Ah!, the eighties. Cast your mind back to a time when Michael J. Fox was in seemingly every film that was released, women had hair that required scaffolding for them to navigate it (and used enough product to survive a re-entry from orbit if necessary). Like any decade it has a sequence of sounds and images that remain iconic to this day and those who were there who can forget ZZ Top.
Armed with beards down to their chests and cheap sunglasses (like the song said) and a brand of barroom blues and rock. Not to mention the videos with “that” custom Ford Coupe hot rod and an assemblage of leggy women. Although ZZ Top have been active since the late sixties it was the eighties which saw them strike gold with a suite of albums that encapsulated their sound.
Out now is the collectors edition of one of their best remembered albums ‘Eliminator’ now available in an expanded format with remastered versions and live performances not to mention a DVD of the videos all put together in a nice little package to celebrate the album’s 25th anniversary.
I’ll confess normally this kind of thing wouldn’t be my bag but after tentatively putting the CD in my player I’ll admit the album does have a certain charm. As musicians Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill are without doubt incredibly accomplished within their field and as a result the songs on board have aged with considerable grace. All the singles you will remember are here (Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs) and the videos might have dated somewhat but they are still fun to watch, there’s even live footage from their 1983 appearance on The Tube which should take those of a certain vintage back in time a ways.
What’s more we have copies of this collectors edition to give away as well. All you have to do is email competitions@020magazine.com with the answer to the following question…
Which member of ZZ Top doesn’t traditionally sport a beard?
Piece of cake that one, first answers out of the wide brimmed hat get themselves a copy.
