This is about the Mexican "border blaster" radio station XERF (also known as XERB) which had a signal that was so powerful that you could drive from LA to New York without losing the signal. They weren't bound by American broadcast rules, so they ran a signal that was 3 times stronger than what was allowed in America, and they could play music that was banned in America. A DJ named Wolfman Jack became world famous as the lead Disc Jockey on the "X".
@@Greg-io1ip Wolfman Jack appeared in American Grafitti, and a lot of TV shows, including, hilariously, Galactica 1980. People on reaction channels would recognize Wolfman Jack from hosting "The Midnight Special" live music show.
That’s what makes this song one of my all time favorite ZZ tunes.. love the rock n’ roll history they’re laying down here.m with the rocking revival sounding groove. That radio station kept coming up in different interviews I’ve seen or read. From Billy Gibbons to Janis Joplin, Steve Miller, an Allman Brothers doc, a Skynyrd doc, SRV.. oh yeah, and I believe that Bobby Keyes (sax for the Stones) had mentioned it as well in that new doc about him.. and those are just some I’ve seen, so there’s likely many more great rockers who were influenced by hearing all that great early blues, country, and gospel that commercial radio just wasn’t interested in playing.
Thanks for telling the story about what the “X” was. Apparently a number of musicians looked to the “X” for what is now known as “roots” music (authentic rock, blues, gospel) as alternative to US radio dominated by 3 minute top 40 singles.
Time travelling to high school jamming this on the Pioneer deck, driving to the beach. ZZ Top is the sound of TexMex Rock. Even though they didn't have a Mex, they did eat a lot of Mexican Dinner Platters.
They also may have been in Acuña. And might not have been up to feelin' alone. Side note was it the Pioneer deck with the big plastic dial for the stations? Those were cool, imo
And don't overlook that absolutely iconic guitar riff. That bass line was killer as well and then they are all just so tight about it. And the vocal interplay between their two voices is just so fantastic. And this is semi-autobiographical actually, talking about their musical influences when they were very young.
The last zz reaction was just them goofin around havin fun … now we back. So many great songs. U should do the whole Tres hombres album. The drummer frank beard is known for his impeccable timing
Yep there we go! Now we're back in 75. First ZZ LP I purchased. One side studio recording. The other side LIVE. Still have the original vinyl and (believe it or not) Billy Gibbons autograph on it. Love the early ZZ Top. So raw and full of energy. Please react to 'Blue Jeans Blues' off the same album. Trust me. Love your channel. ❤
Guys, I am so happy you got to this. I haven't even started yet, I've mostly been reading comments and I love that there is so much knowledge here. I know that I recommended it a couple times and my assumption is that probably a lot of people did, and not only is the story and all the associated cultural stuff fantastic, this is just an outright Banger. And to me it's one of the greatest rock riffs ever.
They were hungry back then. You can hear it in the effort. They seemed to slow it down more after success kicked in ... musically. All of it is a Vibe. Love ZZ, and you guys too.
ZZ TOP Are one of the few bands I've seen multiple times. This show at the Warehouse was my third time seeing them. They never let me down. Didn't see em again till 5yrs later for the Cheap Sunglasses tour in Seattle. They blew me away once again.
This was the time where a more Punk sound was on the rise. The MC5, The Stooges and the Velvet Underground laid the groundwork for songs like I Heard It On The X sound. The Stones and many bands started to use this sound more heavily starting in the early 1970s - a harder, more raw sound before the full-on Punk scene hit in the states and U.K. in the mid 70s.
The X was blasting rock & roll will a super powerful signal. Outlaw Radio playing everything you needed to rock. The Wolfman was a killer Jockey spinning records.
Yahoooooo fellas from Ol Ned in España. I love ZZ Top and this song is a killer. La, you should look into this particular groove by Frank Beard it is a neat tricky beat. It's a little tough to start with but once you get it going it'll put a smile on your face. What a band !
Ogmamdog is so right! It’s a big reason i enjoy, and look for your reactions daily! I have learned so much from them and féllow subscribers. The X refers to a 50kw station XERF…coast to coast! Home of Wolfman Jack!
The studios were in the US and the towers were in Mexico. A friend of mine worked on the transmitter. The RF was so strong all the hair on his body stood on end. I know at least one of the outlaw stations water cooled the transmitter. Ahhhhhh the good ole days. Actually, I was told they could listen in Vietnam.
in the USA all the radio station call letters start with W or K. In Mexico they start with X. Also, the Mexican stations did not have wattage restrictions like in the US so they would blow all the US stations off the air. So that's what folks listened to, especially down in Texas, where ZZ Top is from. Billy, Dusty and Frank keeping it real and telling tales.
The great ZZ Top has lots of subtly different rockers and blues, Texas style, don't be surprised it is a bit different every time. The are always worth a listen, try Just Got Back From Baby's for more greatness, they have so many great songs, enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶
No album brings back memories like this one does!!!! I was 14 in 1975 when it came out! When we were 16 and got our drivers license we would drink whisky and Cruze all night long on the weekends 2:26
Hear me out here...This album was more punk in spirit than most of what is called punk lately. The rawness, the energy, the fight against the rules subject. The low tech.
Bad to the bone dude’s Billy Gibbons badass guitarist, presently touring with Skynyrd, gotta listen to Skynyrd’s Live album (One more from the road) the song T for Texas T for Tennessee some killer 3 guitar attack 🎸🎸🎸 you guys got it going on with the music reactions 👏
Guaranteed you both would appreciate *ZZ Top Manic Mechanic* from their 1979 album *Degüello* None of my friends did back in the 80s, but as a drummer I sure got the genius of *Manic Mechanic*.
ZZ Top rarely disappoint. "El Diablo" from their Tejas album is one of their coolest song IMO, but little known. It's slower, groovier and trippy. Frank Beard on drums is a machine on El Diablo.
May have done it and sorry if I missed it, but Brown Sugar by ZZ Top is just such a heavy groove - if you haven’t checked it out yet, give it a go. Love the channel gentlemen and the recent Q&A’s
You gotta do "Backdoor Medley: Backdoor Love Affair/Mellow Down Easy/Backdoor Love" from this album(Fandango) it smokes! It's live! Actually please do the whole album because it's that good!
