Background and Recording
In 1993, ZZ Top signed with RCA Records, which produced Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), and XXX, the latter of which marked the band's thirtieth anniversary of their formation and gained mixed reviews from critics. They mostly toured in the years between XXX and Mescalero, visiting nations like Australia and New Zealand, along with various countries in Europe. In 2002, the band performed at the annual RodeoHouston and with Brooks & Dunn on CMT Crossroads. They went on a short Casino Tour in the United States and European Tour.
In 2002, ZZ Top convened at Foam Box Recordings in Houston, a private studio owned by the band that was used to record XXX and Rhythmeen (1996). Billy Gibbons produced the project and wrote most of the songs, collaborating with engineers Joe Hardy and Gary Moon, as well as band members Dusty Hill and Frank Beard. A variety of instruments were featured on Mescalero. After taking a lunch break at a Mexican restaurant, ZZ Top hired a marimba duo from Chiapas, Mexico. The father-and-son team provided entertainment at the restaurant and were anxious to be featured on a rock album. After explaining that there were only three chords involved, they played on the title track. James Harman played harmonica on "Que Lastima," a title meaning 'what a pity.'
Read more about this topic: Mescalero (album)
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