Willie the Pimp


"Willie the Pimp" is a song from Frank Zappa's 1969 album Hot Rats. It features an idiosyncratic Captain Beefheart vocal and one of Zappa's classic guitar solos. It is the only track that is not instrumental on the album, though the track features a long guitar solo.

Background

The song also appeared as an instrumental on Zappa's Fillmore East – June 1971, originally split as the last track on side one and continued on the first track on side two of the LP. Another short version from the 1984 tour appeared on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 as a 2'06" segue between "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" and "Montana".
The album title Hot Rats comes from the lyric of Willie the Pimp. The origin of the song was explained in a conversation Zappa recorded in 1969. This interview recording was later released as "The Story of Willie the Pimp" on the Zappa album Mystery Disc.

Musicians

''Hot Rats'' version

''Fillmore East''

''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4''

Cover versions

Personal

Reception

The song was ranked number 75 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" of Rolling Stone.