good shape, there's no bonus material (ZZ Top rarely recorded cuts that didn't end up on the records), so no thanks.
2024-08-04 10:34:20 PM

Eugene Harrington wrote:

While not really interested in this specific release, I too would like to know the 'select WMG stores' where these Rhino HiFi releases are available internationally? Is there a list anywhere? My preference would be to deal with Germany or another European Union country. I'm also writing from Ireland.
- 2024-08-05 06:13:01 AM
  
  Ondrej wrote:
  
  Hi, Rhino US happily ships to EU and the rate is reasonable: I paid 15USD for 2 records to CZ. Rhino does not charge US VAT, but I had to pay it in my country (just 21% VAT from goods plus shipping, no customs/duties fee). And it's fast.
2024-08-05 12:38:57 AM

Steven N Thomas wrote:

The real question is whether these records sound any better than essentially the same box set from 2017 called Cinco and also supposed to be AAA?
- 2024-08-05 03:07:53 AM
  
  Silk Dome Mid wrote:
  
  That's a good question. That set was well done and sounded outstanding. I hear the box is nicer on this one...
- 2024-08-05 10:28:09 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  I just have Tres Hombres, because it’s the best sounding one and the one I like the most. This I have as RKS cut (VMP release) and the Cinco SH/KG/RTI cut of this one (which is the same as the 2006 Warner/RTI release) is on the way to me.
  
  A triple comparison then, of those two with this new KG cut here would be really interesting.
  
  Usually in my experience, masterings (of pop/rock) releases where SH contributed are best. But there are just 2 records with SH contribution in the Cinco box.
2024-08-07 06:11:05 PM

Lemon Curry wrote:

FYI, the box set is sold out. Was limited to 2000 units. This was a windfall for Rhino, as the box is essentially 5 Rhino High Fidelity disks at full $40 price. $400,000 revenue in one week's time.

Mine is due to arrive in a few days. I've had Warner represses of all 5 albums for years, and they sound pretty good. Once I get the box I'll post a short review here.
- 2024-08-08 01:56:53 AM
  
  Spin The Black Circle wrote:
  
  I just got mine delivered today. They’re already selling for $400 on Discogs and $600 on eBay. Crazy!
2024-08-19 02:10:32 PM

JEB-42 wrote:

Sold out on the Canadian Warner site. It is still available for pre-order (same way Canadian site has it, does not ship till Aug 30) on the Australian Warner site:

https://store.warnermusic.com.au/products/zz-top-from-the-top-1971-1976-rhino-high-fidelity-5lp-boxed-set