ZZ Top - Mescalero (2003)
Tracklist front / back album covers
1. "Mescalero" 3:50
2. "Two Ways to Play" 4:15
3. "Alley-Gator" 3:29
4. "Buck Nekkid" 3:02
5. "Goin' So Good" 5:34
6. "Me So Stupid" 3:33
7. "Piece" 4:19
8. "Punk Ass Boyfriend" 3:05
9. "Stackin' Paper" 2:58
10. "What Would You Do?" 3:03
11. "What It Is Kid" 4:13
12. "Que Lastima" 4:24
13. "Tramp" 5:12
14. "Crunchy" 3:13
15. "Dusted" 3:55
16. "Liquor" 3:22
Total length: 61:27
Japanese release bonus track
17. "Sanctify" 4:20
Hidden track
18. "As Time Goes By" 4:27
ZZ Top Band Members / Musicians
Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals, producer
Dusty Hill – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Piece"
Frank Beard – drums, percussion
Marimbas de Chiapas – marimba
Dan Dugmore – pedal steel guitar
James Harman – harmonica
Joe Hardy – engineer, mixing
Gary Moon – mastering
Steve Ralbovsky – A&R
Ryk Maverick – album cover design
Mike Waring – photography
Mescalero is the 14th studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was released in September 2003, as the band's final release for RCA Records. While the band still retained their foundation in blues rock, Mescalero explored genres like country and Tejano. Recording sessions took place at Foam Box Recordings in Houston, with Billy Gibbons as producer.
In 1993, ZZ Top signed with RCA Records, which produced Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), and XXX, the latter of which marked the band's thirtieth anniversary and received mixed reviews from critics. They mostly toured in the years between XXX and Mescalero, visiting Australia, New Zealand and various countries in Europe. In 2002, the band performed at the annual RodeoHouston and with Brooks & Dunn on CMT Crossroads. They went on a short Casino Tour in the United States and European Tour.
In 2002, ZZ Top convened at Foam Box Recordings in Houston, a private studio owned by the band that was used to record XXX and Rhythmeen. Gibbons produced the project and wrote most of the songs, collaborating with the engineers Joe Hardy and Gary Moon, as well as band members Dusty Hill and Frank Beard. A variety of instruments was used on Mescalero. After taking a lunch break at a Mexican restaurant, ZZ Top hired a father-and-son marimba duo from Chiapas, Mexico. They provided entertainment at the restaurant and were anxious to appear on a rock album. After explaining that there were only three chords involved, they played on the title track. James Harman played harmonica on "Que Lastima", a title meaning 'what a pity'.
