ZZ Top - Waitin For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago (REACTION)

[@dannyassad9020]

Earlier ZZTop.....this IS the blues personified.....

[@VinceEmbry]

Red Dirt Blues.

[@2were5678]

Muddy Waters means something.

[@JiminTennessee]

100%

[@ramblerdave1339]

Great choice! First reaction I've seen to these songs.

[@dannywachowski5880]

Many people are familiar with ZZ Top from their commercially successful 'Eliminator' album. But their earlier work as per this piece, really shows their incredible raw and dynamic blues. Backtrack more you guys, they're a music treat!

[@denroy3]

Yea, that MTV 80's sound of eliminator was a different character than the Top of earlier 70's

[@dizastro5437]

Did they just get enough mic stands to put em close and tighten up the sound?

[@ErinStev64]

I actually liked their earlier stuff better.

[@jasoncobb7427]

First 3 albums were def my favorite

[@shawnj1966]

@@denroy3 , I prefer their older music, but I jam to both!

[@allenrobison8103]

"muddy water turned to wine" Lyric is a nod to the late great blues musician Muddy Waters.

[@wbchaney]

...and that's the "Jesus" they're referring to in the title.

[@ewoe21]

Beer Drinkers, and Hell Raisers I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide La Grange Just Got Paid Blue Jeans Blues These are a few more songs by ZZ Top that you should check out.

[@happymethehappyone8300]

ZZ Top "Blue Jean Blues"...Nuff Said.

[@JHGiese]

ZZ perfectly replicated the Mississippi Delta blues sound on Jesus left Chicago. One of my very favorite songs of all time.

[@JHGiese]

@@Frunobulax74 --True, true. I still love the sound.

[@mikecaetano]

70's era ZZ Top rules! From what I understand, "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" were supposed to be separate songs but a production mistake made along the way to releasing the album left the two songs back to back and the band liked the transition so much they kept the mistake in place. When you're ready for more from them, check out "La Grange", "Tush", "Just Got Paid", "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide", "I Thank You", and "Heard It On The X" which tells a story about listening to rock-n-roll, blues, and other "forbidden" music during the segregated 50's on border radio stations broadcast out of Mexico at 50,000+ watts so that their signals reached well over a hundred miles across the border into Texas.

[@2869may]

Great Comment...! I would add "Blue Jean Blues" and "Mexican Blackbird".

[@olly8]

So thats why it doesn't sound right to listen to them separately...thanks for explaining👍🏻

[@TheRagratus]

My fav ZZ album is Deguello. Every tune is a banger.

[@humpy936]

Ha ha!, 100 miles?, try all the way to Canada at that wattage.

[@docriley7837]

You forgot Brown Sugar my fave ZZ tune

[@Alewifes_Husband]

Originally from 1973, this version is a 1980s mix with a bunch of added reverb on the drums and some compression on the lead guitar. The -73 original sound has super-crsip, tight drum sound and an overall less processed ambience. It's a matter of taste but we old head ZZ Top fans love that crisp blues rock from the first few albums.

[@humpy936]

Exactly, the original sound is much better in my opinion.

[@monkface]

I think you guys are listening to the remastered version that added more reverb, so, good ear that picked up the difference in sound. The original vinyl is the best way to go!

[@edgcrushr]

It makes no sense why they drenched this in so much reverb.

[@StevenLeBlanc918]

The record company wanted it to sound like the Eliminator and Recycler albums. The vinyl and most recent reissues are far superior.

[@jamescox4231]

They punched up the drum track too.

[@John_Chu]

When Billy Gibbons and his first band The Moving Sidewalks opened for Jimi Hendrix on his first official US tour in 1968, Jimi called him the best guitarist he'd ever heard and gifted him a pink stratocaster (Billy played it in concert recently). Billy revealed that he thought Jimi's greatest innovation in guitar playing was “Jimi took the three-way toggle switch into five-way... He’s the one that discovered the in-between positions, and in order for that not to pop out of place, he showed me how to take off the back scratch plate and remove the spring within the toggle switch, so it would more or less stay in place! And that sound had this extra chimeyness to it."

[@RandyTWA]

You’ll never go wrong with that lil ol band from Texas!

[@benhinds2971]

Yes. You're right. They remixed these albums back in the 90s and added all this echo shit. Broke my Texan heart. I loved the originals. Sounded like you were in the room.

[@kickycan]

Yes! Why did they do that?! To me that is the equivalent of some idiot deciding to do a little touch-up work on some Rembrandts and Picassos. Totally agree with you!

[@janster3000]

I was upset with the remastered versions. They took out all the natural sounds, like the squeeks of the guitar strings, and added an echo, yuck. Vinyl is the best.

[@gocowboys11000]

totally agree man, didnt get it? sounded wrong, drums espessially

[@webechubbin]

That’s why when I download music I always look for the originals

[@whome1299]

I tend to hate remastered versions of all songs.

[@kaewonf8]

Billy Gibbons and the Fender Telecaster were a match made in heaven

[@SunUp-l3h]

Yeah man, you ain’t lyin ♥️

[@x19fan1]

My friends, “till I Cadillac” means until one dies. That last ride…in the hearse…that is often a Cadillac, or maybe a Lincoln…to one’s grave. It’s the working man’s blues. Great reaction- Cheers!

[@DrWBRogers]

From New Orleans, to Austin, to San Francisco, to the Philippines then back to Memphis... these guys anchored me. Paused in there to get a hat at Texas Hatters.

[@Gashouse69]

Gotta love that "little ol' band from Texas"!

[@markr.108]

There's nowhere to hide in a three piece band. Frank Beard is pushing on the drums and Dusty Hill pulling on bass while Billy G sits in the pocket. Tres Hombre did have a unique sound.

[@johnleonard3806]

Watching you guys Bob your heads is cracking me up.

[@johnleeshute]

Here in Houston, we had a radio station for 34 years with the call letters KLOL. You could count on them to play Top every couple of hours, and with their portfolio you never got tired of it!

[@urmomsfavoriteangler]

My best friend is Travis Collins. Son of Crash Collins. 🙏 KLOL was such a staple station here. So sad.

[@mattcarroll5603]

Do they still? (KLOL) Haven't been to H town since around 2000. I had some awesome times there in the 90s.

[@benjaminbrowardONEOG]

Living in Houston growing up listening to ZZ TOP is like listening to your neighbor next door.

[@onemotherpucker]

Fun fact...Billy was buddies with Jimmy Hendrix. 😎

[@dangaiser4729]

I love the inside of the album jacket. A big authentic tex-mex meal!

[@MichaelSimmons.]

My favorite ZZ Top album. Beer Drinkers, and Hell Raisers, is another great song from this album. Great job guys.

[@Asadaadsa]

They were awesome in the 70s! I had every album and saw every concert here in Memphis!!!

[@KBH27]

AHH TAKE ME WITH YOU JESUS into that solo gives me stank face everytime

[@jamesmcmillan7845]

I am from Houston. It is hard soulful and full of truth. My mom took me to ZZ Top in Galveston before they were famous. I was young but around 1975!

[@joerosenfield4]

"Takin' care of business is His name." My all time favorite ZZT cut! Thanks, guys!

[@leslieanderson5344]

Exactly! You don’t have to worry….

[@ronalddarnell9677]

Jesus was a metaphor of some early blues music that a radio station in Chicago would play when the band were just kids. And if the weather was just right the broadcast would "skip" above the clouds and find it's way to their transistor radio in their bedroom at night. That was the music that inspired them to become the legend they are today. ZZ TOP proud to say made in America !

[@jonathangoldmacher8209]

You didn’t have to listen like you you did, but you did, but you did and your ears thank you.

[@scottblakey1603]

ZZ Top is probably the only band I've seen play in four different decades. 70s 80s 90s and early 2000s. If you grew up in Texas (I did) they were always around. That little O'band from Texas ain't no lie.

[@squirreldog7619]

"Well you don't have to worry, 'cause takin' care of business is his name"

[@sharrongrant6240]

This combo is a huge part of their concerts....kick ass Texas rock!!!

[@YJG-57]

This is the music I grew up wth. Your reactions let me relive it all over again with fresh ears. Rock On!

[@MisterMasterShafter1]

This is from 1973, but is a remix, particularly the drums which were redone for the "ZZ Top Six Pack" in the 80s to try and reintroduce their 70s albums to a 1980s crowd once Eliminator came out and was a smash. Six Pack was their early albums with more modern sounding drums.

[@r.plante2916]

Agreed, I hate that the radio plays the remixes with the big eighties drums.

[@MisterMasterShafter1]

@@r.plante2916 Yeah, it’s moronic

[@dellastreet6255]

This is nuts. They need to go back to the source and listen to the original and then compare. Ugh.

[@johnflores5286]

Their sound is tight.. ... The sound was tight in the 70's..... I'm so glad that y'all recognize. These boys out of Houston. I want the same high School the two of them went to...👊❤️😎

[@itsallgood4093]

It's Sharpe and fuzzy at the same time, as only ZZ Top can be.

[@rachelcastaneda1381]

ZZ Top, SRV, Fabulous Thunderbirds are all part of Texas Blues and very revered in Texas 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@ronalddarnell9677]

How can you leave Johnny Winter out of that list ?

[@rachelcastaneda1381]

Sincerest apologies for that faux pas.

[@JennyJohn50]

Thanks y'all! Love love love! Their tunes Tush, Blue Jean Blues, I Gotsta Get Paid, Thank you - all kick azz & are well worth your' time!

[@ricksurratt9034]

Blue Jean blues is one of their gems. A must listen 🎧

[@hidebehind2604]

Man, the blues coming down town!

[@KennyCamaro2364]

Have mercy! Been waiting on the bus all day!

[@oldmachinist9236]

I'm generally in the minority but I think "Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell" and "Brown Sugar" are 2 of their most powerful songs, off their first 2 albums. Check them out some time.

[@butchvito]

I just came across "Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell." One of ZZ Top's best songs hands down. I keep coming across so many deep cuts from them. 70's era ZZ Top is by far their best.

[@edallen3662]

Brown Sugar's my number-one ZZ Top song

[@brucemarshall9521]

​@@edallen3662 Got the LP from back in the day. 💥💥💥

[@mikecoughlin4128]

Blue Jean Blues fits in this style of theirs. It’s my favorite song of theirs.

[@markharbin9945]

Love the Texas blues and Billy and Dustys tone

[@VinzClorthokeymasterofGozer]

Such a crazy good combo. So glad to see you get here early in your journey with ZZ Top.

[@donaldsoileau6236]

Play brown sugar from their first album which is all blues

[@karenmcgirr3987]

Jesus Just Left Chicago, is inspired by picking up a Chicago radio station. I’m from a tow an hour away from Memphis., and in the 70s, at night, we could listen to WLS Chicago. It was great times!

[@psychkosys]

I grew up with WLS...Steve Dahl and Gary Meier, Larry Lujack and Tommy, and plenty of good music. It was a different and sometimes better time.

[@marksanders8028]

Best ZZ Top song’s ever. Thanks.

[@camwinston5248]

The gritch grassiness of that crunchy tone is blues groovin'...😁😁😁🤣 Just got Paid should be next up for a listen.

[@donaldaller2637]

Fabulous…. My favorite ZZ Track ever… extremely under appreciated band…

[@Travelinmatt1976]

When I saw them in concert they played this song for like 15 minutes

[@cynthiawhite3945]

I'm late to this one, but Bravo 👏👏 I used to be a member of the San Antonio Blues Society many years ago, this is just great music.

[@827dusty]

Back in 1967 Jimi Hendrix saw Billy Gibbons and ZZ Topp and offered them the warm-up Band job on his first tour as "The Jimi Hendrix Experience," in Europe. Jimi and Billy got along famously from the very beginning.

[@TheRagratus]

Billy Gibbons was in a band called "The Moving Sidewalks", NOT ZZ Top. ZZ Top didnt exist in 1967 but formed in 1969. Billy Gibbons was looking for a bass player and Dusty auditioned. Dusty asked what billy wanted to play and Billy answered "Bules shuffle in "C". They played for an hour, never stopping and worked off each other.

[@vicprovost2561]

I first saw them on this tour, back in 1973, they were the opener for Uriah Heep and blew the crowd away with heavy blues the likes of which was new and exciting. Been a fan ever since. Try Just Got Paid next, another of their classics from back in the day. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶

[@Miguel_2112]

I just saw them in Sept 2022 in Colorado USA, and they were still lots fun . 🎼🎼🎼 Not like 1973 but still Rockin.

[@suesebree8670]

That would have been AMAZING!! Always regretted not seeing the Heep live!

[@vicprovost2561]

@@suesebree8670 Yeah and it was classic Heep, not just Mick Box and subsequent versions of the band.

[@lucasroth7922]

Down home Texas all the way🤠🔥✌🤘

[@richardbarton6146]

ZZ top just flat gets it!! down and dirty.

[@buddystewart2020]

These are great tracks, no doubt. Some other excellent ones are: Nasty dogs and funky kings Heard it on the X Manic Mechanic My Head's in Mississippi Balinese 2000 Blues I Thank You

[@shawnj1966]

Jesus just Left Chicago, is an homage to blues music. The places he mentions are all areas with a blues history. Chicago, New Orleans, Mississippi. I think that the implication, is that, Jesus goes where the Blues is!

[@vangannaway1015]

Billy and the boys were from Houston. They could stop in and listen to Lightning Hopkins, Albert Collins or Johnny Winter live anytime. They soaked it up.

[@christieabbott3744]

Im from Texas and they are loved I've seen them several times, met Billy G. He's just the koolist in person and personable

[@markcosenza3274]

Y'all keep bringing me back to high school freshman year, ZZ Top was truly spectacular!

[@terrymattingly6843]

The top local band when I was in high school on Texas Gulf Coast. Back up into the FIRST ALBUM for their early blues sound. First regional hit: Neighbor, Neighbor.

[@realbser1956]

Early ZZ Top is a treasure trove of Texas blues. You’ll love this part of their discography. Thanks for reacting to this. Have a happy new year. 🔥

[@mikemclaughlin3306]

Both of these are standard blues songs. Both use the same lyrical delivery of : line A. Repeat line A, and response...... also, the chord pattern is typically blues.... Both are renditions of the 12 bar blues progression.

[@AirplayBeats]

That good ol Blues scale.

[@mikemclaughlin3306]

@@AirplayBeats yup. Most successful progression in all of music. Literally hundreds of songs

[@PhilipConte-f6u]

I saw them in them In the 70's. A lot of music from three guys. Also the loudest concert I've been to.

[@WendyWeaver-l1e]

Had some great times to these songs it was the 70s and mostly people were stoned an happy.

[@JWCorne67]

In 1973, the recording and effects techniques were very different to later in the 70's, and early 80's. I think that, and the vocal reverb were what you were hearing. The dynamics of early ZZ Top were easily more noticeable with the stripped down recording techniques. They were a 3 piece band, and the sound of that is more obvious in their early recordings. Their later recordings had a lot of over dubs, and multitracked guitars to fill in the sound.

[@davidmiramontes9820]

The snare is tight that's how the drummer gets that sharp hit on the snare

[@daviddragavon7555]

Ps. You can play anything of that Marvin Gaye album you're teasing us with. That would be cool too!

[@kayh7982]

You guys are definitely hitting on all my favorite ZZ hits. I wasn't even a fan until some friends invited me to attend a concert. I've seen dozens of bands in concert and ZZ Top is the funnest time. Had so much fun we drove to a 2nd show just a couple of days later. Lifelong fan now.

[@mtlhed4192]

Personally I have an obsession with ZZ Top’s album XXX. A lot of fans who only like their old stuff either hate it or have never listened to it. But, it has some of the most insane mixing & layering of guitar, bass, & drum tones, possibly ever. The lyrics are surreal & weird, & the technology to implement samples had evolved enough to finally catch up with ZZ Top. It’s like a cosmic, heavy, blues rock on acid fever dream, from another dimension. I don’t know how it sounds like they put hot deep fried gristle in a pair of maracas & made it an integral part of the mix next to fuzzed out guitars, but by god they did it. The drum tones on “It should be made into a movie” are out of this world. Lyrics about poke chop sandwiches & thunderbirds & ladies… 12/10 for me. It would be awesome to see the album get some exposure on KZbin reactions.

[@randycunningham7318]

Fantastic album.

[@shaundikes]

I have watched this reaction before but it still hits. Love u guys.

[@manuelherrera7518]

Congratulations guys!!! It's amazing how You analyze this great great music!!!

[@Booderman]

Gotta listen to some Molly Hatchet “ Dreams I’ll never see again “ , “ Gator Country” , “ Flirting with Disaster “ , “ Boogie no more “ , “ Ragtop Deluxe” many more awesome southern rock jams! Thanks, new subscribers.

[@vicki1120]

I saw them in concert several times and they were amazing!

[@MrDirty-if7gc]

Right on, I'm glad you came back around for more ZZ Top. It looks like I'm getting to keep my $2 bill as you guys should wake up to 5k in the morning. Happy(almost) New Years Gentlemen.

[@AirplayBeats]

Happy New Year!!

[@emilymartinez6961]

I'm glad you're giving ZZ TOP a listen to, hope you guys give my favorite song a listen to, "Fool for your Stockings", you wouldn't be disappointed 👍

[@foxycarm1]

You don't have to worry cause taking care of business is his name! Preach!

[@2869may]

I seen ZZ Top in '90 at the Cotton Bowl with Santana and Steve Miller.... ZZ Top Sounded so good...! Better than any other band I've seen live...!

[@AdullFiddler-ez7tm]

Bill Ham was a great producer and gave them that unique sound on record. It is very 'present' with little to no reverb or delay. Love this little medley.

[@twanadenson1293]

The best little band fromTexas. There is a line from their song "Heard it on the X" which says " country Jesus and hillbilly blues is where I learned my licks" which is a perfect example of their sound.

[@johnisouth6636]

Helluva song bros. It's a real one.

[@Phillphine]

"Just got paid" is about my favorite faster zz top song. But you should also try "blue jean blues", super mellow blues.

[@James-vx8ci]

Glad you played these two songs together, they ain't the same when played separate. Good work ✌️

[@WillyAffentranger-jb1oi]

50 years and soooo good as it were yesterday. The sound is so professional, because it's warner brothers, the best musiccompany of the world.

[@ricksoto1025]

"Ahhh..Take me with you Jesus!!"

[@scofield12487]

you'll have to find McKinley Morganthal first. He's turning water into wine now that he got out of the commercial Chicago Blues scene and went home.

[@johnlove7202]

ZZ Tops sound is distinct. As the story goes, the guys were looking for their own sound ans the manager had his vision. They were in the studio and trying different things but their manager kept budding in. So they him out for food at place that was at least an hour one way. Shall we say 'the rest is history'. Their sound was born.

[@brianbeaugez7003]

What you're listening to is an early remastered version of vinyl to cd, that's why the sound is off.

[@cynthiaschultheis1660]

TEXAS BLUES🎸🎸🎸🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵❤❤❤❤❤

[@usertr13phinsup]

3 men playing fire

[@ramonalfaro3252]

I was born in Chicago and grew up in LA. Been to Mississippi and through the Georia Pines. Pretty sure this is my jam!

[@megA_t.6532]

I get it! It's Texas blues! Love it....'Deguello' Album is the last 70s offering before the 80s commercial sound. Lots of great tracks on Deguello.

[@gerhardbraatz6305]

You guys are going to love this early ZZ Top classic.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

It’s all about recording the drums in their natural, acoustic state ! Drums mean soooo much! Peace

[@thedeliberatemyth]

Billy Gibbons had the most efficient sense of timing. If aliens came down and said, "Pick one person to play one note at the absolute perfect time or we blow up the world," he is my choice. Phenomenal guitarist.

[@scottrackley4457]

Close but I pick Gilmour

[@bluesrock1]

This is a remastered version that came out in the late 80s called The ZZ Top SixPack. The record label remastered their first six albums for a multi disk set release. If you listen to these songs from the original albums, there's a pretty distinct difference. You both called it. It's highly compressed from the original mix. It upset most of the ZZ Top purists, but it's still great!

[@stevemccooleq]

Too much drum echo.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

Mic in the kick, mic on the snare, and an overhead - and after that, it’s all about the drummer and the kit! To me, it’s very acoustic drums. Peace

[@dturasky19]

yeah not good , ughh

[@slackthompson9231]

They did an awful job remastering their entire catalog. I heard Tejas remastered and it was garbage. I’m not a vinyl guy, but I think original vinyl may be the only way to listen to early ZZ Top.

[@mikecreger9702]

Yep. They ruined it.

[@stevenmonte7397]

Now that I'm messing around with the guitar, Billy Gibbons has really caught my attention. I've seen them live, but didn't really appreciate them like I do now.

[@marktveskov3644]

I appreciate how you pay attention to the lyrics

[@christieabbott3744]

Tres Hombres came out in like early 1970s been listening to them all my life 1 of my top 5 bands

[@ewoe21]

Now you’re talking my language. 😊

[@kevinmalone2218]

Just saw Billy Gibbons(ZZ Top) at Antone's in Austin, Tx on Tuesday. He was outstanding. Wish I could post some of the photos I took.