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ZZ Top — La Grange
Album: Tres Hombres
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4243









Released: 1973
Length: 3:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Rumour spreadin' 'round
In that Texas town
About that shack outside La Grange
And you know what I'm talkin' about
Just let me know
If you wanna go
To that home out on the range
They got a lot of nice girls-ah

''Have mercy''
A-haw-haw-haw-haw, a-heh
A-haw-haw-haw

Well, I hear it's fine
If you got the time
And the ten to get yourself in
A-hmm, hmm
And I hear it's tight
A-most every night
But now I might be mistaken
Hmm, hmm, hmm

''Ah, have mercy''
Comments (342)add comment
RIP Dusty
 keenevision wrote:
Bumpin it up!!
8-> 9!!


Born 10!
I've seen em about ten times. Whenever I hear this I know why!
One of the best guitar outros ever!
SO needed this in this moment to squeeze out the rest of my day!
Bumpin it up!!
8-> 9!!
The 37 seconds between the drums kicking in and the lead guitar coming in  - is the best boogie rhythm known to mankind
All I can say about this rocking’ tune is, “A-haw-haw-haw!”
Released just a tad over 50 years ago, played to death and still enjoyed. That's what I'd call a classic.
 MattRudely wrote:

I was beckoned up onstage as a guest drummer at a friend of a friend's gig once, and they decided to jam this out with me. I was waaayyyyyy too drunk to play a swing ordinarily but goddamn, I nailed my drum intro. I had no idea what I'd done to achieve it, no idea how to ever replicate it.

Anecdote.



I had a similar experience once drumming Led Zeppelin's Rock 'n Roll. I'm not sure if I just imagined drummer stardom in my drunken stupor, of if the alcohol just let that shit flow... 
just upped this from 9 to 10 wish i could go higher
 cubaninlondon wrote:

Muddy Waters? John Lee Hooker? Who did they rip off? Reminds me of a Stones song as well.


Pretty sure they ripped off NO ONE.
If I were ever asked to explain rock & roll, I think the simplest way would be to play this song.
Somehow my stereo seems to find '10' when this appears.
I once ran into this song being used in an animated movie. Like a family -friendly movie. ( I think they deleted or avoided most of the lyrics?)  Juxtapositions like that always amuse me.
 joejennings wrote:






And I just bumped it from 8 to 9. You're cancelled.
Für die Ewigkeit! :-)
Thanks RP.
Well, I've gotta do it...
 
I love that this is not the remastered-and-dripping-with-reverb remix. This mix is dry as a bone, just how it should be. A lovely choice, RP.
 cc_rider wrote:
The best was his reporting on health inspections - "SLIME in the ice machine!!!"


HAhahahAHhaha... thanks for the flash back!
One of the greatest songs in rock and roll.
 fathom39 wrote:
ZZ Top further explored the topic in "Mexican Blackbird" on the Fandango! album. 

That song mentions Acuna, Mexico. That ciudad is across the border from Del Rio, Texas. You could find a chica por la noche in Piedras Negras as well.

Boys Town in Nuevo Laredo was the most popular, however. More popular than the Chicken Ranch in podunk Fayette County. Cheaper and more private. And with cheaper alcohol. Laredo / Nuevo Laredo are the biggest cities between Brownsville and El Paso. Lots of Texas dads took their sons to Boys Town for their first experience. Family tradition in some Texas families.

Here's a youtube link to the GREAT Doug Sahm performing "Nuevo Laredo," a song from his Sir Douglas Quintet days about visiting Boys Town. (Link opens in new tab)

Doug Sahm - "Nuevo Laredo" [Live from Austin TX]
graduated from high school in ‘76. Name of my high school: LaGrange. You can imagine I heard this song more than once. How how how.
VH1 wrote:
I always wondered: What's behind those beards?
 NickDanger wrote:

John Lee Hooker?

and Jimmy Hoffa?
 jmjohall wrote:
I remember this well as a kid.  I grew up in Clear Lake and I remember all the hoopla about that chicken ranch.  And of course... MARVIN ZINDLER.......EYYYYE WITNESS NEWS!
The best was his reporting on health inspections - "SLIME in the ice machine!!!"
c.

 cc_rider wrote:
Mr. Gibbons grew up in Sugarland (where Leadbelly wrote 'Midnight Special') and almost certainly visited the The Chicken Ranch.

Marvin Zindler (played in the movie by Dom DeLuise) was the investigative reporter who broke the story and got the place shut down.
c.





I remember this well as a kid.  I grew up in Clear Lake and I remember all the hoopla about that chicken ranch.  And of course... MARVIN ZINDLER.......EYYYYE WITNESS NEWS!
 Chongo1959 wrote:
The stones Brian Johnson died about 50 years ago.


 




I think you meant Brian Jones.
 reallylost wrote:

I'll give this a 1. 

And that's being generous.




 I suppose you really are your moniker...
 zenhead wrote:

I don't remember who it was, but I heard a clip from this song in an ad recently for a car or something. I don't think whoever wrote the ad had any idea what the song was about. Just like when that cruise line used Iggy Pop's "Lust for life." Those square advertising executives need to pay more attention. Or perhaps just leave these little tidbits for those of us to be amused by.

When Ford owned the Jaguar marque they used The Clash's London

Calling in one of their ads...The left out the line "motors stop running"...

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



GOOD TUNE!!!
 reallylost wrote:

I'll give this a 1. 

And that's being generous.




 zenhead wrote:

I don't remember who it was, but I heard a clip from this song in an ad recently for a car or something. I don't think whoever wrote the ad had any idea what the song was about. Just like when that cruise line used Iggy Pop's "Lust for life." Those square advertising executives need to pay more attention. Or perhaps just leave these little tidbits for those of us to be amused by.



ZZ Top further explored the topic in "Mexican Blackbird" on the Fandango! album. 
 Typesbad wrote:


I don't know about the cruise line, but I was one of the square ad execs involved in choosing Iggy's "Lust for Life" for a Mitsubishi TV ad about 20 years ago.


We accept your apology.
 reallylost wrote:

I'll give this a 1. 

And that's being generous.



Wouldn't brag about it.
 MattRudely wrote:

I was beckoned up onstage as a guest drummer at a friend of a friend's gig once, and they decided to jam this out with me. I was waaayyyyyy too drunk to play a swing ordinarily but goddamn, I nailed my drum intro. I had no idea what I'd done to achieve it, no idea how to ever replicate it.

Anecdote.



So close to greatness.
 sqqqrly wrote:

The ZZ documentary was surprisingly interesting.    These are three guys that had a mature respect for their profession and each other.    That is why they still are together having fun.

Didn't catch that...too bad for me! But, I WAS in TX when they were slamming the airwaves with their own style of really awesome stuff!! They will never, EVER be able to fill Dusty's shoes, though! Your post is pre- passing if him....RIP Mr. Hill....and thanks for the great listening you left us with!

 reallylost wrote:

I'll give this a 1. 

And that's being generous.



And I'll raise you a 10!
Startling when you consider this was 1973?! Wow!
 sqqqrly wrote:

The ZZ documentary was surprisingly interesting.    These are three guys that had a mature respect for their profession and each other.    That is why they still are together having fun.



Secret of life, eh?
I'll give this a 1. 

And that's being generous.
Tight...'nuf said...
R.I.P. DH
 tazmondpembroke wrote:

La Grange is actually about a real Whorehouse. Rockn' boogie all the wzzay.

Mr. Gibbons grew up in Sugarland (where Leadbelly wrote 'Midnight Special') and almost certainly visited the The Chicken Ranch.

Marvin Zindler (played in the movie by Dom DeLuise) was the investigative reporter who broke the story and got the place shut down.
c.


From an  8 to a 9. This is a classic. 
When they were bad-ass and made sweet tunes.  Unlike the horrible drivel they created in the '80s..... Yuck.
 zenhead wrote:

I don't remember who it was, but I heard a clip from this song in an ad recently for a car or something. I don't think whoever wrote the ad had any idea what the song was about. Just like when that cruise line used Iggy Pop's "Lust for life." Those square advertising executives need to pay more attention. Or perhaps just leave these little tidbits for those of us to be amused by.



I don't know about the cruise line, but I was one of the square ad execs involved in choosing Iggy's "Lust for Life" for a Mitsubishi TV ad about 20 years ago.
The Peanuts gang "performing" this song 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
upgrade 11 !
Much to the annoyance of my son I always play this twice in a row. Once to do a full air guitar solo and second for the air drumming. Hardly anything to chose from the two for air-tastic
 sqqqrly wrote:
The ZZ documentary was surprisingly interesting.    These are three guys that had a mature respect for their profession and each other.    That is why they still are together having fun.
 
Me too. It was very interesting. Worth watching for sure (if remotely a fan).
I always enjoy hearing this song.  One of the few classics that have never lost it's appeal for me.
Lone star soul. The gold standard.

Nuf ced.
The ZZ documentary was surprisingly interesting.    These are three guys that had a mature respect for their profession and each other.    That is why they still are together having fun.
Muddy Waters? John Lee Hooker? Who did they rip off? Reminds me of a Stones song as well.
The stones Brian Johnson died about 50 years ago.

steuss wrote:

It is.  
 

ZZ Top Imitating John Lee Hooker - La Grange
And if I ever catch up with the guy who stole my two vinyl discs of "Rio Grande Mud" I will make sure there will "be no mercy coz you will be waiting for the bus all day and you're ticket will be one way to hell".
La Grange is actually about a real Whorehouse. Rockn' boogie all the wzzay.
 lizardking wrote:

Which was the favo(u)rite of the Single Mens' Bunkhouse...the tune or the whorehouse?  
 
The tune silly.   
 MattRudely wrote:
I was beckoned up onstage as a guest drummer at a friend of a friend's gig once, and they decided to jam this out with me. I was waaayyyyyy too drunk to play a swing ordinarily but goddamn, I nailed my drum intro. I had no idea what I'd done to achieve it, no idea how to ever replicate it.

Anecdote.
 

Love those moments of self-surprise. 
 steuss wrote:
There is an EXCELLENT documentary of ZZ Top on Netflix right now, thoroughly enjoyable.  I thought I knew the band pretty well, but there are so many anecdotes and inside stories.  Plus, it goes into  detail about how they developed the sound that enabled them to sound much bigger than three guys.  Not what you would think.
 

I was just about to post this. Highly recommended!
I LOVE this song, always have, mainly because it's one of the few songs I can sing in tune for the whole song. . . at least I think I can
There is an EXCELLENT documentary of ZZ Top on Netflix right now, thoroughly enjoyable.  I thought I knew the band pretty well, but there are so many anecdotes and inside stories.  Plus, it goes into  detail about how they developed the sound that enabled them to sound much bigger than three guys.  Not what you would think.
 drucev wrote:
I think 50 years without a change in lineup might be a record for a major rock band.
 
It is.  
I think 50 years without a change in lineup might be a record for a major rock band.
 zenhead wrote:
I don't remember who it was, but I heard a clip from this song in an ad recently for a car or something. I don't think whoever wrote the ad had any idea what the song was about. Just like when that cruise line used Iggy Pop's "Lust for life." Those square advertising executives need to pay more attention. Or perhaps just leave these little tidbits for those of us to be amused by.
 
I'll bet a good number of those ad executives are boomers who do know the stories behind the songs and select them for the irony or for their own amusement.  It's not like it's 90-year-old geezers working in those offices.
The inside album cover has always made me hungry.
 cosmicrhubarb wrote:
Coud also be Canned Heat's Refried Boogie (part one) - 1968

 

 giammin wrote:
this could be a john lee hooker's tune
 

1973 !
1973? Talk about a teenage kid's dream. 
this could be a john lee hooker's tune
Growing up, lucky as I was, in Texas during the mid-70s,  yes this is soul music.  
 NickDanger wrote:

John Lee Hooker?
 

Perfect comment! If you listen to JLH you can understand where these guys came from. 
 MattRudely wrote:
I was beckoned up onstage as a guest drummer at a friend of a friend's gig once, and they decided to jam this out with me. I was waaayyyyyy too drunk to play a swing ordinarily but goddamn, I nailed my drum intro. I had no idea what I'd done to achieve it, no idea how to ever replicate it.

Anecdote.
 
Great story and memory!  I had a similar experience, at a wedding, where I offered to comp on piano and ended up bluesing out a bit on a few cuts (thankfully I knew the chord progressions OK back then) - and I was a bit tipsy and it just worked....maybe it helped the fear of not being a good enough player (I'm not!) to actually be part of the band...at least that night I was....Long Live RP!!
I was beckoned up onstage as a guest drummer at a friend of a friend's gig once, and they decided to jam this out with me. I was waaayyyyyy too drunk to play a swing ordinarily but goddamn, I nailed my drum intro. I had no idea what I'd done to achieve it, no idea how to ever replicate it.

Anecdote.
"have mercy" indeed. This badazzery never gets old
"Ah,have mercy "  ...........10   :0)    Naugatuck,Connecticut.
One of the best songs ever.
 cc_rider wrote:

Yes, the Chicken Ranch was the inspiration for 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', along with this little ditty.

The lid was blown off La Grange's secret by Marvin Zindler, an 'investigative reporter' at the time. He's played by Dom DeLouis in the movie. But Marvin was way weirder than Dom could ever be.

His signature news segment, years later, was the health inspection reports. He'd read them off, with kudos to the high scores. But the worst offenders got brutalized. His tag line was 'SLIME! In the Ice Machine!' accompanied with appropriately green goopy graphics.

He was quite a character. A caricature of himself, really. Hilarious if you're in on the joke.
c.

edit: In college I took a 'hound from Montgomery to Austin. 24 hours(!!).  When I saw the La Grange city limits sign, I had this lick running in my head all the way into Austin.
c.
 
I lived in Houston in the early 80's and remember Mr. Zindler. 
I was really into bike racing then and had a painful crash in La Grange. Oh, the memories! 
 westslope wrote:
So this song is about a brothel called the 'Chicken Ranch'?   Cool.

This was a favourite in the mid-1970s with the boys in the Single Mens' Bunkhouse at the open-pit coal mine I worked at. 

 
Yes, the Chicken Ranch was the inspiration for 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas', along with this little ditty.

The lid was blown off La Grange's secret by Marvin Zindler, an 'investigative reporter' at the time. He's played by Dom DeLouis in the movie. But Marvin was way weirder than Dom could ever be.

His signature news segment, years later, was the health inspection reports. He'd read them off, with kudos to the high scores. But the worst offenders got brutalized. His tag line was 'SLIME! In the Ice Machine!' accompanied with appropriately green goopy graphics.

He was quite a character. A caricature of himself, really. Hilarious if you're in on the joke.
c.

edit: In college I took a 'hound from Montgomery to Austin. 24 hours(!!).  When I saw the La Grange city limits sign, I had this lick running in my head all the way into Austin.
c.
Ah....the argument  that was never resolved: who had better guitar sound: ZZ Top or  Mahogany Rush (led by Frank Mareno)? 
never fails to get my toes tapping and my head nodding. bravo!
Thanks Bill for updating this with the original mix.

I don't remember who it was, but I heard a clip from this song in an ad recently for a car or something. I don't think whoever wrote the ad had any idea what the song was about. Just like when that cruise line used Iggy Pop's "Lust for life." Those square advertising executives need to pay more attention. Or perhaps just leave these little tidbits for those of us to be amused by.
High gain and pinched harmonics. You gotta love it!
Sweet livin'! {#Bananajam}
Thanks for the TEXAS shout out Bill
{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Guitarist} All day long!!!!
Just HAS to be one of my all time favs! {#Guitarist}
 Shaker wrote:
Funny! I love RP, such diversity. May not be the band of my choice but flexibility and change if good for the soul. Thank you for the reminder.{#Bananajam}

 
Kudos to you, Shaker!  A constructive 'negative' post while thanking BnR for the reminder of a valuable life lesson.  Freaking great!!  Long Live RP!!

And this is a 9 for me, another RamFish favorite on Rock Band.  I know Rock Band isn't real instrument playing, although I recall this was the one track that seemed close to how it's probably actually played on the guitar. 

I know this is a world wide service, but it's great timing for a Friday afternoon at work, as we are about to finish work and crack open a beer here in Perth, Australia. Great stuff, RP.
{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananapiano}{#Bananajam}
 VH1 wrote:
I always wondered: What's behind those beards? {#Cowboy}

 
John Lee Hooker?
Oh my.

That album cover.  You could "roll, roll away" on it! 

Yeah baby. Michmacan. 
Oh, yeah!!! {#Music}
Another song, along with Lust For Life,  with a good riff that has gotten used in TV commercials, when I don't know if whoever chose it knows what it's about.
 westslope wrote:
So this song is about a brothel called the 'Chicken Ranch'?   Cool.

This was a favourite in the mid-1970s with the boys in the Single Mens' Bunkhouse at the open-pit coal mine I worked at. 

 
At least, that is what you heard...............{#Devil_pimp}
 


hayduke2 wrote:
aah How How  Hoooowwwww

deep

kinda cool driving music though 

 

 

                                    BALLS deep.

                                        'Though'.



Bill - This is the bad 80's remix.

Play the original it's on - RHINO 78966

Thanks 
aah How How  Hoooowwwww

deep

kinda cool driving music though 
 we need more early ZZ Top..{#Cheers}
Gotta say - one of the most kick ass tunes and grooves ever!
We need the original mix! :)
This is the 80's Remix. The Original 1973 version got remastered for the first time in 2006 - Rhino 78966
 slaven41 wrote:
Is this some sort of remix? I don't remember the drums being this echo-ey. I don't think I like that. 

 
I heard what you were referring to.  But everything else sounds the same.  Granted almost all of my listening to this was on vinyl or tape sound systems owned by middle and high school friends.   A tape deck through Pioneer 6x9 coaxial speakers was big time back then.
So this song is about a brothel called the 'Chicken Ranch'?   Cool.

This was a favourite in the mid-1970s with the boys in the Single Mens' Bunkhouse at the open-pit coal mine I worked at. 
 slaven41 wrote:
Is this some sort of remix? I don't remember the drums being this echo-ey. I don't think I like that. 

 
Hm, I'd not say so. To me it sounds the same from good old days:-).
 westslope wrote:
Contemporary American folk music.

I like.   

 
Yes indeed !
Folk is what they did at La Grange.
 
Contemporary American folk music.

I like.   
Is this some sort of remix? I don't remember the drums being this echo-ey. I don't think I like that. 
More than any other song, I am happiest when this one comes on the radio, and most bummed out when I turn the radio on halfway through.
I always wondered: What's behind those beards? {#Cowboy}
Funny! I love RP, such diversity. May not be the band of my choice but flexibility and change if good for the soul. Thank you for the reminder.{#Bananajam}