Rio Grande Mud

Rio Grande Mud
Studio album by ZZ Top
Released	April 4, 1972
Recorded	1971 - 1972 at Robin Hood Studios, Tyler, Texas
Genre	Blues rock, southern rock, hard rock
Length	40:51
Label	London
Producer	Bill Ham
ZZ Top chronology
ZZ Top's First Album (1971) Rio Grande Mud (1972) Tres Hombres (1973)

Rio Grande Mud is the second album by American blues rock band ZZ Top and was released in 1972.

The album title was inspired by the Rio Grande, the river that forms the border between Mexico and Texas and means "big river" in Spanish.

In 1987, the album was remixed for CD release. The full album is currently unavailable on CD in its original mix. "Francine" and "Just Got Paid" are available in their original versions on the CD release of The Best of ZZ Top. All tracks except "Mushmouth Shoutin'," "Apologies to Pearly" and "Down Brownie" are available in their original mix on 2003's Chrome, Smoke & BBQ boxset. On January 11, 2011, Rhino released a remastered version from the original 1972 mix on vinyl only.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(C)
Rolling Stone
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Allmusic gave the album 3.5 stars stating: "With their second album, Rio Grande Mud, ZZ Top uses the sound they sketched out on their debut as a blueprint, yet they tweak it in slight but important ways."

The album peaked at number 104 on the Billboard 200.

Singles

The only single released from the album was "Francine" (b/w "Down Brownie") which peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another 45 version was released with "Francine" appearing on both sides (side one with English vocals and side two with Spanish vocals). Various official ZZ Top releases throughout the years, beginning in 1972, have used the alternative spelling "Francene", especially on the various 45 releases both within and outside the United States.

Track listing

Side A

1. "Francine" (Billy Gibbons, Kenny Cordray, Steve Perron) – 3:33
2. "Just Got Paid" (Gibbons, Bill Ham) – 4:49
3. "Mushmouth Shoutin'" (Gibbons, Ham) – 3:41
4. "Ko Ko Blue" (Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard) – 4:56
5. "Chevrolet" (Gibbons) – 3:47

Side B

1. "Apologies to Pearly" (Gibbons, Hill, Beard, Ham) – 2:39
   • Instrumental
2. "Bar-B-Q" (Gibbons, Ham) – 3:34
3. "Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell" (Gibbons) – 6:49
4. "Whiskey'n Mama" (Gibbons, Hill, Beard, Ham) – 3:20
5. "Down Brownie" (Gibbons) – 2:53

Personnel

ZZ Top

• Billy Gibbons – guitar, vocals
• Dusty Hill – bass, keyboards, vocals
• Frank Beard – drums, percussion

Production

• Bill Ham – production
• Robin Brian – engineering

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1972	Pop Albums	104

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1972	"Francine"	Pop Singles	69