Afterburner (album)
Encyclopedia
Afterburner is the ninth studio album by American
blues rock band ZZ Top
, released in 1985 (see 1985 in music
). Afterburner was a financial success, going several times platinum and launching several hit singles. The most successful single released from this album was "Sleeping Bag", which peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the UK, it was the band's second album to be certified by the British Phonographic Industry
, attaining Gold (100,000 units) in 1985. In 1990, it was certified Platinum (300,000 units), to date their final Platinum certification in the UK.
The song "Can't Stop Rockin'" was featured in the 1993
film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
. The song "Velcro Fly" was an element in Stephen King's The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands; Eddie keeps hearing drums playing off in the distance and thinks it sounds like, then later realizes it is, the drum track for "Velcro Fly".
The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200
, number 2 on the UK Albums Chart
, and number 16 on the Australian albums chart.
, Dusty Hill
and Frank Beard
.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues rock band ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, released in 1985 (see 1985 in music
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
). Afterburner was a financial success, going several times platinum and launching several hit singles. The most successful single released from this album was "Sleeping Bag", which peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the UK, it was the band's second album to be certified by the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
, attaining Gold (100,000 units) in 1985. In 1990, it was certified Platinum (300,000 units), to date their final Platinum certification in the UK.
The song "Can't Stop Rockin'" was featured in the 1993
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III is a 1993 American live-action film, the second sequel of the 1990 live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. It was produced by Clearwater Holdings Ltd. and Golden Harvest. This was the last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film released by New Line Cinema and...
. The song "Velcro Fly" was an element in Stephen King's The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands; Eddie keeps hearing drums playing off in the distance and thinks it sounds like, then later realizes it is, the drum track for "Velcro Fly".
Reception
Allmusic gave it 3 stars, stating: "Well, if you just had your biggest hit ever, you'd probably try to replicate it, too. And if you were praised for being visionary because you played all your blues grooves to a slightly sequenced beat, you'd probably be tempted to not just continue in that direction, but to tighten the sequencer and graft on synthesizers, since it'll all signal how futuristic you are."The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, number 2 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, and number 16 on the Australian albums chart.
Track listing
All songs by Billy GibbonsBilly Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
, Dusty Hill
Dusty Hill
Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill is the bassist and vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.-History:Hill was in Dallas, Texas and grew up in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas...
and Frank Beard
Frank Beard (musician)
Frank Lee Beard is the drummer in the rock band ZZ Top. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill as ZZ Top.Beard was born in...
.
- "Sleeping BagSleeping Bag (song)"Sleeping Bag" is a song performed by the band ZZ Top from their 1985 album Afterburner. The song was released as a single in 1985 and became their most successful single, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, equaling the peak of their previous single "Legs." However, unlike...
" – 4:03 - "StagesStages (song)"Stages" was the second single by the American rock band ZZ Top in 1985 from their album Afterburner. The song reached #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in early 1986 and #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Charts:-Personnel:...
" – 3:32 - "Woke Up with Wood" – 3:45
- "Rough BoyRough Boy"Rough Boy" was the third single by American rock band ZZ Top from their album Afterburner. The song reached #5 on the Mainstream Rock charts and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as #23 in the UK Top 40. Unlike the other songs on the album, this song has a much slower tempo and is more...
" – 4:50 - "Can't Stop Rockin'" – 3:02
- "Planet of Women" – 4:04
- "I Got the Message" – 3:27
- "Velcro FlyVelcro Fly"Velcro Fly" is the fifth single off ZZ Top's 1985 album Afterburner. The song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986.A 12" version is featured on the box set Chrome, Smoke & BBQ....
" – 3:29 - "Dipping Low (In the Lap of Luxury)" – 3:11
- "Delirious" – 3:41
Personnel
- Billy GibbonsBilly GibbonsWilliam Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dusty HillDusty HillJoseph Michael "Dusty" Hill is the bassist and vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.-History:Hill was in Dallas, Texas and grew up in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboards, vocals - Frank BeardFrank Beard (musician)Frank Lee Beard is the drummer in the rock band ZZ Top. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill as ZZ Top.Beard was born in...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– Bill Ham - EngineersAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– Joe Hardy, Bob Ludwig - Art DirectorArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
– Jeri McManus - DesignDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
– Jeri McManus - ArtworkCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
– Barry E. JacksonBarry E. JacksonBarry Edward Jackson is an American production designer and writer.Although he grew up in Lompoc, California, he was born in Omaha, Nebraska....
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Billboard 200 | 4 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Can't Stop Rockin'" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 8 |
| 1985 | "Sleeping Bag" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1985 | "Sleeping Bag" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| 1985 | "Stages" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1986 | "Delirious" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 16 |
| 1986 | "Rough Boy" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1986 | "Rough Boy" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 22 |
| 1986 | "Sleeping Bag" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 41 |
| 1986 | "Stages" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| 1986 | "Velcro Fly" | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 43 |
| 1986 | "Velcro Fly" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 15 |
| 1986 | "Velcro Fly" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 35 |
| 1986 | "Woke up With Wood" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 18 |