ZZ TOP - DVD
"THREE LONE WOLFS"

LABEL:
Howling Wolf Productions
SOURCE:
Various
FORMAT:
DVD, NTSC, All Region
RUNNING TIME:
Approximately 102 minutes
SOUND/SOURCE:
Stereo Soundboard, TV Broadcast
PACKAGING:
Deluxe Trifold DVD Digipack
 

"three lone wolfs" DVD front

***image2***

SOUND 9.5 / PACKAGING 10 / PERFORMANCE 9

 
TRACK LIST:

Rockpalast - April 19, 1980

  1. I Thank You
  2. Waiting For The Bus
  3. Jesus Just Left Chicago
  4. Precious And Grace
  5. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
  6. Manic Mechanic
  7. Lowdown in The Street
  8. I Heard It On The X
  9. Fool For Your Stockings
  10. Nasty Dogs, Funky Kings
  11. El Diablo
  12. Cheap Sunglasses
  13. Arrested For Driving While Blind
  14. Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
  15. La Grange
  16. She Loves My Automobile
  17. HiFi Mama
  18. Dust My Broom
  19. Jailhouse Rock
  20. Tush
  21. Tube Snake Boogie
  22. Just Got Paid

Rockpop In Concert 1982

  1. Intro
  2. Groovy Little Hippie Pad
  3. I Thank You
  4. Waiting For The Bus
  5. Jesus Just Left Chicago
  6. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
  7. The Foot Pole
  8. I Luv A Woman
  9. Dust My Broom
  10. La Grange
  11. Tush

Mondagshorsen Sweden 1983

  1. Interview
  2. Tube Snake Boogie
  3. Jailhouse Rock
  4. La Grange
  5. Tush
  6. Party On The Patio

Old Grey Whistle Test 1980

  1. I Thank You
  2. Cheap Sunglasses

PinkPop Festival, Holland 1982

  1. Party On The Patio
  2. La Grange
 
REVIEW:

Being that there aren't any significant ZZ Top video/DVD releases via the commercial underground labels, this new DVD from Howling Wolf Productions is worthy of attention for that fact alone.  Couple that setup with the superb quality of the footage presented and you have a winning situation. 

Fans of that little ol' band from Texas will find this an essential aquisition.  Check that, any collector would be hard pressed to ignore this even if it's just a passing interest in the trio and their formulaic schtick.  This is a great compilation and solid performances abound, mostly because they don't deviate from what they do best- which can get a bit repetitious on these compilations that focus on a specific time period - but it's easy to skip around on this format which is perfect in this case and some of the other compilation DVD's ala Bad Wizard/Scorpio, etc. 

The Rockpalast 1980 show that is the core piece of "three lone wolfs" is the complete broadcast performance and does have some rousing moments but those spikes in the festivities center around the pre-1980 tunes and hits.  Otherwise it's just a straightline affair with solid playing and canned banter from the band.  The source video utilized is absolutely pristine and is a stereo broadcast version - very enjoyable but as I said, a show that doesn't vary it's tempo too much at all (a trend that you identify as you see more footage from the band.  It all depends on the audience response and/or occaision).

The bonus or support performances that round out the DVD don't really offer anything more except a different setting.  The Rockpop concert from 1982 provides us a glimpse at that 80's look and ambience with lots of color and that tone we would be saturated with during their growing MTV exposure.  The most memorable piece on here is the Swedish broadcast from 1983 in which our host is on the stage interviewing Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.  It almost has the look of a Las Vegas Casino showfloor with just a riser for a stage and dinner tables populating the floor area.  Our swedish host couldn't wait to ask the question, "isn't it funny that your drummer's name is Frank Beard and he's the one that doesn't have one?"  Billy just snickers and looks at Dusty quick, a pause of silence and Billy leans over to the mike and says, "very funny".  Then they move on to discussing songwriting topics surrounding strip clubs and bars, etc. - finally, they play!  A very awkward exchange prior to the actual show but interesting nonetheless.

The most energetic snipet here is the final piece of footage from the PinkPop Festival '82 where we are treated to 3 tunes only but they are effective.  "Party On The Patio" is a perfect opener for this outdoor gig and the mood is very festive indeed.  Looks like fun, sounds like fun and a great way to round out a superbly produced DVD.

The packaging is outstanding, with great imagery and color with the same treatment on the interior of the digipack.  The DVD programming is efficiently executed to jump around easily between the various shows.  After seeing the band in the Summer of 2007, they haven't changed things up a bit which I think is fine because they are pretty straightforward with the presentation but that little 3-step choreographed jig that Billy and Dusty do constantly - and those god-awful beards simply have to go.  When you see the earlier pictures of Billy Gibbons circa 1976-77 utilized for the menus on the DVD, they would come across so much better if they'd just let go of that crap.  There, I've said my peace.  A great little 'ol DVD here that Top fans will relish for a long time.  How about a similar project with earlier material now?

 


this shit got me laid
Comment by n wrote on 2008-03-13 16:52:25

hey, that works!
Comment by Svengi wrote on 2008-03-13 17:05:44

The best toys are the ones that are both educational and multi-purposeful.
Great Toys For Tots

 

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Mar 8, 2008 - 5:07:42 PM


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