Gimme All Your Lovin'

"Gimme All Your Lovin'" is a song by ZZ Top from their 1983 album Eliminator. The song was released as the album's first single in 1983 (see 1983 in music). Initially unsuccessful in the UK upon its early 1984 release, in the wake of the band's American success, it was promptly re-released and reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart. It ties with 1992's "Viva Las Vegas" as their highest-charting single in the UK. This was the first ZZ Top single to use synthesizers; the new sound made them a huge commercial success. Lyrically, the song is a variation on a common theme for the band: Sex. Van Halen followed ZZ Top's lead a few months later when they used synthesizers on their album 1984. Most of their core fans did not mind, since it still featured the guitar of Eddie Van Halen. The video was ZZ Top's first and also the first to have a sequel. Wildly successful on MTV, the clip showed a mechanic/gas station attendant who is working when three beautiful women appear in "The Eliminator," which was a 1933 Ford Hot Rod owned by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Our hero gets the keys to the car, and goes for a ride with the ladies, who return him some time later. In a brilliant move, they left room for a sequel, as he sees the car driving off. The story picks up in the video for "Sharp Dressed Man," where our hero is now a valet. Establishing the car and the girls as iconic images of ZZ Top helped them wow the younger generation. The car was so popular that Gibbons had another one made to take on tour. This was the first single from the Eliminator album, which went Diamond, meaning it sold over 10 million copies. The video for this song helped pay off the car that starred in it. Billy Gibbons estimates that he spent about $250,000 buying and restoring the car, and was deep in debt on the vehicle. By putting the car in the video, it became a business expense, and thus a write-off. The car was used on the album cover and became a personification of the band. The video was directed by Tim Newman (Randy's brother), who did all of the ZZ Top videos with the girls and cars. By using these props, he defined the band's image without making them work very hard. Newman said in the book I Want My MTV: "The song seemed to be about a horny, yearning kid. So I had the idea to base it around a guy who worked at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. I would not be making a huge demand on ZZ Top's acting ability if I cast them in the role of mythological characters." A music video was made to promote the song. The video features ZZ Top playing at a gas station. * In 1993 a Finnish band Leningrad Cowboys recorded a cover version of this song featuring Red Army Choir. * Lonestar released a country version of the song in 2002 for the album Sharp Dressed Men: A Tribute to ZZ Top. * Features in the animated film "Happy Feet" (2006).

[Verse 1] I got to have a shot Cause what you got is oh, so sweet You got to make it hot Like a boomerang I need a repeat [Chorus] Gimme all your lovin' All your hugs and kisses too Gimme all your lovin' Don't let up until we're through [Verse 2] You got to whip it up And hit me like a ton of lead If I blow my top Will you let it go to your head? [Chorus] Gimme all your lovin' All your hugs and kisses too Gimme all your lovin' Don't let up until we're through [Instrumental break 1:25-2:19] [Verse 3] You got to move it up And use it like a screwball would You got to pack it up Work it like a new boy should [Chorus] Gimme all your lovin' All your hugs and kisses too Gimme all your lovin' Don't let up until we're through [Instrumental outro 2:48-4:01]