Degüello
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.
| Degüello | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1979[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 34:03 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Bill Ham | |||
| ZZ Top chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A–[3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  |
| Smash Hits | 8/10[5] |
Degüello was produced by Bill Ham, recorded and mixed by Terry Manning, and mastered by Bob Ludwig.
Meaning of the title
"Degüello" means "decapitation" or, idiomatically, when something is said to be done "a degüello", it means "no quarter" in Spanish (as in, "no surrender to be given or accepted—a fight to the death"). It was also the title of a Moorish-origin bugle call used by the Mexican Army at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Thank You" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) | 3:23 |
| 2. | "She Loves My Automobile" | 2:24 |
| 3. | "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" | 4:46 |
| 4. | "A Fool for Your Stockings" | 4:15 |
| 5. | "Manic Mechanic" | 2:37 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dust My Broom" (Robert Johnson) | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Lowdown in the Street" | 2:49 |
| 3. | "Hi Fi Mama" | 2:23 |
| 4. | "Cheap Sunglasses" | 4:48 |
| 5. | "Esther Be the One" | 3:31 |
Original LP pressings of Degüello credited authorship of "Dust My Broom" to Elmore James.
Personnel
- Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals, baritone saxophone
- Dusty Hill – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Hi Fi Mama", tenor saxophone
- Frank Beard – drums, percussion, alto saxophone
Production
- Producer – Bill Ham
- Engineer – Terry Manning
- Mastering engineer – Bob Ludwig
Charts
Album
Album – Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Pop Albums | 24 |
| 1984 | The Billboard 200 | 183 |
Singles
Singles – Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Cheap Sunglasses" | Pop Singles | 89 |
| 1980 | "I Thank You" | Pop Singles | 34 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (BVMI)[6] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[7] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- Edwards, Eyries and Callahan (2004). "WB Album Discography, Part 9". Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- link
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: Z". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Cross, Charles R. (2004). "ZZ Top". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 907-8. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- Hepworth, David. "ZZ Top: Deguello". Smash Hits (March 20 – April 2, 1999): 31.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (ZZ Top; 'Degüello')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- "American album certifications – ZZ Top – Deguello". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 9, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
