Featured photo: (Pacer Graphic / Darby Self)

Those beards, shades, guitars and loud guitar solos are what define the classic rock band ZZ Top.

ZZ Top was formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas, as a band that blended blues with rock and roll. Its founding members included the late Dusty Hill on the bass, Frank Beard on the drums and Billy Gibbons as the lead vocalist and guitarist.

They released their first album, “ZZ Top’s First Album” in 1971, which included multiple rock songs such as “Backdoor Love Affair” that set the rough and straightforward style for the band.

The band first grew famous when it released its eighth album, “Eliminator,” in 1983. This was their only album to be certified diamond and included four songs that topped the charts, including “Sharp Dressed Man.”

“Sharp Dressed Man” is probably one of the band’s most frequently played songs, and it is not hard to tell why.

The song contains only a few verses describing the kind of attire women would find attractive on a man, ending each verse with “‘Cause every girl crazy over sharp dressed man.”

The simple lyrics are accompanied by an intimidating underscore with a strong focus on the bass guitar. It especially hits hard during the guitar solo sections, which emit a cool, imposing vibe that matches the kind of man the song describes.

“Sharp Dressed Man” is a top rock hit whose popularity is unquestioned, but it did not reach the level of mainstream as another 1983 song titled “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”

“Gimme All Your Lovin'” is a much faster and upbeat song that portrays feelings of desperation in a catchy and memorable way.

The song’s lyrics clearly encapsulate a young man’s pleas for physical affection with a chorus of lyrics like “Gimme all your lovin’/All your hugs and kisses too.”

It also includes another great guitar solo that matches the energy and feeling of the unrequited desire for intimacy, demonstrating the band’s ability to create a complex instrumental piece with simple, catchy lyrics.

This song hit no. 37 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart because of its upbeat nature as a hard rock song, serving as a testament to the band’s musicianship.

The band is very recognizable because of its iconography. One of the most recognizable features of the band is the Eliminator coupe that appears in many of the band’s music videos and on the cover of the “Eliminator” album.

They had also made noteworthy appearances in outside media during their prime, such as a guest appearance as an 1880s Western band in “Back to the Future Part III”, which played the memorable and very underrated “Doubleback” from their 1990 album “Recycling.”

Even though the band may not be as popular as they once were, they are still beloved by a dedicated niche of hard rock enthusiasts. As of recently, they have toured Clarksville, Tennessee and will continue to tour the U.S. until their final show on May 23.

RECOMMENDED WORKS: Sharp Dressed Man | Gimme All Your Lovin’ | Doubleback