Rio Grande Mud (1972) is ZZ Top’s second album and a key step in shaping their signature blend of blues, boogie, and Southern rock. Grittier and more confident than their debut, it features raw guitar tones, swaggering grooves, and Billy Gibbons’ smoky vocals front and center. Standouts like “Just Got Paid,” with its sludgy riff and relentless drive, and the soulful “Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell” highlight the band's growing range. Tracks such as “Francine” and “Chevrolet” mix Texas attitude with bluesy charm, laying the foundation for the powerhouse trio ZZ Top would soon become.
