Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Bristol Stomp
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they do the Bristol stomp oh ho
It started in Bristol at the teenage hop
Oh, they're sharp as a pistol
When they do that bop oh ho
Oh my darling, wo wo oh baby, wo wo
We're walking beneath the wo wo
With the wo wo blowing through your wo wo
We'll put 'em together and go "whoa!" woooo!
The lyrics to Frank Zappa's song "Bristol Stomp" reflect a lively, energetic atmosphere in Bristol, likely referring to Bristol, a city in the United Kingdom. The phrase "sharp as a pistol" suggests that the kids in Bristol are fashionable, trendy, and quick-witted. The Bristol stomp is a dance style that originated in Bristol at a teenage hop, implying that this dance move has gained popularity among the youth in the area.
The repetition of "wo wo" in the lyrics serves as a playful and suggestive innuendo. It hints at a romantic encounter, with the wind blowing through the couple as they walk beneath it. The line "You show me your wo wo and I'll show you mine" implies a sense of mutual seduction or intimacy. However, these lyrics maintain a lighthearted tone, focusing more on the joyousness and exuberance of the Bristol stomp dance.
Overall, "Bristol Stomp" captures the lively spirit of the youth scene in Bristol, emphasizing their fashionable presence, enthusiastic dancing, and playful romantic encounters.
Line by Line Meaning
The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol
The young people in Bristol are extremely clever and quick-witted.
When they do the Bristol stomp oh ho
When they perform the Bristol stomp dance, they do it with great enthusiasm and energy.
It started in Bristol at the teenage hop
The Bristol stomp dance originated in Bristol at a gathering specifically for teenagers.
Oh, they're sharp as a pistol
Again emphasizing the intelligence and wit of the young people in Bristol.
When they do that bop oh ho
When they dance the bop, another energetic dance style, they do it with great passion and excitement.
Oh my darling, wo wo oh baby, wo wo
An affectionate expression towards the person addressed, using vague and endearing terms.
We're walking beneath the wo wo
We are strolling along under an unclear or unspecified object or circumstance.
With the wo wo blowing through your wo wo
Something indeterminate is flowing or passing through an unknown aspect or situation.
You show me your wo wo and I'll show you mine
If you reveal or share your undisclosed element or aspect, I will reciprocate by doing the same.
We'll put 'em together and go "whoa!" woooo!
When we combine these undisclosed elements or aspects, we will express surprise or excitement, exclaiming with enthusiasm.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pauline butcher bird
Have I ever heard of FZ before seeing this vid? I lived in his house for four months and worked for him for four years from 1968 to 1972. I've written about it in my book, Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa! Thus my question.
Bluedreams
I agree, but except the 1st song, a readjustment of Stravinskij's ballet for Petruska!!, you may know that FZ, like other bands, began playing in nightclubs, where he was required to do repertoire of the '60s. So, in his very first concerts, he performed his own musics as well as some of these old swing. Cheers!
bollhane
thanx for showing this!!!Zappa has always been THE BEST!!Greetings from Sweden!!
Zoran Taylor
Intro is actually "You Didn't Try To Call Me"; "Petrushka" starts after Zappa calls it out. Great recording!
pauline butcher bird
Compared with the later 1970s bands, this does sound rather thin, but great to hear it nevertheless.
rocknrollcola
Ray Collins is doing the lead vocals on Bristol Stomp.
eLsk1986
Yo This is on the "Tis' the season to be jelly" Bootleg. Cool Album, despite franks aversion to bootlegs Def worth getting. It's gotta great version of King Kong.
ZeppelinNL
When the Bristol Stomp segment starts, is Frank on lead vocals there or is he doing the 'bim bim bim bim bim b-b-bim'?
henry
ray collins does the lead and frank is doing the bim
pauline butcher bird
Thank you sonsoloidee. Are you an expert on Zappa?