Deguello Songs Ranked
Degüello is the sixth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in November 1979. It was the first ZZ Top release on Warner Bros. Records and eventually went platinum. It was produced by Bill Ham, recorded and mixed by Terry Manning, and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Returning from a two-year hiatus, the band began to showcase the influence they have collected during the time away; Gibbons’ time in Europe introduced him to punk music, the influences of which seeped into the creation of the album. The band also consciously tried experimenting with technology: Gibbons saw an episode of The Phil Donahue Show where a person’s identity was protected using silhouette and a pitch shifter; liking the sound, he asked engineer Manning to call the show and find out what the effects unit was. Manning eventually convinced a reluctant show producer to reveal it, and the effect was used for both vocals and guitars on songs like “Manic Mechanic”. The album marked the first time that ZZ Top featured cover versions on a studio album: “I Thank You” by Isaac Hayes/David Porter and “Dust My Broom”, credited on early editions to Elmore James but subsequently credited to Robert Johnson who recorded it in 1936. Elmore James had adapted and popularised the song in 1951. Here are all of Deguello’s songs ranked.
Don’t Miss out on the CLASSIC ZZ Top Music! Click to experience the power of the Gibbons brothers!
10. I Thank You
“”I Thank You”, perhaps an odd choice but somehow they succeed in combining the original Stax saxophone soul sound with their own signature Texan blues and growl and it’s an interesting mix but it works.”
9. Dust My Broom
“I haven’t listened to this song much, but last time I did, it didn’t leave me a good enough impression of it to want to listen to it continuously. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.”
8. She Loves My Automobile
“In this song, Dusty Hill really shows his vocal scales, from the very highest he can go to the absoloute lowest. This song features jazzy blues and is one of the previously described okay-but-not-great songs on the album. Featuring vocals by Dusty Hill.”
See more: ZZ Top Albums Ranked
7. Low Down in the Street
“The best song on the album. This song gets closer to rock than any other song on the album. The tune is very good and the singing is too. It’s always a good sign when you find songs sung by Dusty Hill on your ZZ Top albums. Featuring vocals by Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons.”
6. I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
“This song is definately too long for its quality. I thought it was not a bad song at first, but I was wrong. The words, “I’m Baaaad, I’m Nationwiiiide,” stick in my head for quite a while and interrupt me whenever I’m thinking about a song of much better quality. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.”
5. Hi Fi Mama
“Another song featuring the highest of Dusty Hill’s voice. Very similar to SHE LOVES MY AUTOMOBILE, this song also features jazzy blues including saxaphones and also proves to be okay but not great. Featuring vocals by Dusty Hill.”
See more: ZZ Top Songs Ranked
4. A Fool for Your Stockings
“Another song too long for its quality. This one doesn’t have the same annoying tune, but it does have the same type of singing as the last one combined with blues, which don’t make a good combination. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.”
3. Cheap Sunglasses
“This song is as long as I’M BAD, I’M NATIONWIDE, but at least it lives up to its length with its quality a bit more than that song. It’s not great, but it still has some good qualities in it. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.”
2. Manic Mechanic
“Songs sung by Frank Beard are always interesting, with his almost unnaturally deep voice. But this one beats them all because his voice is amplified to make it sound robotic. So when there’s not blues, it’s so loud that you can’t hear the music over it. And when it is blues, you’re left waiting for the next time he sings to come. So overall, it’s an interesting song (even if they never do say the words “manic mechanic throughout the whole thing). Featuring vocals by Frank Beard.”
1. Esther Be the One
“It’s more slow rock than blues, and I’m quite fond of the tune and the singing, plus the guitar playing that is repeated after the chorus every time it’s sung. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.”
