Track Listing

1. Francine
2. Just Got Paid
3. Mushmouth Shoutin'
4. Koko Blue
5. Chevrolet
6. Apologies To Pearly
7. Bar B Q
8. Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell
9. Whisky 'n' Mama
10. Down Brownie

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13545 in Music
• Released on: 1988-01-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

CD Description
By its second release, 1972's RIO GRANDE MUD, ZZ Top was honing the tough blues rock hybrid that would make it a certified U.S. arena headliner by the mid-70's. While the album didn't spawn the big radio hits of its later releases such as "La Grange" and "Tush", RIO GRANDE MUD was another incredibly consistent and inspired ZZ Top classic.
Again, Billy Gibbons' guitar work is outstanding throughout, helping to spearhead such great cuts as the rugged opener "Francine", the gritty attitude of "Just Got Paid", the hyperactive "Ko Ko Blue", and one of the band's most melodic compositions up until this point, "Chevrolet". RIO GRANDE MUD remains one of ZZTop's most underrated recordings.

Customer Reviews

Ruined by remastering
I already had a vinyl copy of this album. It is a true ZZ Top classic, one of their best.

The CD version has been remastered and they seem to have tried to make it sound like an 80's rock album by the addition of reverb. This completely spoils the character of the album and does make a real difference to the sound.

I recommend you look for a secondhand vinyl copy. You will not be disappointed.

Remastering has stolen this album's vinyl soul
I agree with Matt. I had a vinyl copy of this excellent album that sounded much tighter and more up-front than this stadium rock remastering, which is truly disappointing. The original production created a more subtle soundscape to the abstract blues of ZZ Top's early albums. . Save your money for a vinyl copy - just as Matt advises.

Good music, bad production.
I'm gonna hunt this down on vinyl, those who've said the mastering on the CD releases is appauling are bang on the money. The music's classic ZZ Top, low down dirty foot stomping Texas blues rock. But the way the sound's been engineered is awful. Tres Hombres has been given the treatment to remedy this, and hopefully, so will this, but I'll have probably scored a vinyl version of this by then so it won't matter.

But the fact I'm willing to get it in two formats so it sounds good speaks volumes for the actual songs I think. "Just got Paid" is one of those riffs you can't help but want to pick up a guitar and play it yourself.