Live - Greatest Hits From Around The World

Jimi Hendrix jammed with Billy Gibbons when Gibbons was a budding 17-year-old guitarist and apparently said he was the best upcoming guitarist that he'd heard.When Eliminator was released it was my first real exposure to the Zs and I became an immediate fan. I saw them at Castle Donington in 1983 and thought they were brilliant. I then sought out their 70s albums which I found patchy and mostly enjoyable but went off them later in the 80s when they became unnecessarily 'synthy'.I ignored them throughout the 90s and noughties. However, in recent years I've discovered some of their albums from that time. Most impressed!! Not so much 'back to their roots', but more like 'providing the dirt for the roots to grow in'. Better and dirtier than anything I'd heard from them before. And it's almost like they went back in a Tardis to sow the seeds of the blues.I'm wondering where it all went wrong with this album. The guitar on the first track is far too shrill and bass-light. Most of the rest are more balanced but generally insipidly-produced for the genre. Some tracks sound great but the album lacks coherence --- yes, I know it's a live compilation from many venues, but it doesn't 'gel' as a listening experience, and the gaps between tracks destroy any sense of continuity.The band sound tired, as though the fire has burned out. ZZzzzz Stop.......?? In the final track "Sixteen Tons" Billy's voice sounds like a subdued death rattle, which hopefully isn't predictive. By contrast Lemmie kept it going to the last.I'm disappointed with this album and wondering if I wasted my money.I will remember the guys at their best.Best of luck to them in the meantime.

Firstly the reality is that the songs can't be faulted - they are classic tracks one and all. They cover the range of ZZ Top eras and I can't complain about the choice.But.....sound quality of the recordings is less good than some bootlegs I have. Some really do sound as if they were caught on a tape recorder from the 80's. Now don't get me wrong, I don't expect studio perfection and in general I much prefer live albums, albeit understanding that there is often too many overdubs. And some of the most live and raw albums are utter classics such as If You Want Blood or Live Killers, records that are live warts and all but capture the essence of a band with all the excitement and power. As this ZZ Top album took songs from all over the place I assumed that they had recorded the best they had in order to showcase their brilliance live. And I have seen ZZTop live and they sounded much, much better than all of these songs.First off the production is tinny and thin. Then we have the notable differences in Dusty Hill's singing. On 'Got Me Under Pressure,' he sounds like he is struggling. On 'Beer Drinkers,' I'm pretty sure someone had the Autotune turned on..... The overall sound just didn't grab me at all and whilst one can applaud the fact that clearly the songs are live, if a band is going to put out a record on the back of their tour then at least make the effort to get a decent mix and recording system in. Live should be exciting and these songs aren't.Overall a good selection of songs with Sharp Dressed Man and La Grange working the best in my opinion it's a very average album because of the sound quality.

An awesome album from an awesome band.

Seems to me Doctor X needs to listen to their albums pre Eliminator as he is missing out.mGreat collection but I hate live albums that fade in and out between tracks but heh.I also think the Eliminator tracks aren't as well produced as the rest of the album.I have everything that they have done and I am pleased with this.Not as good as Live From Texas though.Just a personal opinion.

not much needs to be said about this live ZZ Top album, solid performance from one of the best live bands and its great to have Jeff Beck as guest.BUT why oh why do they need to fade in and out on tracks and pick sets from differing venues. I buy a live album to experience the band and atmosphere of the concert and buy the studio album to appreciate the production values of the band and such treats should be "warts and all" as that is the nature of playing live.

My husband is into ZZ Top music so bought this for a surprise. He must like it as he has put it in the car.

Perfect!

Before I listened to this cd is didn't think it would beat the live in Germany cd,how wrong could I be it's excellent even with the between tack fading.Just one minor disapointment is it doesn't tell you the dates each track was recorded, just the venue. But I still give a five.Oh & I don't think there's any need to insult doctor x