Tejas..... you mean Texas?

 

Dusty Hill from the album fold-out, RIP dude 💔

What is Tejas?  According to the internet it is the Spanish spelling of the word ta′y:sha′ - a Native American Caddo language word meaning "friends".  It is the origin of the state name Texas.  

Ok, good talk!  Thanks for reading.... see ya!

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Just kidding, I'm back! So, what does any of this have to do with anything? Well, Tejas (1976) is the fifth album from a band who hails from.... you guessed it..... Texas!  

Ok, see ya next time!

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Ok, sorry, I promise, no more fiddlefucking around! HA!  What band?! A band you have never heard of that only I am cool enough to know about.....  ZZ TOP!  

Tejas is not one of ZZ Top's most well-known albums. It does not include any songs that I would consider one of their many 'hits'.  It follows a three album streak that included such huge singles as "Just Got Paid", "Waitin For the Bus/Jesus Left Chicago", "La Grange", and "Tush". 

Picture of my vinyl copy of Tejas. Who is that guy without a beard?  That's Frank Beard.

I realized during writing this that I put ZZ Top's discography into four groups, mentally.

1. Initial Blues Rockyness - ZZ Top's First Album (1971) (yes, that is really what they named it. How can you not love that! lol) / Rio Grande Mud (1972) / Tres Hombres (1973) / Fandango (1975)
2. The Transition Period - Tejas (1976) / Deguello (1979) / El Loco (1981)
3. The 80's - Eliminator (1983) / Afterburner (1985) / Recycler (1990)
4.  The Modern Era - Antenna (1994) up thru their latest La Futura (2012)

Tejas is the first album in their three album 'transition' period bridging their original sound to what ended up being their most successful 80's albums.  

Frontman Billy Gibbons said about the album:

It's fair to say that this is a transitional record, although I'm not really sure what we were transitioning from and what we were becoming. (laughs) It may be representative of how rapidly things were changing in the studio.

The equipment was becoming more modernized, and the way that music was being recorded was different – things were moving faster. It was still pre-digital, but there was better gear that was more readily available. We made use of it all.

This period was the wrinkle that kind of suggested what was to come, and change would become a necessary part of the ZZ Top fabric. (From Wikipedia article on Tejas)

What is it that you love so much about this album, Nick?  Why, thank you for asking! It's the DRUMS!  The drum sound on this album is so awesome. That bass drum is so thumpy!  It seems like they really let Frank Beard loose on this album as he seems to be heavily featured on almost every song.  Tejas was the album that really helped me become aware of how great Frank Beard is.  

For example: The first track on the album "It's Only Love" has this super cool drum section at the end of each chorus.  Then... at around the 2:59 mark, they break into an instrumental section that is pure drumming gold.  The word is 'delicious'...  it's frickin delicious!  Take a listen below. (also linked above).

I like every song on this album and could say something about each and every one, but, I also have a job, so here are some of my most favoritist songs from Tejas...

Track 3, "El Diablo," is a laid back groove, my man... can you dig it?  Again, the drumming is featured, especially at the end of the song.

Track 4, "Snappy Kakkie".  This is probably the song title that got me to listen to this album in the first place.  WTF is a Snappy Kakkie?  I don't know, and I fairly certain I don't care.  This song rules.  A comment I saw online somewhere said this song is "the epitome of ZZ Top".  I can't disagree.  Funky, bluesy, great playing, and just enough sillyness to make you smile and think, "what the hell are they talking about?". lol.

Track 1 on Side 2: "Ten Dollar Man".  Guess what?  Correct! The drumming is great on this song!  I also love the all the guitar work.  The little instrumental break-down at 2:15..... chef's kiss!  Some cool pics in the below video.

Song #3 on side 2 - "Avalon Hidaway" - Listening to these today I can't pick a favorite.  I forgot about this one. ZZ top is just.... cool, man.  They're just cool.  First line of the song: "Somebody breathin down my neck while I'm to roll the bones."  I love all the instrumentation, vocals, lyrics... all of it.

Tejas ends with an instrumental track "Asleep In The Desert".  It has become one of my favorite instrumental songs, period. It puts my mind at ease and is extremely calming.... but not boring!  That is a tough thing to pull off.

So, if you are a casual fan of ZZ Top I recommend checking out some of their lesser-known catalog.  There is much more to them than "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man"***.  Tejas is great place to start! 

*** Don't get me wrong... I love those songs too ;0)