Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Frank Mills
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On September twelfth right here
In front of the Waverly
But unfortunately I lost his address
He was last seen with his friend, a drummer
He resembles George Harrison of The Beatles
But he wears his hair tied in a small bow at the back
I love him but it embarrasses me
He lives in Brooklyn somewhere
And he wears his white crash helmet
He has golden chains on his leather jacket
And on the back are written the names
"Mary" and "Mom" and "Hell's Angels"
I would gratefully appreciate if you see him tell him
I'm in the park with my girlfriend and please
Tell him Angela and I don't want the two dollars back just him
The lyrics to James Last's song "Frank Mills" tell the story of a girl who met a boy named Frank Mills on September 12th in front of the Waverly, presumably a place in the singer's town. Unfortunately, she lost his address and hasn't been able to find him since. Frank Mills was last seen with his friend, a drummer, who resembles George Harrison of The Beatles but has his hair tied in a small bow at the back. The singer expresses their love for Frank Mills but admits that it embarrasses them to walk down the street with him.
The girl knows that Frank Mills lives somewhere in Brooklyn, and she describes his appearance, mentioning his white crash helmet and the golden chains on his leather jacket. On the back of his jacket, there are the names "Mary," "Mom," and "Hell's Angels," indicating some kind of personal significance or affiliation. The singer asks anyone who sees Frank Mills to let him know that she is in the park with her girlfriend and that they don't want the two dollars back; they just want Frank Mills.
Overall, the lyrics portray a sense of longing and a desire to reconnect with a lost love interest. The singer's embarrassment about walking down the street with Frank Mills highlights the complexity of their feelings, suggesting that there may be societal or personal barriers preventing them from fully embracing their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a boy called Frank Mills
I encountered a young man named Frank Mills
On September twelfth right here
On the specific date of September 12th in this location
In front of the Waverly
Directly outside the Waverly establishment
But unfortunately I lost his address
Regrettably, I misplaced his contact information
He was last seen with his friend, a drummer
His most recent sighting included his companion, who is a percussionist
He resembles George Harrison of The Beatles
He bears a likeness to George Harrison, a member of The Beatles
But he wears his hair tied in a small bow at the back
However, he styles his hair in a small bow-shaped knot towards the rear
I love him but it embarrasses me
I possess affection for him, although being associated with him causes me embarrassment
To walk down the street with him
To stroll along the street in his company
He lives in Brooklyn somewhere
He resides in an unspecified location within Brooklyn
And he wears his white crash helmet
Additionally, he dons a white protective headgear for potential accidents
He has golden chains on his leather jacket
His leather jacket showcases adornments of valuable gold chains
And on the back are written the names
Furthermore, the rear of his jacket displays inscriptions
"Mary" and "Mom" and "Hell's Angels"
These inscriptions include the names 'Mary' and 'Mom,' along with a reference to the motorcycle club 'Hell's Angels'
I would gratefully appreciate if you see him tell him
I would be sincerely grateful if, in the event that you encounter him, you could relay a message on my behalf
I'm in the park with my girlfriend and please
Currently, I find myself in the park with my romantic partner, and I kindly request
Tell him Angela and I don't want the two dollars back just him
Inform him, specifically Angela and I, that we are not interested in reclaiming the two dollars, only his presence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind