"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. The song appeared as an instrumental on Zappa's Fillmore East – June 1971, originally split as the last track on side one (2'50") and continued on the first track on side two (1:54) 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 a 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. The song was ranked number 75 on the list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" of Rolling Stone. Musicians Hot Rats version Frank Zappa - guitar, percussion Ian Underwood - keyboards Captain Beefheart - vocal Sugarcane Harris - violin John Guerin - drums Max Bennett - bass Fillmore East Frank Zappa - guitar & dialogue Mark Volman - lead vocals & dialogue Howard Kaylan - lead vocals & dialogue Ian Underwood - winds & keyboard & vocals Aynsley Dunbar - drums Jim Pons - bass & vocals & dialogue Bob Harris - 2nd keyboard & vocals Don Preston - Minimoog You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 Frank Zappa - lead guitar/vocal Ike Willis - guitar/vocal Ray White - guitar/vocal Bobby Martin - keyboards/sax/vocal Allan Zavod - keyboards Scott Thunes - bass Chad Wackerman - drums Cover versions Juicy Lucy covered "Willie the Pimp" on their 1970 release Lie Back and Enjoy It, their version was included in Andy Votel's compilation Vertigo Mixed, released in 2005. Aynsley Dunbar recorded a 14'55" version with his band Blue Whale in 1971. Dunbar was the drummer for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the time the album was released. Stack Waddy on their 1972 album Bugger Off!. References 1969 songs Frank Zappa songs Blues rock songs Captain Beefheart songs Songs about procurers Songs about prostitutes Songs written by Frank Zappa Song recordings produced by Frank