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La Grange (song)

"La Grange" is a song by the American rock group ZZ Top, from their 1973 album Tres Hombres. One of ZZ Top's most successful songs, it was released as a single in 1973 and received extensive radio play, rising to No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1974.[5] The song’s title and lyrics refer to a brothel on the outskirts of La Grange, Texas (later called the "Chicken Ranch"). The brothel is also the subject of the Broadway play and film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

"La Grange"
French 7" single
Single by ZZ Top
from the album Tres Hombres
B-side"Just Got Paid"
Released1973 (1973)
StudioBrian & Ardent, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre
Length3:51
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bill Ham
ZZ Top singles chronology
"Francene"
(1972) 		"La Grange"
(1973) 		"Tush"
(1975)
Official audio
"La Grange" on YouTube

The first time ZZ Top played the song in La Grange, Texas, was during the Fayette County Fair on September 5, 2015.[6] In March 2020 the song re-entered the Billboard charts following the release of the documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas.[7]

Composition

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The initial groove of the song is based on a traditional boogie blues rhythm used by John Lee Hooker in "Boogie Chillen'".[8][9] In 1992, music publisher Bernard Besman, who worked with Hooker and was co-credited as songwriter, filed a lawsuit against the members of ZZ Top, alleging that "La Grange" infringed on "Boogie Chillen'". A federal judge dismissed the case in 1995, declaring "Boogie Chillen'" was part of the public domain.[10]

Background

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The single's B-side, "Just Got Paid", is from the band's second album, Rio Grande Mud.

The song was produced by Bill Ham.[11][12]

Reception

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Cash Box called it a "hard driving delight certain to satisfy those fans of heavy blues."[13]

In March 2005, Q placed "La Grange" at 92nd of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.[14] The song is also ranked No. 74 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone called the song, "...a standard for guitarists to show off their chops."[15]

Charts

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Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[16] 15
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 21
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 34
France (IFOP)[19] 58
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 41
US Cash Box[20] 24
US Record World[21] 33
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22] 12

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[23] Gold 25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[24] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Gundersen, Edna (December 21, 2013). "Catalog box sets sum up Beatles, Dylan, Eagles, Ramones". USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  2. ^ Wood, Mikael (June 5, 2014). "CMT Awards: ZZ Top, Jason Derulo, Florida Georgia Line go all in". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Matos, Michaelangelo (8 December 2020). "Radio City Music Hall, New York City: September 14, 1984". Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Hachette Books. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-306-90337-3.
  4. ^ Laney, Karen 'Gilly' (November 3, 2011). "Top 10 Southern Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 86, no. 26. June 29, 1974. p. 80. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ "ZZ Top Setlist at Fayette County Fairgrounds, La Grange, TX, USA". Setlist.fm. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (March 19, 2020). "ZZ Top's New Documentary Spurs Rock Chart Debuts, Streaming & Sales Gains". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Fricke, David (November 10, 2015). "Billy Gibbons: My Life in 15 Songs". Rolling Stone.
  9. ^ Bosso, Joe (May 7, 2021). "How Billy Gibbons Wrote ZZ Top's "La Grange"". Guitar Player.
  10. ^ "Court Rejects Claim ZZ Top Stole His Song". The Tribune. The Associated Press. 1995-10-11. p. A-2.
  11. ^ Tres Hombres (liner notes). ZZ Top. Warner Bros. 2006. 8122-78966-2. Retrieved November 16, 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "ZZ Top – Tres Hombres – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXV, no. 45. March 23, 1974. p. 24. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Q Magazine – 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever!". Q magazine. March 2005. Retrieved February 20, 2014 – via Rocklist.net.
  15. ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "Top 40 Australian Singles". Go-Set. cf. last week position. Retrieved June 10, 2013 – via Poparchives.com.au.
  17. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5040a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  19. ^ "Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par Z". InfoDisc (in French). Select "ZZ Top" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  20. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JULY 13, 1974". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  21. ^ "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. July 13, 1974. p. 25. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "ZZ Top Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  23. ^ "Italian single certifications – ZZ Top – La Grange" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Spanish single certifications – ZZ Top – La Grange". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – ZZ Top – La Grange". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
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