Eliminator

Though the Texas trio ZZ Top had been performing and recording since the late '60s and had already released seven quality albums, it was 1983's Eliminator that really made the band a global force, racing up the charts in numerous countries and selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone. Eliminator was perfectly timed with the rise of MTV, and several hit videos ("Sharp Dressed Man," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," and "Legs") ran in heavy rotation, spreading ZZ Top's all-American praise of hot women, cool cars, loud (and fuzzy) guitars, and big beards. Thirty years later, it's still a staple on classic rock radio, and ZZ Top keeps releasing new material and selling out stadiums. With 15 albums over a 41-year span, ZZ Top is an undeniable legend. But if you can only listen to one record, this is the one. In addition to the huge singles, don't miss "I Got the Six," "Got Me Under Pressure," and the trio's ode to microwave mystery meats, "TV Dinners."