“Shady” by American Blues

In 1968, while guitarist Billy Gibbons was cutting his teeth with the Moving Sidewalks in Houston Texas, across the state in Dallas, drummer Frank Beard and bassist Dusty Hill were making waves with their own group, American Blues. They of course would go on to form ZZ Top, and until last week, for over 52 years, have been the only members of that hall of fame band.

We lost Dusty Hill last week, and a lot has already been written and said about his brilliant musical career. I guess I just wanted to remind folks that he wasn’t just an underrated bassist with a long beard, he was also a crafty songwriter, vocalist, and makeshift keyboardist from time to time.
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“Shady” is from American Blues’ second record released in 1968 on Universal City Records. It’s a rocket of a tune that not only features Beard’s ability as a drummer, but Hill’s modest vocal rage and how they really paved the way sonically and culturally in a part of the country that was as conservative as conservative gets.