ZZ Top Album: “Rio Grande Mud”

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.

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!

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!

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.

This album, in it's original form (on LP) is great! The problem is the record company STILL hasn't reissued it without the "Eliminator" effects. This also pertains to their best album ever: "First Album". When they do finally come out (and they will), they will be issued first on LP to really gouge the fools and then on CD with some "live bonus tracks" that really suck, just like they did with "Tres Hombres". Too bad, because I used to be a HUGE fan back in the seventies. The band has totally blown their rep with me since all these re-issue games have started, beginning in the 80's with their "Six Pack". Shame on you rich dudes!!!!!!