La Grange (song)

"La Grange" is a song by the American rock group ZZ Top, from their 1973 album Tres Hombres. One of ZZ Top's most successful songs, it was released as a single in 1973 and received extensive radio play, rising to No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1974.^[5] The song’s title and lyrics refer to a brothel on the outskirts of La Grange, Fayette County, Texas (later called the "Chicken Ranch"). The brothel is also the subject of the Broadway play and film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

"La Grange"
French 7" single
Single by ZZ Top
from the album Tres Hombres
B-side	"Just Got Paid"
Released	1973 (1973)
Studio	Brian & Ardent, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre	Blues rock[1] boogie rock[2][3] Southern rock[3][4]
Length	3:51
Label	London
Songwriter(s)	Billy Gibbons Dusty Hill Frank Beard
Producer(s)	Bill Ham
ZZ Top singles chronology
"Francene" (1972) "La Grange" (1973) "Tush" (1975)
Official audio
"La Grange" on YouTube

The first time ZZ Top played the song in La Grange was during the Fayette County Fair, on September 5, 2015.^[6] In March 2020 the song re-entered the Billboard charts following the release of the documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas.^[7]

Composition

The initial groove of the song is based on a traditional boogie blues rhythm used by John Lee Hooker in "Boogie Chillen'".^[8][9] In 1992, music publisher Bernard Besman, who worked with Hooker and was co-credited as songwriter, filed a lawsuit against the members of ZZ Top, alleging that "La Grange" infringed on "Boogie Chillen'". A federal judge dismissed the case in 1995, declaring "Boogie Chillen'" was part of the public domain.^[10]

Background

The single's B-side, "Just Got Paid", is from the band's second album, Rio Grande Mud.^[11]

The song was produced by Bill Ham.^[12][13]

Reception

Cash Box called it a "hard driving delight certain to satisfy those fans of heavy blues."^[14]

In March 2005, Q placed "La Grange" at 92nd of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.^[15] The song is also ranked No. 74 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone called the song, "...a standard for guitarists to show off their chops."^[16]

Personnel

• Billy Gibbons – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
• Dusty Hill – bass guitar
• Frank Beard – drums, percussion

Charts

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[17]	15
Australia (Kent Music Report)[18]	21
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19]	34
France (IFOP)[20]	58
US Billboard Hot 100[5]	41
US Cash Box[21]	24
US Record World[22]	33

Chart (2020)	Peak position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[23]	12

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[24]	Gold	100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[25]	Gold	25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[26]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[27]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.