Studio Album · No. 4

Fandango! Songwriting Credits by ZZ Top

1975 London 9 tracks 33:33

Produced by Bill Ham  ·  Engineered by Jim Reeves, John L. Venable

London Blues RockSouthern RockBoogie Rock
89%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 8 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether ZZ Top carries a lyricist or composer credit.

89%
8 trackswritten by ZZ Top 1 trackoutside writers
ZZ Top's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist89%
Composer89%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
8
Lyricists
1
Producers
1975
Released
Data Insight

The studio half is the plain three-way split. The live half brings in the only outside names on the record: a Leiber and Stoller cover, and a medley that pulls in Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker alongside Gibbons and Bill Ham.

The 1975 album with a live side and a studio side, and "Tush" at the end of it.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Thunderbird
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
2
Jailhouse Rock
Jerry LeiberMike Stoller Jerry LeiberMike Stoller Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
3
Backdoor Medley
Billy GibbonsBill HamWillie DixonJohn Lee Hooker William Frederick GibbonsBill HamWillie DixonJohn Lee Hooker Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
4
Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
5
Blue Jean Blues
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
6
Balinese
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
7
Mexican Blackbird
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
8
Heard It on the X
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)
9
Tush #20
Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard William Frederick GibbonsJoe Michael HillFrank Lee Beard Bill Ham ZZ Top (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 12 contributors

BG
Billy Gibbons
Writer
On this album8 written
WF
William Frederick Gibbons
Writer
On this album8 written
DH
Dusty Hill
Writer
On this album7 written
FB
Frank Beard
Writer
On this album7 written
FL
Frank Lee Beard
Writer
On this album7 written
JM
Joe Michael Hill
Writer
On this album7 written
BH
Bill Ham
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
JL
Jerry Leiber
Writer
On this album1 written
JL
John Lee Hooker
Writer
On this album1 written
MS
Mike Stoller
Writer
On this album1 written
WD
Willie Dixon
Writer
On this album1 written
ZT
ZZ Top
Performer
On this albumGuest

More from ZZ Top

1971 100%
ZZ Top's First Album
London
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1972 100%
Rio Grande Mud
London
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1973 100%
Tres Hombres
London
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1976 100%
Tejas
London
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1979 80%
Degüello
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1981 100%
El Loco
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1983 100%
Eliminator
Warner Bros.
11 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1985 100%
Afterburner
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1990 100%
Recycler
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Bill Ham
1994 100%
Antenna
RCA
11 tracksProd. Billy Gibbons
1996 100%
Rhythmeen
RCA
12 tracksProd. Billy Gibbons
1999 92%
XXX
RCA
13 tracksProd. Billy Gibbons
2003 94%
Mescalero
RCA
16 tracksProd. Billy Gibbons
2012 100%
La Futura
American Recordings
10 tracksProd. Rick Rubin

Frequently Asked Questions Fandango!

Who wrote the songs on Fandango!?
Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard on seven of the nine tracks. "Jailhouse Rock" is a Leiber and Stoller cover and the "Backdoor Medley" pulls in Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker.
Why is half the album live?
Side one was recorded in concert and side two in the studio.
How high did the single chart?
"Tush" reached number 20 on the Hot 100, the band's first top 40 hit.
Who produced it?
Bill Ham, with Jim Reeves and John L. Venable engineering.
How high did it chart?
Number 10 on the Billboard 200.
How did it sell?
The article publishes no sales or certification figure for it.
How long is the album?
33:33 across nine tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Fandango! Wikipedia: ZZ Top discography Cover Art Archive: Fandango! by ZZ Top