"Stages" is a song by American rock band

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For almost 56 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (musician), Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill prior to his death in 2021. ZZ ...

. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album ''

Afterburner An afterburner (or reheat in British English) is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff, and combat ...

'' (1985). It peaked at number 21 on the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and topped the ''Billboard''

Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock is a music chart published by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States. It is an administrative category that combines the " active rock" and " heritage rock" ...

chart for two weeks.

Reception

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'' called it "melodic, driving, and danceable." ''

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'' called it a "rollicking" and "high-powered."

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called the song a "terrific post-new wave rocker" and that it is the poppiest thing they ever cut.

Formats and track listings

* 7-inch single (United States) # "Stages" – 3:32 # "Can't Stop Rockin'" – 3:01 * 12-inch single (United States) # "Stages" (extended version) – 5:05 # "Stages" – 3:32 # "Hi Fi Mama" – 2:22

Charts

Personnel

Credits for "Stages" adapted from ''Afterburner'' album liner notes. * Frank Beard –

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

* Billy Gibbons –

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

* Bill Ham – production * Dusty Hill –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

, backing vocals

References

1986 singles ZZ Top songs Songs written by Frank Beard (musician) Songs written by Dusty Hill Songs written by Billy Gibbons 1985 songs Warner Records singles Song recordings produced by Bill Ham {{1980s-rock-song-stub