ZZ Top Album: “Chrome, Smoke & BBQ: The ZZ Top Box [Box] [Limited”

Having been a ZZ Top fan since the beginning I can assure all those who worry about spreading the leather to shell out for this collection that all is good between these covers and well worth the investment. If you are a ZZ Top afficionato, then you will probably remember all too well the release of the "SIX PACK" a few years back, and the disappointment of finding that the much anticipated CD versions of their classic material had been re-mixed with a pile of reverb and a badly enhanced drum track. Well good news!! This collection includes all the original mixes that have been so long awaited by those who prefer their ZZ unmolested and pure. This in itself is probably reason enough to add this box to the collection, but the selection of tunes here are well chosen and reflect the Texas trio's best work over the decades.

The addition of Billy Gibbons pre-ZZ efforts add a historical flavor to this compilation, but the real meat and potatoes stuff is simply the ressurection of the original mixes on such eternal classics as 'LA GRANGE' and 'ARRESTED FOR DRIVIN' WHILE BLIND'.

'Ol Pearly Gates never sounded so good.

In a nutshell, this is essential listening for all those who want to take a 30 year Hot Rod road trip with a band who not only has one foot in the blues, but the other firmly in the door of the rock and roll hall of fame.

Kudos to the Reverend Willy G, Dusty and Rube for layin it down so tasty for all these years, and for puttin' back the tracks as they should be, and should always be.

This box hits the sweet spot for fans like myself; I wasn't interested in buying every album from their peak years, yet every album had something on it that I wanted. The "greatest hits" compilations out there only had their radio songs on it, and I certainly didn't need to hear those again, so I bought this box. I can say with no uncertainty that it was a good decision. There's alot of good stuff here, and the booklet is first class, as is the sound quality. It certainly wasn't cheap, but I don't feel short changed.

Finally, good sounding ZZ Top on CD. This has almost everything you need. The only downfall is that they concentrated so much on the latter albums the first record has just a few tracks and really could have used more representation. Also, it probably could have been cut down to 3 CDs as well.

Otherwise, a fine set!

Billy Gibbon's guitar sounds so nasty and mean on this box set it's downright scary. For pure tone and harmonics Gibbons has no equal; he is arguably on of rocks best and most distinctive guitarists. The remastering job on this box brings out every nuance of his guitar sound in every song; far superior to any other release of these songs, in any other format. The songs themselves need no review. Just know they sound "way" better than the currently available individual cd releases. "Chrome Smoke & Bbq" puts the "ZZ Top Six Pack" release to shame; if you have it (Six Pack) you'll never listen to it again. I only have a few negative comments regarding this release (hence only the 4 stars): only two songs from the first album (no "Backdoor Love Affair" or "Shaking Your Tree"), the inclusion of the worst song ZZ TOP ever did "Heaven, Hell Or Houston" (way too many tracks from the weak "El Loco" album too) and only a handful of rare, unreleased or live tracks. I would have gladly paid an extra $10 for the addition of an entire rarities disc. My wet dream is a ZZ TOP box set containing each individual album, remastered from the original analogs (like this set) and a release of the complete live show from the Warehouse in New Orleans (all we have now is side one of "Fandango"). Until that day.... put your money to good use and add this box set to your cart now. If you are a fan of ZZ TOP, it is impossible for you to be disappointed with this set...it is finger lickin' good!

this boxset rocks!!! these are the original versions remastered, and they sound great!! the remixes (disc 4) are wild and it's great to hear some of that pre-zz top (moving sidewalks) the live version of "cheap sunglasses" is awesome (i wish they would release that whole concert on cd)if you like great boogie blues/rock n' roll, then you must pick this boxset up. if you only know zz top for what you hear on the radio, you've got some catching up to do..........enjoy and get it on