El Loco
Encyclopedia
El Loco is the seventh studio album
by American
blues rock band ZZ Top
, released in 1981 (see 1981 in music
). The title means "The Crazy One" in Spanish
. Guitarist/singer Billy Gibbons
has stated that the recordings of this album was the first time the three members of the band were isolated from one another in the studio, rather than recording simultaneously in the same room. It also foreshadowed ZZ Top's New Wave
direction later in the decade, with early experimentations in synthesizer backing on certain tracks.
El Loco was produced by Bill Ham
, and recorded and originally mixed by Terry Manning
. In 1987, most of the band's back catalog received a controversial "digitally enhanced" remix treatment for CD release, however, El Loco did not receive this remix treatment. The original mix of this album has been available on CD since 1987.
, Dusty Hill
and Frank Beard
.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
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 1981 (see 1981 in music
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
). The title means "The Crazy One" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. Guitarist/singer Billy Gibbons
Billy 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...
has stated that the recordings of this album was the first time the three members of the band were isolated from one another in the studio, rather than recording simultaneously in the same room. It also foreshadowed ZZ Top's New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
direction later in the decade, with early experimentations in synthesizer backing on certain tracks.
El Loco was produced by Bill Ham
Bill Ham
Bill Ham was the manager, producer, and image-maker of ZZ Top, from its inception in late 1969 until September 2006.-Career:...
, and recorded and originally mixed by Terry Manning
Terry Manning
Terry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
. In 1987, most of the band's back catalog received a controversial "digitally enhanced" remix treatment for CD release, however, El Loco did not receive this remix treatment. The original mix of this album has been available on CD since 1987.
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...
.
- "Tube Snake BoogieTube Snake Boogie"Tube Snake Boogie" is a song by the rock band ZZ Top from their 1981 album El Loco. It was released as a single that year and reached #4 on the Mainstream Rock charts....
" – 3:03 - "I Wanna Drive You Home" – 4:44
- "Ten Foot Pole" – 4:19
- "LeilaLeila (song)"Leila" is a song by American rock band ZZ Top, from their 1981 album El Loco.The song is a ballad with blues rock influences, a rarity in the ZZ Top's musical style.-Charts:-Personnel:*Billy Gibbons: Guitar, vocals*Dusty Hill: Bass, keyboards...
" – 3:13 - "Don't Tease Me" – 4:20
- "It's So Hard" – 5:12
- "Pearl NecklacePearl Necklace (song)"Pearl Necklace" is a song by ZZ Top from their 1981 album El Loco. The song went to #28 on the Mainstream Rock charts in 1981."Pearl Necklace" was produced by Bill Ham, and recorded and mixed by Terry Manning.-Song information:...
" – 4:02 - "Groovy Little Hippie Pad" – 2:40
- "Heaven, Hell or Houston" – 2:32
- "Party on the Patio" – 2:49
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...
, vocals - 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....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, 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 ....
, percussion
Production
- Producer – Bill HamBill HamBill Ham was the manager, producer, and image-maker of ZZ Top, from its inception in late 1969 until September 2006.-Career:...
- Engineer – Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
- Mastering – Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
- Design – Bob Alford
- Photography – Bob Alford
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Pop Albums | 17 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Leila" | Pop Singles | 77 |
| 1981 | "Pearl Necklace" | Mainstream Rock | 28 |
| 1981 | "Tube Snake Boogie" | Mainstream Rock | 4 |