"That little ol' band from Texas," ZZ TOP shifted into overdrive in 1983 with the trio's eighth studio album, Eliminator. Creating a new sound by combining the humming synthesizers of new wave and fusing them to its trademark hot-rodded blues boogie, the album roared into the MTV age powered by a trio of smash radio singles and videos featuring the iconic red '33 Ford three-window. (The album holds the rare distinction of being among the first group of albums to be awarded diamond certification by the RIAA for sales of 10 million copies). The Eliminator Collector's Edition CD contains a remastered version of the album's first pressing, including the rare original album version of the Top 10 smash "Legs," which was replaced on subsequent pressings with a single version edited for radio. Along with the hit singles "Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Sharp Dressed Man," the disc also features seven bonus tracks. Five are previously unreleased live performances of songs from Eliminator. The live tracks include "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Sharp Dressed Man," "TV Dinners," and "Got Me Under Pressure," all recorded at Castle Donnington in England as well as "I Got The Six," recorded at The Marquee Club in London. The bonus tracks feature both the single and 12-inch dance remix versions of "Legs." The deluxe packaging also features rare photos and extensive liner notes from longtime ZZ TOP publicist and confidant Bob Merlis.
Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top...
Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top doing his thang on stage.
The DVD includes the ground-breaking videos for "Legs," "Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Sharp Dressed Man." Known collectively as "The Eliminator Trilogy," all three videos were directed by Tim Newman and all starred the '33 Ford coupe (with the ZZ pinstriping down the side) and a trio of leggy beauties. Also included is the video for "TV Dinners," which starred a ZZ TOP-loving claymation alien named Zelt.
In addition to the videos, the DVD portion of ELIMINATOR Collector's Edition includes five performances originally broadcast in England on the popular music television program The Tube. The songs includes "Got Me Under Pressure," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Tube Snake Boogie," a song that originally appeared on ZZ TOP's 1981 album, El Loco.
The CD/DVD will be available September 9, 2008, anywhere Warner Brothers Records are sold.