"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, a doo-wop singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who recorded it for Cameo-Parkway late that year. Appell also produced and arranged the track and his Cameo-Parkway's house band served as the studio musicians.

Background

The song was written about teenagers in 1961 who were dancing a new step called "The Stomp" at Good Will Hose Company dances in Bristol, Pennsylvania, a blue-collar suburb of Philadelphia. Before the Dovells' song, kids were dancing the Bristol Stomp to the song "Every Day of the Week" by The Students. The Dovells used the basic feel of that tune and put a three-beat emphasis on the syllables in the title: "Bristol Stomp". The refrain: This song makes reference to the "Pony" and the "Twist".

Chart performance

The Dovells' recording made the #2 spot on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles chart in 1961 behind "Runaround Sue" by Dion. "Bristol Stomp" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "The Bristol Stomp" also peaked at #7 on the Hot R&B Sides chart.

Other versions

In popular culture