Today in 1971, ZZ Top releases its first album The title was a no-brainer.

PHOTOS: A visual history of ZZ Top

When other members of the Moving Sidewalks were drafted into the Army, Billy Gibbons recruited bassist Dusty Hill (center) and drummer Frank Beard (right) from Dallas band American Blues to form a new band. At this stage, they were decidedly not sharp-dressed men.

See the mighty ZZ Top in their pre-beard days... less PHOTOS: A visual history of ZZ Top

When other members of the Moving Sidewalks were drafted into the Army, Billy Gibbons recruited bassist Dusty Hill (center) and drummer Frank Beard (right) from Dallas band ... more Image 1 of / 105 Caption Close Today in 1971, ZZ Top releases its first album 1 / 105 Back to Gallery

On this date in 1971, Houston blues-rock trio ZZ Top released their debut album simply titled “ZZ Top’s First Album” on U.K. label, London Records.

Over ten tracks (five on each side of the vinyl release) the group plead its case as the preeminent rock act from Texas up to that point.

RELATED: ZZ Top's Dusty Hill and Frank Beard once masqueraded as British rock act the Zombies

Pulling in influences from the likes of the 13th Floor Elevators, Lightnin’ Hopkins and the strange sounds permeating over the border from Mexican pirate radio stations, the band's sound entranced even rockers across the pond.

Band members Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons didn't yet have their beards even.

Recorded at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas, the album was produced by Bill Ham, who would be associated with the group for the next 30 years and change. He died in 2016 at the age of 79.

U.S. labels were largely uninterested in their barbecued rock, but the London label bit on it. The band was just happy to be on the same label as the Rolling Stones. The connection would lead to Keith Richards one day inducting the group into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

ZZ'S START: The story of how ZZ Top played its first show together

In 2019, the band is slated to go on a lengthy tour to celebrate its 50th year together as a trio.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.