Z.Z. Hill<div hidden>ZZ Hill</div>
Bluesmaster
Written-By – Denise LaSalle
2:45
A2 Bottom Line Woman
Written-By – Ben Simmons, Carl Thomas, Joe Shamwell
2:58
A3 She Got The Goods On Me
Written-By – Cliff Thomas, Frank Johnson
3:19
A4 Breakdown
Written-By – B. T. Lexing
3:26
A5 Personally
Written-By – Paul Kelly
3:06
A6 Champagne Lady
Written-By – Ava Aldridge, Lenny LeBlanc
2:47
B1 Be Strong Enough To Hold On
Written-By – Billy Clements, Phillip Mitchell
3:10
B2 I'm Gonna Stop You From Givin' Me The Blues
Written-By – Don Henry, Gary Clement
4:08
B3 Friday Is My Day
Written-By – Dave Clark
4:00
B4 I'll Be Your Witness
Written-By – Alfred Cook, Gary Clement
3:25
B5 Why Don't You Spend The Night
Written-By – Bob McDill
3:29
Label: Malaco Records – MAL 7420
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: R&b Blues, Funk, Soul
Style: Blues, Soul
I'm A Blues Man
Written-By – A.D. Prestage, Joe Shamwell, Walter Godbo
3:31
A2 Three Into Two Won't Go
Written-By – Jimmy Lewis, Rick Cason
2:50
A3 Cheatin' Love
Written-By – Barbara Moore, Denise LaSalle
3:23
A4 Shade Tree Mechanic
Written-By – A.D. Prestage, Joe Shamwell, Walter Godbo
3:53
A5 It's Been So Long
Written-By – George Jackson (3), Johnny Henderson
3:27
B1 Get A Little, Give A Little
Written-By – Jimmy Lewis
4:09
B2 Please Don't Let Our Good Thing End
Written-By – Frank Johnson
4:10
B3 Steal Away
Written-By – Jimmy Hughes
4:07
B4 Blind Side
Written-By – Frank Johnson
2:45
B5 I Ain't Buying What You're Selling
Written-By – George Jackson (3), Nolan Coins, Robert Miller, Stewart Madison
3:22
Label: Malaco Records – MAL 7415
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: R&B Soul, Blues
Style: Southern Soul
Released in 1983 on Malaco Records, I'm A Blues Man is often hailed as the definitive final statement from Z.Z. Hill, who died shortly after its release. The album solidified his role in revitalizing Southern soul-blues, blending gritty, traditional themes with polished production.
The "Stax" Influence: Critics noted a "pronounced Stax attack" in the horn arrangements and rhythms, moving toward a more aggressive, brass-heavy sound compared to his earlier work.
The Daily Herald praised Hill for polishing a "grits-and-chitlins groove" until it "shines like a diamond," while AllMusic stated he successfully "rechristened himself as a blues man of the first order".
Renowned critic Robert Christgau found the songwriting stronger here than on his previous hits, specifically noting the balance of humor and heartbreak.
Key Tracks:-
"I'm A Blues Man": The title track serves as a manifesto for Hill's late-career persona, featuring a driving horn chart and soulful guitar riffs.
"Shade Tree Mechanic": A suggestive, uptempo fan favorite that highlights Hill’s playful "red-clay soul" style.
"Steal Away": A cover of the Jimmy Hughes classic that showcases Hill’s deep, emotional baritone delivery.
"Cheatin' Love": Continuing his "cheating song" legacy, this track captures the raw essence of Southern soul with soulful instrumentation.
The album was one of the 25 best-selling "Top Black Albums" of 1984, remaining on the charts for nearly a year. It currently holds an average rating of 4.06 / 5 on Discogs and near-perfect ratings on Amazon.
ZZ Hill
Keep On Lovin' You
ZZ Hill
A1 I Created A Monster
Written-By – L. Dozier
4:10
A2 That Ain't The Way You Make Love
Written-By – M. Jackson, R. Dozier
3:47
A3 Steppin' In The Shoes Of A Fool
Written-By – G. Jackson, L. Dozier
2:59
A4 Two Sides To Every Story
Written-By – M. Jackson, R. Dozier
3:32
A5 Am I Groovin You
Written-By – Z.Z. Hill
3:07
B1 I Keep On Lovin' You
Written-By – A.Toussaint
2:42
B2 Who Ever's Thrillin You (Is Killing Me)
Written-By – A.Toussaint
3:14
B3 Look What You've Done
Written-By – L. Nocentelli
3:00
B4 My Turn
Written-By – A.Toussaint
3:24
B5 I Don't Need Half A Love
Written-By – Z.Z. Hill
3:12
Label: United Artists Records – UA-LA417-G
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Southern Soul
The Best Thing That's Happened To Me
A2 You Were Wrong (Z.Z. Hill 3:15)
A3 Your Love Makes Me Feel Good (Fred Hughes 3:00)
A4 My Adorable One (Clara Thompson, Irral Berger 3:10)
A5 Can I Get A Witness (Holland-Dozier-Holland 2:45)
A6 Love In The Street (A. Snyder, G. George 2:45)
B1 Your Love (Fred Hughes 2:47)
B2 Cause I Love You (Fred Hughes 2:53)
B3 Dream Don't Let Me Down (Fred Hughes 3:18)
B4 Friendship Only Goes So Far (J. Lewis 3:21)
B5 The Red Rooster (Willie Dixon 2:47)
B6 Ain't Nothing You Can Do (D. Molone, J. Scott 2:53)
Label: United Artists/Hill Records – UAS-5589
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Z.Z. Hill's The Best Thing That's Happened to Me (1972) is a pivotal soul/blues album, a strong blend of deep soul and emerging country-blues, showcasing Hill's powerful, heartfelt vocals, with notable tracks like the classic "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" (a Bobby Bland cover) and strong originals such as "Friendship Only Goes So Far," proving his versatility before his later mainstream success on Malaco Records, with reviewers praising its smooth production and authentic storytelling.
This United Artists release is celebrated for expertly mixing traditional soul with country-blues influences, a style Z.Z. Hill would later master. Critics highlight Hill's amazing voice and soulful delivery, noting his ability to convey raw emotion and storytelling.
The album features polished production, often with New Orleans session players like The Meters and producer Allen Toussaint, creating a rich, soulful sound. It marked Hill's move to a major label and foreshadowed the deep, uncompromising blues he'd deliver later in his career, establishing him as a major voice in Southern Soul.
Reviews describe it as a "soulful gem," a "well-judged mixture," and a strong album that bridges Hill's earlier work with his later iconic style, earning praise for its authenticity and musical quality.
ZZ Hill
The Brand New Z.Z. Hill
The Brand New Z.Z. Hill is a blues/soul/funk concept album by American singer Z.Z. Hill, highly regarded as one of his best works. It was produced, arranged, and conceived by the iconic producer Jerry Williams Jr., better known as Swamp Dogg, at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama.
The album is a unique "blues/soul/funk concept album" (sometimes described as a "blues opera") that explores themes of love gone wrong, heartbreak, and second chances, featuring Z.Z. Hill's raw and emotional vocals.
The album is noted for its distinctive "Swamp Dogg vibe," combining classic Southern soul with bluesy guitars, Southern brass, and touches of funk.The first five tracks are loosely structured as a "Blues at the Opera" suite, featuring narrative elements and atmospheric production. The latter half of the album shifts to more traditional, hard-hitting Southern soul tracks.
The album was a commercial success for Hill, yielding the hit singles "The Chokin' Kind" and "Faithful and True," which helped define his soul-blues sound.
The original album consists of ten tracks. Remastered and reissued versions of the album often feature additional bonus tracks and alternate song versions.
ZZ Hill
The Rhythm & The Blues
ZZ Hill
A1 Someone Else Is Steppin' In
Written-By – Denise LaSalle
3:36
A2 What Am I Gonna Tell Her
Written-By – Frank Johnson, Thomisene Anderson
3:12
A3 Open House At My House
Written-By – Bobby Patterson, Jerry Strickland
4:48
A4 Who You Been Giving It To
Written-By – Miles Grayson
3:10
A5 That Fire Is Hot
Written-By – Frank Johnson, M. Misole
3:43
B1 Wang Dang Doodle
Written-By – Willie Dixon
3:48
B2 Outside Thang
Written-By – Frank Johnson, M. Misole
3:20
B3 You're Gonna Be A Woman
Written-By – Frank Johnson, M. Misole
3:35
B4 Help Me, I'm In Need
Written-By – George Jackson
3:34
B5 Get You Some Business
Written-By – George Jackson, Grady Parnell
3:13
Label: Malaco Records – MAL 7411
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: R&B Soul, Blues
Style: Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues
Z.Z.
A2 Let Them Talk 2:55
A3 Am I Groovin' You 4:35
A4 Snap Your Fingers 3:05
A5 Bad Mouth And Gossip 3:10
B1 Clean Up America 3:00
B2 Country Love 2:35
B3 The Best I Ever Had 3:05
B4 Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right 2:45
B5 You're Killing Me (Slowly But Surely) 2:50
B6 Funny Face 2:38
Label: United Artists Records – UA-LA212-G
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul, Blues
Style: Southern Soul
Z.Z. Hill
Written-By – B. Marchan
4:05
A2 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Written-By – Hank Williams
3:45
A3 Something Good Going On
Written-By – A.D. Prestage, J. Shamwell, T. Tate
3:12
A4 Bring It On Home To Me
Written-By – S Cooke
3:23
B1 Please Don't Make Me (Do Something Bad To You)
Written-By – B. Lexing
3:46
B2 Chained To Your Love
Written-By – Z.Z. Hill
4:15
B3 Rolling Stone
Written-By – Jesse Fisher
3:06
B4 Bump And Grind
Written-By – B. Lexing
3:25
B5 Blue Monday
Written-By – D. Malone, G. Caple
4:28
Label: Malaco Records – MAL 7402
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: R&B Funk, Soul, Blues
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Soul