Shelter From the Norm

Plays: 752

“Waitin’ For the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago” by ZZTop
(Words/Music: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard, Album: Tres Hombres, London 1973)

Took a jump through Mississippi, well, muddy water turned to wine

My first exposure to ZZTop was the same as most people my age - those videos on MTV in the early 80s from their Eliminator album (you know, the ones with the scantily clad women and the choreography by Paula Abdul). At the time, they fit the visual enticements of MTV quite well, but little did I know about the band’s blues heritage. This song (or song combination) more than any other, really pays homage to classic blues music that they played and paid their dues with before breaking through into the mainstream. Granted, they still play blues-oriented music, but most people think of the beards and the videos first.

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