You WON’T Hear a BETTER ALBUM This Year!! Rhino High Fidelity STRIKES AGAIN!
United States of Analog | January 29, 2025
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What this video is about
This video is about a new vinyl reissue of ZZ Top’s 1973 album “Tres Hombres” by Rhino High Fidelity. The host Bob is extremely enthusiastic about this release and is essentially commanding viewers to buy it. He also celebrates his channel reaching 20,000 subscribers and receiving his YouTube plaque.
Gear, products, or brands discussed
- Rhino High Fidelity “Tres Hombres” reissue [05:17-06:48]: 180-gram vinyl, cut from original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Coherent Audio, pressed at Optimal, heavyweight gatefold jacket with interview notes and artwork. Host claims it may be “the quietest vinyl record” among his 1,500 records.
Host’s main opinions or takes
- [04:21-04:45] ZZ Top’s “Tres Hombres” was revolutionary for its time, recorded just two years after The Beatles broke up in 1970, yet sounds remarkably modern
- [04:47-04:53] The album “hit harder” than contemporaries like Eric Clapton’s blues rock
- [05:28] Kevin Gray mastering + Optimal pressing = “the best you can get”
- [06:08-06:36] Describes the pressing quality as exceptional: “This thing is black. The sound is black. The vinyl is black. Silent, quiet, killer.”
Strong recommendations or warnings
- [00:23-00:32] Strong recommendation: “I’m ordering you to buy it today. Run, don’t walk to your independent record store and get this record. I ain’t fooling.”
- [06:20-06:21] Reiterates: “you are gonna get this”
Interesting vinyl records, albums, or music discussed
- ZZ Top “Tres Hombres” (1973) [02:22-02:27]: The band’s third album featuring Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard
- [02:37-02:48] Available as individual albums or as part of a box set of ZZ Top’s first five albums
- [02:53-03:16] Host discusses the “limited edition” aspect and serial numbering practices in vinyl manufacturing
Funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes
- [01:49-02:06] Funny moment: Host accidentally drops his new 20,000 subscriber plaque behind furniture: “That fell behind the bar. I’m never getting that back.”
- [02:50-02:52] Humorous local reference: bought the record “in beautiful, crime-free Round Rock, Texas”
- [03:18-03:46] Memorable take: Host’s cynical view of serial numbers on limited releases, explaining they don’t necessarily correlate with pressing order
Summary
The video opens with host Bob celebrating his channel hitting 20,000 subscribers, though he humorously drops his new YouTube plaque behind furniture during the unboxing. What was meant to be a day off turns into an impromptu video because he’s too excited about a new vinyl purchase to wait.
The main focus is ZZ Top’s “Tres Hombres,” a new reissue from Rhino High Fidelity that Bob purchased at his local Texas record shop. He provides detailed specifications about the pressing quality, noting it was mastered by Kevin Gray from original analog tapes and pressed at Optimal. Bob is particularly impressed by what he claims might be the quietest vinyl in his 1,500-record collection.
Throughout the segment, Bob contextualizes the album historically, noting how revolutionary it sounded despite being recorded just two years after The Beatles’ breakup in 1970. His enthusiasm is palpable as he literally orders viewers to buy the record, emphasizing both its sonic qualities and its significance as a Texas resident reviewing music from “Texas’ favorite sons.” The video captures Bob’s spontaneous, unscripted style as he admits he wasn’t planning to film but couldn’t contain his excitement about the release.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
Turntable System:
- Technics 1200 ML7 50th anniversary black with gold tone arm [11:31]
- Ortofon 2M blue cartridge [11:44]
Audio Processing:
- Waxwing DSP phono preamp (digital signal processor phono preamp) [11:55]
Amplification:
- Jolita 202 amplifier from mid-90s with newly installed Savane tubes [12:27]
Speakers:
- Anniversary edition Heresy 3s (about 25 years old) [12:45]
Record Label:
- Rhino High Fidelity [10:32]
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- Claims the ZZ Top album has “maybe the best” one-two punch opening in rock and roll history [07:40]
- Considers tracks 1-3 a “perfect rock and roll turkey” (three strikes in a row) [08:53]
- Believes ZZ Top made a mistake burying “La Grange” in the middle of side two instead of making it the lead track [09:44]
- Declares this “the record to own” and “the piece to own” [11:06]
- Ranks this as superior to other Rhino High Fidelity releases including Devo’s “Freedom of Choice” and The Cars’ self-titled album [11:17]
- Predicts the record will run out of stock [13:30]
Were there any listening tests or sound quality observations described?
- Host emphasizes the listening experience: “you ain’t heard it like this, though” regarding “Waiting for the Bus” [07:25]
- Reports the system sounded “amazing” even without a subwoofer [12:56]
- States “it sounded so good” that it compelled him to immediately make the video [13:11]
- Notes the record has “not a speck of serial” (no surface noise) [10:11]
Were there any price/value assessments?
- Describes the Ortofon 2M blue cartridge as “not super expensive, but it does a great job” [11:45]
Any vinyl records, albums, or music discussed?
ZZ Top Album Tracks (in order):
- Side 1: “Waiting for the Bus” [07:16], “Jesus Just Left Chicago” [07:33], “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” [08:43], “Masters of Sparks,” “Hot, Blue, and Righteous” [08:55]
- Side 2: “Move On, Down the Line” [09:10], “Precious and Grace” [09:12], “La Grange” [09:35], “Chic and Have You Heard” [10:07]
Other Albums Mentioned:
- David Bowie’s “Five Years” [07:05]
- Devo’s “Freedom of Choice” (Rhino High Fidelity) [11:14]
- The Cars self-titled album (first Rhino High Fidelity release) [11:20]
Album Details:
- ZZ Top album from 1972 [10:41]
- “Precious and Grace” named after hitchhikers the band picked up [09:14]
Any audiophile tips, advice, or how-to content?
- Acknowledges placing Heresy speakers high “like they do in those jazz Kisas in Japan” despite knowing it’s not optimal placement [13:00]
- Mentions the Waxwing preamp’s ability to remove pops and clicks and rate records [12:15]
- Notes the significant improvement from Savane tube upgrade (25-30% louder, much clearer) [12:34]
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- “This could be the best one-two punch in rock and roll history” [07:08]
- “Perfect rock and roll turkey” [08:53]
- “They buried the best song in the middle of side two, La Grange” [09:30]
- “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t tell you about a great album?” [13:16]
- “Sue me. No, don’t sue me.” [13:08]
Summary
In this portion of the video, the host provides an enthusiastic track-by-track breakdown of a ZZ Top album from 1972, released by Rhino High Fidelity. He’s particularly excited about what he considers potentially the greatest opening sequence in rock history – “Waiting for the Bus,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” and “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” – which he calls a “perfect rock and roll turkey” (bowling term for three strikes). He expresses bewilderment that the band buried their biggest hit “La Grange” as the third track on side two rather than making it the lead track.
The host then shifts to discussing the physical quality of the pressing, praising the heavy tip-on jacket and pristine vinyl quality. He details his complete listening setup, from his Technics 1200 ML7 50th anniversary turntable with Ortofon 2M blue cartridge, through a Waxwing DSP phono preamp, into a vintage Jolita 202 amplifier with new Savane tubes, and finally to anniversary Heresy 3 speakers. He acknowledges the unconventional high placement of his speakers but defends it as creating a Japanese jazz kissa aesthetic in his listening space.
Throughout this segment, the host’s excitement is palpable as he declares this the best Rhino High Fidelity release to date, superior to their previous Devo and Cars reissues. His enthusiasm for both the music and the audiophile quality of the pressing drives him to recommend immediate purchase before the release sells out. The segment concludes with a promise to share a personal story about ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill, maintaining the personal, storytelling approach that characterizes his presentation style.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?
- Volkswagen Scirocco (mentioned in celebrity story at [00:14:00])
How did the video wrap up?
- [00:18:09] Host transitions from storytelling with “Anyway, enough of me”
- [00:18:14] Mentions YouTube will suggest another video for viewers
- [00:18:28] Standard sign-off: “I will bid you adieu and say thank you for watching”
- [00:18:31] “I’ll see you next time right here in the United States of analog”
- [00:18:35] Thanks subscribers: “thanks, 20,000 subs”
- [00:18:37] Asks “Where’s my plaque?” referring to YouTube milestone plaque
Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions?
- [00:17:58] About Dusty Hill: “I think I can take partial credit for his success” (said humorously after claiming he kept the ZZ Top bassist safe during their night out)
- [00:18:11] “I know you’ve had enough of me already” (self-deprecating closing comment)
3-paragraph summary of this final portion
This final segment completely abandons the album review format in favor of personal storytelling. The host shares celebrity encounters from his past, including riding motorcycles with Peter Fonda, driving Elvis Costello around in his Volkswagen Scirocco, and presenting Liberace a birthday cake. He mentions these stories will be included in a book he’s writing, though he jokes it won’t be finished for “a decade or two” despite his wife’s persistent requests.
The main story focuses on his experience as Dusty Hill’s (ZZ Top bassist) “wingman” in Austin, Texas. A friend who managed ZZ Top asked him to chaperone Dusty during a visit to town. The evening took them to Antone’s, a famous local blues bar, where the host asked Dusty to watch his girlfriend while he used the restroom. When he returned, an exhausted-looking Dusty told him “you owe me,” apparently having had to fend off multiple admirers in those few minutes. The night continued with the host, Dusty Hill, and bar owner Clifford Antone driving around Austin in a white van.
The video concludes with the host reflecting on these unlikely celebrity encounters and humorously claiming partial credit for Dusty Hill’s continued success since he “kept him safe and sound” that night. He wraps up with a standard YouTube outro, directing viewers to another suggested video, thanking them for watching, and acknowledging reaching 20,000 subscribers while jokingly asking about his YouTube milestone plaque. The entire segment serves as an extended personal anecdote that showcases the host’s storytelling style and connection to music industry figures.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
