Stages (song)

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

1986 single by ZZ Top

"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)

|
|

"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.

## Reception

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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)

* v
* t
* e

ZZ Top

* Billy Gibbons
* Frank Beard
* Elwood Francis

* Lanier Greig
* Dan Mitchell
* Billy Ethridge
* Dusty Hill

Studio albums|

* ZZ Top's First Album
* Rio Grande Mud
* Tres Hombres
* Fandango!
* Tejas
* Degüello
* El Loco
* Eliminator
* Afterburner
* Recycler
* Antenna
* Rhythmeen
* XXX
* Mescalero
* La Futura

Compilations|

* The Best of ZZ Top
* Greatest Hits
* One Foot in the Blues
* Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top

Live albums|

* Live from Texas

Box sets|

* The Six Pack
* Chrome, Smoke & BBQ

Singles|

* "Francine"
* "La Grange"
* "Tush"
* "It's Only Love"
* "Arrested for Driving While Blind"
* "I Thank You"
* "Cheap Sunglasses"
* "Leila"
* "Tube Snake Boogie"
* "Gimme All Your Lovin'"
* "Sharp Dressed Man"
* "TV Dinners"
* "Legs"
* "Sleeping Bag"
* "Stages"
* "Velcro Fly"
* "Rough Boy"
* "Doubleback"
* "My Head's in Mississippi"
* "Viva Las Vegas"
* "Pincushion"
* "She's Just Killing Me"
* "What's Up with That"

Other songs|

* "Waitin' for the Bus"
* "Jesus Just Left Chicago"
* "Master of Sparks"
* "Pearl Necklace"
* "Got Me Under Pressure"

Video albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Live from Texas
* Live at Montreux 2013

Tours|

* Worldwide Texas Tour
* Recycler Tour
* XXX Tour
* Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Tour
* Whack Attack Tour
* Hollywood Blues Tour
* El Camino Ocho Tour
* 2010 World Tour
* Gang of Outlaws Tour
* Tonnage Tour
* Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Super Bowl XXXI halftime show
* CadZZilla
* Bill Ham
* Moving Sidewalks
* American Blues
* Sharp Dressed Men: A Tribute to ZZ Top
* ZZ Top: A Tribute from Friends

* Category

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