Bristol Stomp
Encyclopedia
"Bristol Stomp" is a song
written in 1961 by Kal Mann
and Dave Appell
, two executives with the Cameo-Parkway
record label
, for The Dovells
, an a cappella
singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, who recorded the song for Cameo-Parkway late that year. It was originally recorded by a group from Bristol, Pennsylvania
, Terry and the Appeljacks (Terry Appel was the son of Dave Appel). The recording by Terry and the Appeljacks did not make the Billboard Hot 100
nor the "Bubbling Under" charts
.
The Dovells' recording made the #2 spot on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles chart in 1961. "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
The song was written about teenagers in 1961 who were dancing a new step called "The Stomp" at dances. It refers to Bristol, Pennsylvania
, a blue collar
suburb of Philadelphia.
The refrain
of the song:
On the live performance of Gary U.S. Bonds
' "Seven Day Weekend" found on Johnny Thunders
' live soundtrack
album Stations of the Cross
, Walter Lure begins singing the chorus of the song, playing on the fact that the two songs share the same chord sequence. Frank Zappa
& The Mothers Of Invention
covered
the song as part of a medley, performed in Sweden in 1967 (officially released on Tis The Season To Be Jelly, Beat the Boots series, FOO-EE Records).
The song was covered in 1979 by British band The Late Show.
The song has been used by Fox Sports
during NASCAR broadcasts from the Bristol Motor Speedway
, located in Tennessee
, also referring to massively wrecked racecars as having been "Bristol Stomped".
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written in 1961 by Kal Mann
Kal Mann
Kal Mann was an American lyricist. He is best known for penning the words to Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear", plus "Butterfly", a hit for both Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams.-Biography:...
and Dave Appell
Dave Appell
Dave Appell Dave (David) Appell Dave (David) Appell (born March 24, 1922, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, worked as an arranger, producer, and musician in Philadelphia, in the 1950s.-Career:...
, two executives with the Cameo-Parkway
Cameo-Parkway Records
Cameo-Parkway Records was the parent company of Cameo Records and Parkway Records, which were major American Philadelphia-based record labels from 1956 and 1958 to 1967...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, for The Dovells
The Dovells
The Dovells were an American music group, formed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957, under the name 'The Brooktones'. The members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff , Jerry Gross, Mike Freda and Jim Mealey...
, an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, who recorded the song for Cameo-Parkway late that year. It was originally recorded by a group from Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Philadelphia opposite Burlington, N.J. on the Delaware River. Bristol was first incorporated in 1720. Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making Bristol one of the older boroughs in...
, Terry and the Appeljacks (Terry Appel was the son of Dave Appel). The recording by Terry and the Appeljacks did not make the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
nor the "Bubbling Under" charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
The Dovells' recording made the #2 spot on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles chart in 1961. "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
The song was written about teenagers in 1961 who were dancing a new step called "The Stomp" at dances. It refers to Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Philadelphia opposite Burlington, N.J. on the Delaware River. Bristol was first incorporated in 1720. Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making Bristol one of the older boroughs in...
, a blue collar
Blue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
suburb of Philadelphia.
The refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
of the song:
- "The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol
- When they do the Bristol Stomp
- Really somethin' when the joint is jumpin'
- When they do the Bristol Stomp"
On the live performance of Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds is an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer. He is also a prolific songwriter.-Career:...
' "Seven Day Weekend" found on Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
' live soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
album Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, Walter Lure begins singing the chorus of the song, playing on the fact that the two songs share the same chord sequence. Frank Zappa
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...
& The Mothers Of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song as part of a medley, performed in Sweden in 1967 (officially released on Tis The Season To Be Jelly, Beat the Boots series, FOO-EE Records).
The song was covered in 1979 by British band The Late Show.
The song has been used by Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
during NASCAR broadcasts from the Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
, located in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, also referring to massively wrecked racecars as having been "Bristol Stomped".