I owned El Loco hundreds of years ago, it was one of the very first few non-Queen LPs I owned*. My love for (my dad’s taped copy of ) Eliminator burned with the fire of a million suns, so I picked up the first cheap ZZ Top LP that took my fancy a couple of years later. I liked the title, wasn’t wild abut the boilersuits and thought the music very ‘meh’, so a few years later I sold it on as I often used to then.
Five years ago the fact that it was the only ZZ studio album on vinyl that I didn’t own gnawed away at the very essence of my soul one too many times and El Loco returned to the fold. It was better than I remember but still a bit ‘meh’. And those boilersuits, they fit a boilerplate album.
That’s pretty much exactly where I am today with El Loco, my problem is that it just isn’t loco enough, it’s far too normalo. There are a couple of good tracks here, ‘Tube Snake Boogie’** and ‘I Wanna Drive You Home’ are okay, but most of the rest is just neutered by a curiously flat production, forced quirks and/or unfunny smut^^.
The most important thing that happened during the making of El Loco was the band making the acquaintance of one Linden Hudson, who contributed a synth here and there, uncredited. It’s a poor track but towards the end of (coughs) ‘Don’t Tease Me’ you can hear the skeletal beginnings of the life-changing (for me) Eliminator; when the production whiplash snapped and plated the songs in sharp chrome.
It’s all a bit droopy guys.
So I was really pleased to happen across the following 1980 performance of ‘Tube Snake Boogie’, yup, the year before the LP was released. It absolutely smokes and hits with all the energy that is missing from the LP cut.
Droopiness = cured.
1213 Down (Houston way).
*who knew LPs were available that didn’t have Freddie, Roger, John and Brian on them? not me aged 15.
**spoiler alert: it’s about shagging^.
^You see the conceit relies on the likeness of the man’s didgeridoo to a snake and the woman’s foof to a tube of an unspecified sort that the snake/penis both likes and/or requires. Trust me, I’m a filth elder.
^^’Pearl Necklace’ I’m looking at you, nobody needed a song about man goo. Although it does boast a cracking guitar solo, albeit a cracking guitar solo turned way way down in the mix.
I’ve been getting ZZ Toped the last while. It must be some kind of sign. Mostly the old old stuff and a little Gibbon’s solo.
That cowgirl is certainly driving me el loco. Though perhaps it has something to do with all the post-op drugs I’m on.
Is there a difference between a boiler suit and a pair of overalls? Just asking.
It’s all in the material Bruce – not the LP for once, the clothing. People use the terms wrongly as synonyms but it’s about coverage (boilers cover more of you) and are generally made of more breathable fabric.
May I refer you to my fashion blog, 1539?
Your authoritative voice is totally convincing. Can I order a boilersuit in pale green denim please? Extra-large in the boiler room.
Extra roomy coming up Bruce. It’s good to learn something new every day, I can’t wait to entertain passers-by, family and/or work colleagues with my boilersuit facts.
I probably have heard half of this one. Some great titles but they were just warming up the drum machine for Eliminator.
Agree totally Deke, the production here is so terrible. I really can’t see myself blasting this one again in the next 50 years.
I’ve got this on a box set but have never listened to it. This was after Deguello, right? That’s my fave of theirs, shame they followed it up with something this normal(o)
Tube Snake Boogie is okay, but they really didn’t seem to be trying here. Maybe the sacks of weed on the cover are some kind of clue … hmm.
Fair review. Only a couple of good ones on here. Not my favorite and I don’t know if I have this one either. I’ll have to go check. I won’t be rushing to get it if I don’t.
Seriously John, save your cash, even if it hurts the completist in you.
I have always liked that album cover, I have however never heard the album and now have no desire to, thanks for saving me from 45 minutes or so I will never get back.
Buy a cheap copy without the LP inside, would be my advice.
El Loco seems to be one of the more forgotten Top albums but there are bits to it I like.