Greatest Hits [Video/DVD] - ZZ Top

Although released to coincide with Rhino's 2004 double Rancho Texicano:The Very Best of ZZ Top CD, this 12 track DVD is an abbreviated version of 1992's Greatest Hits album, right down to its cover art. It covers the latter part of the bands Warner Brothers years beginning in 1983 when they found sequencers and drum machines which garnered them a crossover audience. There is no pre-Eliminator material and the newest track is a 1992 version of �Viva Las Vegas." Interestingly the disc includes two tunes (�Burger Man" and �TV Dinners,") that weren't on either of those hits albums, but omits much of what was. In any case, the DVD seems to be a quickly churned out, short and relatively shoddily constructed collection with no liner notes or extras other than the songs mixed (rather blandly) into a vague 5.1 surround. Visually, the videos are typical of their time (generally mid-late 80s) featuring scantily clad babes, ZZ Top's flying beards and twirling guitars, their ever-present red hot rod, logo key chain and dated production concepts that by 2004 standards seem primitive and even trite. There is a certain dumb, retro charm about these nascent videos, but the grainy transfer makes them seem just tacky. About the only connection to their blues past is �My Head's in Mississippi" and the audio version of �La Grange" played over the final credits. The seldom shown video for �Burger Man" with its black and white parody of campy 60's sci-fi flicks is a nifty addition. It is the most original production on a disappointing collection from a label that generally takes more pride in its releases. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide