Rhythmeen

According to Billy Gibbons, “Rhythmeen may stand as the truest test of ZZ Top as a trio. There are no overdubs. That was ‘pure band,’ going in and saying, ‘Okay, we think we know these songs. We’re gonna try and lay ’em down.’

“It’s really a cool record. Prior to that, ZZ Top was actually like a five- or six-piece band, and that was only due to the benefit of multi-tracking. And although we still have that advantage on our side, we wanted a true trio record. Rhythmeen brought us back to the first album and the glory days of Eliminator. It allowed us to do some amazing stuff as a trio. When you’ve got two rhythm guitar parts and a lead vocal going on, and then you get to lay down a lead guitar track on top, you become like a nine-piece band. So with Rhythmeen, we decided we were gonna record these songs as we rehearsed ’em. It took quite a bit of gumption to get to that point.

“The title of the album could basically be interpreted from the words ‘mean rhythm.’ And that was really the cornerstone of a true ZZ Top record.”

ZZ Top: From A to ZZ — guitarworld

As ZZ Top ready their 15th studio album, Billy Gibbons looks back on 40 years of classic albums from that little ol' band from Texas. ZZ Top's First Album (January 1971) "It was recorded when we first formed, in 1970, and wrapped up by about March 1970.