"Camarillo Brillo"
Song by Frank Zappa and The Mothers
from the album Over-Nite Sensation
ReleasedSeptember 7, 1973
RecordedApril 4, 1973[1]
GenreProgressive rock, comedy rock
Length3:59
LabelDiscReet
Songwriter(s)Frank Zappa
Producer(s)Frank Zappa

"Camarillo Brillo" is a song by Frank Zappa and The Mothers and was first included on his 1973 LP Over-Nite Sensation. The song's lyrics include many colloquialisms and made-up words. The title itself is a pun; Zappa mispronounces Camarillo, the name of a city in California, to rhyme with brillo, "shining" or "brilliant" in Spanish.[2]

"Camarillo Brillo" is in the key of E major, though the key briefly changes to D major during the chorus. The arrangement includes liberal use of brass instruments and a wide range of percussion techniques. It ends with a short coda played on piano. There are two versions of this song, the first being in a slower tempo and the second being a much shorter up tempo version played later in Frank Zappa's career. The shorter version can be heard on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6. The reason for changing the song's pace was discussed in an interview with Zappa in which he states that the song was "boring" so they sped it up in future performances.

In 1975, "Muffin Man" was introduced to Zappa's live repertoire, and "Camarillo Brillo" was subsequently played as a medley with the former. Performances of this variety appear on several Zappa releases, including FZ:OZ, Halloween, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6, and the concert film Baby Snakes.[3][4] This song also references quadrophonic speakers and the album on which it appeared; Over-Nite Sensation was recorded and released in quad on the Disc-Reet label.

References

  1. ↑ Ulrich, Charles (May 13, 2018). The Big Note: A Guide to the Recordings of Frank Zappa. New Star Books. ISBN 1-554201-46-2.
  2. ↑ Kelly Fisher Lowe (2007). The Words and Music of Frank Zappa. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-6005-4.
  3. ↑ "Camarillo Brillo - Frank Zappa & the Mothers | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Neil Slaven (November 17, 2009). Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-7119-9436-2.
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