The 5 LPs are pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and Optimal
ZZ Top delivers the fireworks on July 4th with From The Top (1979–1990), a limited-edition collection from Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi) that trails the Texas trio on the road to worldwide fame. Following the first volume’s sell-out last year, the sequel features five albums from the height of the band’s mainstream success – From the Top (1979–1990) includes 1979’s Degüello, 1981’s El Loco, 1983’s Eliminator, 1985’s Afterburner, and 1990’s Recycler.
The box set, limited to 3,000 copies, picks up as the band entered a new decade — one where their sound expanded, their videos took over MTV, and their beards grew right along with their fan base. After a brief hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with Degüello, a looser record built around funkier grooves like “Cheap Sunglasses,” with its staccato backbeat and crescendo of “oh yeahs.” Their version of Sam and Dave’s “I Thank You” became a fan favorite, Gibbons says in the album’s liner notes.
They scored a Top 20 hit in 1981 with El Loco, which introduced classics like “Tube Snake Boogie” and “Pearl Necklace.” The trio kept one foot in the blues while experimenting with new sounds, telegraphing their next move with synths on “Groovy Little Hippie Pad” and processed drums on “Party On The Patio.”
Released in 1983, Eliminator marked a seismic shift for ZZ Top, blending their blues-rock foundation with driving tempos, synthesizers, and airtight songwriting. The album became a phenomenon—diamond-certified, spending over two years on the charts and delivering a trio of massive hits: “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” Backed by a striking run of MTV videos, the band reached a new generation of fans and became unexpected pop culture icons.
Afterburner followed in 1985, pushing the synth-driven sound even further. Tracks like “Sleeping Bag,” “Velcro Fly,” and “Rough Boy” kept the band on heavy radio rotation, while the album climbed to No. 4 on the charts and was certified five times platinum in the U.S. alone.
Recycler arrived in 1990, opening a new decade with a Top 10, platinum-certified exclamation point. Tracks like “My Head’s In Mississippi” and “2000 Blues” leaned into their blues roots, while “Doubleback”—featured in Back to the Future Part III—gave them another high-profile hit. It was the final album in a remarkable trilogy that defined ZZ Top’s sound—and look—for years to come.
Rhino is synonymous with high-quality reissues, setting the standard with award-winning audio releases for the past 45 years. Now, the label is raising the bar with a new premium vinyl series, Rhino High Fidelity. These high-end, limited-edition vinyl reissues of classic albums represent the pinnacle of sound and packaging.
Kevin Gray will cut lacquers for all Rhino Hi-Fi releases, and Optimal will press the 180-gram vinyl records. The releases boast high-quality glossy covers and “tip-on” jackets, an old-school aesthetic that evokes the golden age of vinyl.
