Here's a fine and rare oddity for you: the Moving Sidewalks' "Moving Sidewalks" EP which I just picked up from the tremendous music salesgroup, www.eil.com (based in the UK).
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The Moving Sidewalks was Billy F Gibbons' second band (originally called the Coachmen). They released one LP, "Flash," in 1968, along with several singles. Their rarest vinyl, apparently, is this EP, circa early '68: Mutt Records M1030, with four mono tracks. Gibbons, as the picture sleeve indicates, was known then as only "Bill Gibbons."
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Their hit song was "99th Floor," well remembered by those who came of age in Houston during the late '60s. Three songs by the Moving Sidewalks also appear on ZZ Top's "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ" box set (2003).
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Gibbons was raised in Houston, TX, likely born on December 16, 1949, or the same day in 1950, or possibly on March 4, 1950--these dates have all variously surfaced. He grew up in a home that favored both classical and country music, but upon discovering Elvis via his appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, Gibbons was transfixed by rock & roll. It wasn't long before he discovered other early rockers (Little Richard) and bluesmen (Jimmy Reed) via a local radio station. According to his book ROCK & ROLL GEARHEAD (Motorbooks, 2005), he also credits the influential role his family's maid, "Big Stella" Matthews, played in turning him on to all kinds of blues.
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Gibbons received a Gibson Melody Maker electric guitar and a Fender Champ amp for Christmas in 1963. He formed his first band, the Saints, when he was 14. Around 1965-1966, he joined the Coachmen, who specialized in the new West Coast psychedelic sound inspired by the likes of the Jefferson Airplane.
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In GEARHEAD, Gibbons also expounds on how the Moving Sidewalks were blazing hot in their time. They opened for The Jimi Hendrix Experience during the Texas leg of Hendrix's first American tour. At the same time, the legendary Texas psychedelic band, the 13th Floor Elevators (led by Roky Erickson, who is currently making quite a comeback), covered the Gibbons-penned "99th Floor." That song also received attention when it was included--years later--on the "Pebbles, Vol. 2" compilation LP which to this day is an underground classic.
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While the Sidewalks never made a huge impression outside of Texas, Hendrix began endorsing Gibbons as one of his favorite new players. In due course, The Moving Sidewalks folded in 1969, and Gibbons focused on forming a more straight-ahead, boogie/blues-rock power trio. He was fortunate to link up with vocalist/bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, both of whom were alumni of American Blues, the Warlocks, and the Cellar Dwellers. ZZ Top's first concert was in 1970 and their first LP was released in 1971 on London Records. The rest is well-known rock history.
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Of note, looking at the reverse side of the picture sleeve shown here, is the phrase "a band from Texas." This would morph into the well-known tag line for ZZ Top, "a little ol' band from Texas." And, that--so early on--two gearhead aspects were prominently featured: the low-riding Chevy on the front and the sparkplug with "the secret" on the back.
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For an insightful time-trip through Gibbons' musical career, be sure to check out "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ," along with another archival compilation, "Rancho Texicano" (2004). Gibbons himself is a voluble and legendary interview, and Robert Silverstein's "Loaded & Truckin'" is one of the best, seen here at www.mwe3.com/archive/pastfeature/featureZZTop.htm. Also, Willie G. Moseley and Ward Meeker's "Return of the Revvvv," conducted for Vintage Guitar magazine, and accessed at www.vintageguitar.com/artists/details.asp?ID=193, is a classic.
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