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Afterburner

by ZZ Top

Released: October 28, 1985

Pop, synth-rock, hard rock, blues rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"Afterburner" is the ninth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1985. The recording of the album featured songs with sequenced keyboard beds. Although Manning was willing to work on the album, he was unavailable due to other commitments.

Inside the Recording

Notably, it was the first ZZ Top record since Rio Grande Mud that did not involve longtime engineer Terry Manning.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

As a result, the band incorporated some leftover…

As a result, the band incorporated some leftover material from the sessions of their previous album, Eliminator, including part of the track "Can't Stop Rockin'.".

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Essential Tracks

Rough Boy

Can't Stop Rockin'

As a result, the band incorporated some leftover material from the sessions of their previous album, Eliminator, including part of the track "Can't Stop Rockin'.".

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Explore the Album

ZZ Top - Afterburner

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Then

Reception

The lead single, "Sleeping Bag," reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, matching the success of their previous single "Legs." The album also produced three other Top 40 singles in the United States: "Stages" (No. 21), "Rough Boy" (No. 22), and "Velcro Fly" (No. 35). Although critics received the album with mixed reviews, it achieved commercial success, eventually going platinum five times. In the UK, Afterburner became the band's second album to receive certification from the British Phonographic Industry, achieving Gold status (100,000 units) in 1985, and later being certified Platinum (300,000 units) in 1990.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Afterburner" is the ninth studio album by the American rock band ZZ Top, released in 1985. Although critics received the album with mixed reviews, it achieved commercial success, eventually going platinum five times. The lead single, "Sleeping Bag," reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, matching the success of their previous single "Legs." The album also produced three other Top 40 singles in the United States: "Stages" (No. 21), "Rough Boy" (No. 22), and "Velcro Fly" (No. 35).

In the UK, Afterburner became the band's second album to receive certification from the British Phonographic Industry, achieving Gold status (100,000 units) in 1985, and later being certified Platinum (300,000 units) in 1990.

The recording of the album featured songs with sequenced keyboard beds. Notably, it was the first ZZ Top record since Rio Grande Mud that did not involve longtime engineer Terry Manning. Although Manning was willing to work on the album, he was unavailable due to other commitments. As a result, the band incorporated some leftover material from the sessions of their previous album, Eliminator, including part of the track "Can't Stop Rockin'."