# Classic Southern Rock: Allman Bros vs. ZZ Top **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329 "2007-06-08T23:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/1 "2007-06-08T23:47:19Z")
Which do you prefer? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/2 "2007-06-08T23:51:41Z")
Allman Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/3 "2007-06-08T23:52:08Z")
I’m not a huge fan of either, but the Allman Bros probably have more songs I can listen to and enjoy than ZZ Top. However, “La Grange” is by far the best song in the combined catalogs of the two bands. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/4 "2007-06-08T23:55:46Z")
[QUOTE=HowieReynolds] I’m not a huge fan of either [/quote] :eek: I’m going to say Allman Brothers. But damn, ZZ Top is good too. It’s pretty close, but not as close as if you said Allman Bros v. Skynyrd. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/5 "2007-06-08T23:57:08Z")
Allman Brothers, not even close. Parsecs ahead. “Jessica” alone wins the day for the Allmans. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/6 "2007-06-09T00:02:09Z")
**Allman Brothers** in a walk. Nothing in ZZ Top’s repertoire rises to the level of “Sweet Melissa.” ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/7 "2007-06-09T00:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=HowieReynolds] I’m not a huge fan of either, but the Allman Bros probably have more songs I can listen to and enjoy than ZZ Top. However, “La Grange” is by far the best song in the combined catalogs of the two bands. [/QUOTE] You must be mistaken. “Whipping Post” is the best song in the combined catalog. “La Grange” is a ripoff of the Stones’ “Hip Shake”, in itself an hommage to Slim Harpo & John Lee Hooker. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/8 "2007-06-09T00:29:05Z")
Allman Bros. By a distance that is so astronomical that I can’t believe the question isn’t a joke. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/9 "2007-06-09T01:00:59Z")
This isn’t even fair, Allman Brothers of course. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/10 "2007-06-09T01:03:30Z")
I have never considered ZZ Top as southern rock. Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, and Stevie Ray Vaughn would be classified as southern rock in my book. ZZ Top is a middle of the road guitar band with a touch of humor much like Cheap Trick or Joe Walsh. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/11 "2007-06-09T01:06:27Z")
With Duane, not even close. The preMTV ZZ Top and the Post-Duane Allmans are close. Overall Allman Bros by quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/12 "2007-06-09T01:10:38Z")
[QUOTE=racer72] I have never considered ZZ Top as southern rock. Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, and Stevie Ray Vaughn would be classified as southern rock in my book. ZZ Top is a middle of the road guitar band with a touch of humor much like Cheap Trick or Joe Walsh. [/QUOTE] You know, actually, I was all ready to get behind this post. But then you had to throw Stevie Ray Vaughn in there. I’d say both ZZ Top and SRV are Texas rock. I’ll agree that I don’t really think about either as being Southern Rock. To your list of Southern Rock, I would add people like The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, and the Doobie Brothers. And maybe newer bands like The Drive-By Truckers. But you’re right - I never really considered ZZ Top to be “Southern Rock.” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/13 "2007-06-09T01:14:11Z")
I like quite a bit of ZZ Top, very much. I like all of the Allman Bros, very much. To the Allmans, by a whisker. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/14 "2007-06-09T01:17:06Z")
I thought Southern Rock consisted of _Lynyrd Skynyrd_, the _Allman Brothers_ and _Little Feat_. The only stuff I own are the early _Little Feat_ albums. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/15 "2007-06-09T01:19:34Z")
Agree Allman Brothers, agree not even a legitimate comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/16 "2007-06-09T01:40:34Z")
There’s no contest at all, the Allman Brothers are clearly better than ZZ Top. Don’t get me wrong, I like ZZ Top ok, but they are not of legendary status in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/17 "2007-06-09T01:48:18Z")
Allman Brothers against whoever you want to name in American rock history, and it’s still the Allman Brothers. But Allman Brothers against ZZ Top? Not a contest. Not even a question. Like twickster, I thought this thread was going to be some kind of joke thread. You’re pitting the best band in U.S. rock history against one whose videos are more fun with the sound turned off! (OK, that’s hyperbole. Some of their songs are fun. But their videos made the band, not their songs.) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/18 "2007-06-09T01:52:20Z")
Allman Brothers, no question. Who’s next, The Beatles vs. Yes? The Commodores vs…uh, Xavier Cugat? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/19 "2007-06-09T01:56:23Z")
Allman Brothers, not even close. That said, “LaGrange” by ZZ Top absolutely kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329/20 "2007-06-09T02:05:24Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] (OK, that’s hyperbole. Some of their songs are fun. But their videos made the band, not their songs.) [/QUOTE] It’s still hyperbole. MTV didn’t come along untill legs, and they’d done some quite good songs before then. ZZ Top did some very good music; though they’re not comparable to the Allmans, I think its ludicrous to explain their popularity as due only to videos. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-southern-rock-allman-bros-vs-zz-top/407329.md?page=2)