ZZ Top Album: “Six Pack”

If you're a diehard zz top fan, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. That warm, intimate, tight ambience you remember from your old LPs has been eradicated and replaced by a sterile, cold and gimmicky atmosphere that ruins the listening experience. the mainstream success that top enjoyed in the 80s with "eliminator" and the like must have persuaded them to remix these early classics to sound like they are part of the same family as their synthesizer-phase albums. now, on the six-pack, every instrument sounds like it was recorded in a cavernous, sanitized bomb shelter. they rerecorded some vocals, too, which you'll know immediately if you try to sing along. in short, they "fixed" something that wasn't broken and really messed it up. "fandango" and "tres hombres" have been newly remixed and remastered -- no doubt due to the outcry from fans who know better -- and those are the ones you should purchase. i'm waiting for them to give "tejas" the same treatment. (also, be aware that the six-pack does not include "deguello," even though it came out before "el loco.")

I agree with the previous reviewers who have complained about the awful remixing and the terrible altering of the original drum sound. Since one reviewer suggested that the problem could be avoided by buying the cds individually, I wanted to let people know that the individual cds have the same remixes on them so that is no way to solve the problem. E-mail the band or Warner Brothers (or RCA or whoever has the catalog rights) to let them know how bad these new versions are! If enough people complain, maybe they will put out the originals. Given that everyone and his brother is re-releasing "remastered" versions of classic cds to improve upon the sound of the original cds, these certainly seem like great candidates for that kind of treatment. Until then, it's vinyl or cassettes (which haven't been messed with).

I will also say that the remastering of these CD's are bad. I can not give this set more than 2 stars.

These mp3s are the original recordings. They are not those remastered ones where the drums sound like gunshots. The volume seems to vary on some of the tracks, which is strange. But overall, if you want to hear zz top's early stuff, this is the thing to get. The only question I have is why did they skip Deguello? It sold more than El Loco and is closer in sound to the other five. I bought it separately.

Like "One Foot In The Blues" this 6 album set is 100% NOT the original sound of these albums. Their drums and bass have been re-recorded to sound more like their big hit Eliminator. The only two albums that are available remastered and in their original sound is Tres Hombres and Fandango. You would also do well with Rancho Texicana: The Very Best of ZZ Top or Chrome, Smoke & BBQ [Box Set]. Every song on Rancho Texicana is also on the box set so no need for both unless you want the smaller set for the car or something.

That being said, every other record except Deguello (1979) was futurized up through El Loco (1981). Only Deguello was spared. Who knows why? Publishing rights?

In short, Chrome, Smoke & BBQ is 75 - 80% of each album represented here but remastered and in the original sound aka just like the vinyl. So, these albums have already been remastered and released in part on C, S & BBQ. And 2 of them have been re-released in their entirety. Don't waste your money on this tripe! And do not buy ZZ Top's Greatest Hits and One Foot In The Blues for the same reason.