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ZZ Top – Rough Boy’Afterburner’ was ZZ Top’s ninth studio album and came out extending the pop-rock popularity from the success of ‘Eliminator’ from 1983.
Both of these releases did not go well with long-time ZZ Top fans as they were more synthesized with a new electric guitar sound and noticeably less bluesy.
But for the younger pop music buying public, it was the right sound for the right time.
The third single from ‘Afterburner’, “Rough Boy” was a slow power-ballad that REALLY put off those original fans, but did well on the Hot 100 after following hits “Stages” (#21 Hot 100 and #1 Mainstream Rock) and “Sleepingbag” (#8). With a lot of MTV help, the song was in heavy rotation and that helped radio add it to Top 40 rotations. It peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the Album Rock chart!
Hear it again this Sunday morning on AT40 – The 80s!
