Camarillo brillo
Encyclopedia
"Camarillo Brillo" is a song by Frank Zappa
and was first included on his 1973
LP
Over-Nite Sensation
. The song's lyrics make use of many colloquialisms and made-up words. The title itself is a pun; Zappa incorrectly pronounces Camarillo, the name of a city in California, to rhyme with Brillo, a trade name associated with cleaning pads. "Brio" is also a musical term meaning "vigor". Camarillo is also the name of a mental institution in Southern California, usually pronounced the way Zappa sings it. It's likely that a "Camarillo Brillo" is a hairstyle that resembles that of a mental patient who has recently received Electro-Shock Therapy. In Italian language, " Camarillo " means " member of a Camarilla, ( something like a lobby), and Brillo means " Drunk".
"Camarillo Brillo" is in the key
of E major
, though the key briefly changes to D major
during the chorus. The song employs 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 a slower tempo and the second 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 songs pace was discussed in an interview with Mr. Zappa in which he states that the song was "boring" so they speed 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
.
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.
There's a music store in Avellino
named after the song.
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
and was first included on his 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
Over-Nite Sensation
Over-Nite Sensation
Over-Nite Sensation is an album by Frank Zappa & The Mothers, released in 1973 . It was recorded in March – June 1973 at these studios: Bolic Sound in Inglewood, Whitney, in Glendale, and Paramount in Los Angeles...
. The song's lyrics make use of many colloquialisms and made-up words. The title itself is a pun; Zappa incorrectly pronounces Camarillo, the name of a city in California, to rhyme with Brillo, a trade name associated with cleaning pads. "Brio" is also a musical term meaning "vigor". Camarillo is also the name of a mental institution in Southern California, usually pronounced the way Zappa sings it. It's likely that a "Camarillo Brillo" is a hairstyle that resembles that of a mental patient who has recently received Electro-Shock Therapy. In Italian language, " Camarillo " means " member of a Camarilla, ( something like a lobby), and Brillo means " Drunk".
"Camarillo Brillo" is in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
, though the key briefly changes to D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
during the chorus. The song employs liberal use of brass instruments and a wide range of percussion techniques. It ends with a short coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
played on piano.
There are two versions of this song, the first being a slower tempo and the second 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
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore
- For the Frank Zappa live compilations see :*You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1*You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2*You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3*You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4*You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5...
, Vol. 6. The reason for changing the songs pace was discussed in an interview with Mr. Zappa in which he states that the song was "boring" so they speed 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
FZ:OZ
FZ:OZ is a live album by Frank Zappa, released in 2002 as a two-CD set and is the first release on the Vaulternative Records label from the Zappa Family Trust...
, Halloween, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 is the last of six double disc collection volumes of live performances by Frank Zappa recorded between 1970 and 1988. All of the material on Disc one has a sexual theme. It was released on October 23, 1992 under the label Rykodisc.-Disc one:#"The M.O.I...
, and the concert film Baby Snakes
Baby Snakes
Baby Snakes is a movie which includes footage from Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween concert at New York City's Palladium Theater, backstage antics from the crew, and stop motion clay animation from award-winning animator Bruce Bickford....
.
This song also references Quadrophonic speakers and the album on which it appeared, Over-Nite Sensation
Over-Nite Sensation
Over-Nite Sensation is an album by Frank Zappa & The Mothers, released in 1973 . It was recorded in March – June 1973 at these studios: Bolic Sound in Inglewood, Whitney, in Glendale, and Paramount in Los Angeles...
was recorded and released in quad on the Disc-reet label.
There's a music store in Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
named after the song.