Recycler (album)

Last updated

Recycler
ZZ Top - Recycler.jpg
Studio album by
ZZ Top
ReleasedOctober 16, 1990 [1]
RecordedMay 1989 – July 1990
StudioMemphis Sound Productions (Memphis, Tennessee)
Genre Blues [2] [3]
Length39:49
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Bill Ham
ZZ Top chronology
The Six Pack
(1987)		Recycler
(1990)		 Greatest Hits
(1992)
Singles from Recycler
  1. "Doubleback"
    Released: May 1990
  2. "Concrete and Steel"
    Released: 1990
  3. "My Head's in Mississippi"
    Released: 1990
  4. "Give It Up"
    Released: November 1990 [4]
  5. "Burger Man"
    Released: 1991

Recycler is the tenth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in October 1990. It was the last album to utilize the band's synthesizer-driven production style which began on Eliminator and marked a return to the band's blues roots. [3]

Contents

The band had a cameo in the 1990 movie Back to the Future Part III playing an "old west" version of "Doubleback" along with some local musicians. (The regular version of the song plays over the credits). The music video for "Doubleback" also had clips from the movie and was included on the DVD. There were five hit singles from the album: "Doubleback" (No. 1 on the Album Rock Tracks for five weeks), "Concrete and Steel" (No. 1 on the Album Rock Tracks for four weeks), "Burger Man", "Give It Up", and "My Head's in Mississippi" (No. 1 on the Album Rock Tracks for six weeks).

Music videos were also made for "My Head's in Mississippi", "Burger Man" and "Give It Up".

In the UK, it was the band's third album to be certified by the British Phonographic Industry attaining Silver (60,000 units) in 1990.

Production and recording

In a 2008 interview, Billy Gibbons stated, "Recycler was interesting to make, because initially we planned to follow the lineage established in Eliminator and Afterburner. We had written a couple of highly structured pop tunes in our studio in Houston. Then we went out to Los Angeles for a couple of months and got into the whole sequencer, everything-in-its-place thing. But when we arrived in Memphis to finish the record, we slid into a different mode. While we were waiting for all of our high-tech gear to arrive, we set up in a circle and started playing and jamming as a band. The sound, even though it was rougher and looser, felt right in every way. The results of some of those sessions can be heard on cuts like '2000 Blues' and 'My Head’s in Mississippi.' Both are reminiscent of our earlier music, which is why we call Recycler our Tres Hombres/Eliminator album."

He continued, "We didn’t abandon the ground we covered on Eliminator and Afterburner—you can still hear the sequencers and synthesizers—but they’re much more unobtrusive. We allowed some of the rougher elements of the band to come shining through. 'My Head’s in Mississippi,' which was one of the first completed tracks on the album, is a great example of how we mixed the new with the old. Initially, it was a straight-ahead boogie-woogie. Then Frank stepped in and threw in those highly gated electronic drum fills, which modernized the track. Not counting the preproduction time in Houston and Los Angeles, it took us four months to make. Recycler was one of our longer projects. I think it took extra time because we moved to Memphis Sound studios on Beale Street. That area is chock full of distractions." [5]

The sessions ultimately saw the band returning to their blues roots, and would be the last ZZ Top album to utilize the synthesized production style of their previous two albums, which was subsequently completely abandoned in favor of a more roots-oriented style on their later albums. [3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [6]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic retrospectively gave it 2 stars out of 5, stating: "The continuation of Eliminator's synthesized blues made sense on Afterburner , since it arrived two years after its predecessor. ZZ Top's choice to pursue that direction on Recycler is puzzling, since a full five years separate this from Afterburner. It's not just that they continue to follow this path; it's that they embalm it, creating a record that may be marginally ballsier than its predecessor, but lacking the sense of goofy fun and warped ambition that made Afterburner fascinating. [...] And the worst thing about it all, it doesn't seem like the band realizes how uncomfortably ironic the title of "Recycler" is." Erlewine did however note that "Doubleback" and especially "My Head's in Mississippi" were standouts, and "Give It Up" also got an "AMG Pick", meaning that it was another highlight. [2]

Robert Christgau gave it a one star honorable mention, meaning "A worthy effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well like" and called "Concrete and Steel" and "Burger Man" as the strongest tracks.

The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 27 on the Australian Albums chart.

Track listing

All songs by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Concrete and Steel"3:45
2."Lovething"3:20
3."Penthouse Eyes"3:49
4."Tell It"4:39
5."My Head's in Mississippi"4:17
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Decision or Collision"3:59
7."Give It Up"3:24
8."2000 Blues"4:37
9."Burger Man"3:18
10."Doubleback"3:53

Personnel

Production

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Recycler
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [26] Platinum100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [27] Platinum65,520 [27]
France (SNEP) [28] 2× Gold200,000*
Germany (BVMI) [29] Platinum500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [30] Gold7,500^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [31] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [32] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [33] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZZ Top</span> American rock band

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For 51 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sound based on Gibbons' blues style and Hill and Beard's rhythm section. They are known for their live performances, sly and humorous lyrics, and the matching appearances of Gibbons and Hill, who wore sunglasses, hats and long beards.

<i>Afterburner</i> (ZZ Top album) 1985 studio album by ZZ Top

Afterburner is the ninth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1985. Although critics' response to the album was lukewarm, Afterburner was a commercial success, eventually going platinum five times and launching one hit single: "Sleeping Bag" which peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, equaling the peak of their previous single "Legs". The album yielded three other Top 40 singles in the United States: "Stages", "Rough Boy", and "Velcro Fly".

<i>Shake Your Money Maker</i> (album) 1990 studio album by the Black Crowes

Shake Your Money Maker is the debut studio album by American rock band the Black Crowes, released on February 13, 1990, on Def American Recordings. It is the only album by the band to feature guitarist Jeff Cease. The album is named after a classic blues song written by Elmore James. The Black Crowes have played the song live many times over the years, but it is not included on this album.

<i>Tres Hombres</i> 1973 studio album by ZZ Top

Tres Hombres is the third studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released on July 26, 1973, by London Records. It was the band's first collaboration with engineer Terry Manning. The album would be ZZ Top's commercial breakthrough in the United States charts. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 1974. Its lead single "La Grange" reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the first of many ZZ Top albums to incorporate the use of Spanish terminology in their branding. "Tres Hombres" means "three men" in Spanish.

<i>El Loco</i> 1981 studio album by ZZ Top

El Loco is the seventh studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1981. It foreshadowed the band's extensive usage of synthesizers on Eliminator, Afterburner, and to a lesser extent, Recycler, by way of employing a synthesizer on a couple tracks, played by an uncredited Linden Hudson.

<i>Antenna</i> (ZZ Top album) 1994 studio album by ZZ Top

Antenna is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1994. It was the band's first album to be released on the RCA label.

<i>Tejas</i> (album) 1976 studio album by ZZ Top

Tejas is the fifth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was released in late November 1976, on the London label. The title is a Caddo language word meaning "friends", which is the origin of the name of the band's home state, Texas.

<i>Eliminator</i> (album) 1983 studio album by ZZ Top

Eliminator is the eighth studio album by American rock band ZZ Top. It was released on March 23, 1983, by Warner Bros. Records, and rose high on the charts in many countries. Four hit singles were released—"Gimme All Your Lovin'" which reached the American Top 40, "Sharp Dressed Man", "TV Dinners" and their most successful single, "Legs". Eliminator is ZZ Top's most commercially successful release, with sales of 11 million and diamond certification in the US.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (ZZ Top album) 1992 greatest hits album by ZZ Top

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Gibbons</span> American musician (born 1949)

William Frederick Gibbons is an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist and primary vocalist of ZZ Top. He began his career in Moving Sidewalks, who recorded Flash (1969) and opened four dates for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Gibbons formed ZZ Top in late 1969 and released ZZ Top's First Album in early 1971. He has also maintained a solo career in recent years, starting with his first album Perfectamundo (2015).

<i>One Foot in the Blues</i> 1994 compilation album by ZZ Top

One Foot in the Blues is a compilation album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1994. The album contains a selection of the band's songs which fall into the blues genre. With the exception of the songs taken from the Degüello, El Loco, Eliminator and Recycler albums, the 1987 digital remixes were used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legs (song)</span> 1984 single by ZZ Top

"Legs" is a song by the band ZZ Top from their 1983 album Eliminator. The song was released as the fourth single in May 1984 more than a year after the album came out. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and the dance mix version of the song peaked at number 13 on the dance charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Grange (song)</span> Song by ZZ Top

"La Grange" is a song by the American rock group ZZ Top, from their 1973 album Tres Hombres. One of ZZ Top's most successful songs, it was released as a single in 1973 and received extensive radio play, rising to No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1974. The song’s title and lyrics refer to a brothel on the outskirts of La Grange, Texas. The brothel is also the subject of the Broadway play and film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velcro Fly</span> 1986 single by ZZ Top

"Velcro Fly" is the fourth single off ZZ Top's 1985 album Afterburner. The song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, the band's last ever top 40 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rough Boy</span> 1986 single by ZZ Top

"Rough Boy" is a song by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in the US in March 1986, as the third single from their ninth studio album, Afterburner. The song reached No. 5 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. Unlike the other songs on the album, this song has a much slower tempo and is more of a power ballad. It also shares a similar tune to their song "Leila", from their seventh studio album, El Loco.

<i>Live from Texas</i> 2008 live album by ZZ Top

Live from Texas is a live DVD/Blu-ray by ZZ Top. It was recorded on November 1, 2007, at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas, and released on June 24, 2008, by Eagle Rock Records. It was also released on audio CD in Europe on October 28, 2008, and in the US on November 4, 2008. A vinyl version is also available in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping Bag (song)</span> 1985 single by ZZ Top

"Sleeping Bag" is a song performed by the band ZZ Top from their 1985 album Afterburner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doubleback</span> 1990 single by ZZ Top

"Doubleback" is a song by ZZ Top from the 1990 album Recycler. It was released as the album's lead single, and was also featured in the film Back to the Future Part III (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Head's in Mississippi</span> 1990 single by ZZ Top

"My Head's In Mississippi" is a song by ZZ Top from their album Recycler. The song was produced by band manager Bill Ham, and recorded and mixed by Terry Manning. In December 1990, the song reached number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 166 in Australia.

<i>La Futura</i> 2012 studio album by ZZ Top

La Futura is the fifteenth studio album by American rock band ZZ Top, released on September 8, 2012. It is the band's first album in nine years, following Mescalero, and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard "Top Rock Albums" chart. La Futura is also the last studio album released in bassist Dusty Hill's lifetime.

References

  1. ↑ "iTunes". iTunes . Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Recycler at AllMusic
  3. 1 2 3 DeRiso, Nick (October 16, 2015). "How ZZ Top Came Full Circle With 'Recycler'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 26 November 1990" . Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ Steinblatt, Harold; Tolinski, Brad (February 5, 2008). "ZZ Top Interview: Double Back".
  6. ↑ Robert Christgau review Retrieved on August 28, 2012.
  7. ↑ Tucker, Ken (October 19, 1990). "Recycler". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ Archived February 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – ZZ Top – Recycler". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – ZZ Top – Recycler" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – ZZ Top – Recycler" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – ZZ Top – Recycler" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1991. 14. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Charts.nz – ZZ Top – Recycler". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – ZZ Top – Recycler". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – ZZ Top – Recycler". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – ZZ Top – Recycler". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  20. ↑ "AOR Albums" (PDF). Radio & Records . January 11, 1991. p. 92. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  21. ↑ "ZZ Top Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1702". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991". hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – ZZ Top – Recycler". Music Canada . Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  27. 1 2 "ZZ Top" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  28. ↑ "French album certifications – ZZ Top – Recycler" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 15, 2021.Select ZZ TOP and click OK. 
  29. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (ZZ Top; 'Recycler')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  30. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – ZZ Top – Recycler". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  31. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Recycler')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  32. ↑ "British album certifications – ZZ Top – Recycler". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  33. ↑ "American album certifications – ZZ Top – Recycler". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 16, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.