Stages (song)

This article is about the ZZ Top song. For the Reks song, see Grey Hairs.

"Stages" is a song by American rock band ZZ Top. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album Afterburner (1985). It peaked at number 21 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

"Stages"
Single by ZZ Top
from the album Afterburner
Released	1986
Recorded	1985
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:32
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard
Producer(s)	Bill Ham
ZZ Top singles chronology
"Sleeping Bag" (1985) "Stages" (1986) "Woke Up with Wood" (1986)

Reception

Cash Box called it "melodic, driving, and danceable."^[1] Billboard called it a "rollicking" and "high-powered."^[2]

AllMusic called the song a "terrific post-new wave rocker" and that it is the poppiest thing they ever cut.^[3]

Formats and track listings

• 7-inch single (United States)^[4]

1. "Stages" – 3:32
2. "Can't Stop Rockin'" – 3:01

• 12-inch single (United States)^[5]

1. "Stages" (extended version) – 5:05
2. "Stages" – 3:32
3. "Hi Fi Mama" – 2:22

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6]	63
Canada (RPM)[7]	42
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	40
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	43
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	21
US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12]	1

Personnel

Credits for "Stages" adapted from Afterburner album liner notes.^[13]

• Frank Beard – drums, backing vocals
• Billy Gibbons – guitar, lead vocals
• Bill Ham – production
• Dusty Hill – bass, backing vocals

References

1. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. January 11, 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
2. "Reviews". Billboard. January 11, 1986. p. 67. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "ZZ Top Afterburner review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
4. Stages (liner notes). ZZ Top. Warner Bros. 1985. 7-28810.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Stages (liner notes). ZZ Top. Warner Bros. 1985. 0-20431.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "RPM Top 100 Singles - March 1, 1986" (PDF).
8. "Irish singles positions" (To access, enter the search parameter "ZZ Top" in the "Search by Artist" field). Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
9. "ZZ Top – Stages". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
11. "ZZ Top Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
12. "ZZ Top – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
13. Afterburner (liner notes). ZZ Top. Warner Bros. Records. 1985. WX 27.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)