Sheik Yerbouti

Categories: 1979 albums | Frank Zappa albums

Sheik Yerbouti
Image:Sheik Yerbouti.jpeg
Live album by Frank Zappa
Released March 3 1979
Recorded The Palladium, New York City, October 28 – October 31 1977; Hammersmith Odeon, London, January 24 – 28 & February 24 – 28 1978
Genre Rock and roll
Length 70:22
Label Rykodisc
Producer(s) Frank Zappa
Professional reviews
Frank Zappa chronology
Sleep Dirt
(1979) 		Sheik Yerbouti
(1979) 		Orchestral Favorites
(1979)

Sheik Yerbouti is a double vinyl live album by Frank Zappa featuring material recorded in 1977 and 1978. It was released on March 3, 1979 (see 1979 in music) and re-issued on compact disc on May 9, 1995 (see 1995 in music). The title is a play on words; Zappa appears on the cover in character in Arab headdress, and the name, meant to resemble an Arabic transcription, is pronounced like the title of the 1976 disco hit "Shake Your Booty".

The album featured more of Zappa's satirical and otherwise humorous or offensive material. "I Have Been in You" pokes fun at Peter Frampton's 1977 hit "I'm in You" while maintaining a sexually driven structure. "Dancin' Fool", a Grammy nominee, became a popular disco hit despite its obvious parodical reflection of disco music. "Jewish Princess", a humorous look at Jewish stereotyping, attracted attention from the Anti-Defamation League, to which Zappa denied an apology.

Some of Zappa's solos from the album began life as improvisations from Zappa's earlier work. "Rat Tomago" was edited from a performance of "The Torture Never Stops", which originally appeared on Zoot Allures; "The Sheik Yerbouti Tango" likewise from a live "Little House I Used to Live In", originally a Burnt Weeny Sandwich track.

Almost entirely live, the album features two short studio recordings, both falling under a minute, which open and close "Rat Tomago". "Rubber Shirt" was heavily doctored by Zappa in the studio using bits and pieces of Terry Bozzio and Patrick O'Hearn's drum and bass playing, respectively. Aside from some overdubs, these are the only exceptions.

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Track listing

All songs by Frank Zappa except "Rubber Shirt" by Bozzio/O'Hearn/Zappa

  1. "I Have Been in You" – 3:33
  2. "Flakes" – 6:41
  3. "Broken Hearts Are for Assholes" – 3:42
  4. "I'm So Cute" – 3:09
  5. "Jones Crusher" – 2:49
  6. "What Ever Happened to All the Fun in the World" – 0:33
  7. "Rat Tomago" – 5:15
  8. "Wait a Minute" – 0:33
  9. "Bobby Brown Goes Down" – 2:49
  10. "Rubber Shirt" – 2:45
  11. "The Sheik Yerbouti Tango" – 3:56
  12. "Baby Snakes" – 1:50
  13. "Tryin' to Grow a Chin" – 3:31
  14. "City of Tiny Lites" – 5:32
  15. "Dancin' Fool" – 3:43
  16. "Jewish Princess" – 3:16
  17. "Wild Love" – 4:09
  18. "Yo' Mama" – 12:36
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Personnel

  • Adrian Belew – Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals
  • Ed Mann – Percussion, Vocals
  • Bob Stone – Digital Remastering
  • Terry Bozzio – Drums, Vocals
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock – Saxophone, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
  • Joe Chiccarelli – Remixing, Overdub Engineer
  • Frank Zappa – Guitar, Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Remixing
  • Lynn Goldsmith – Photography, Cover Photo
  • Peter Henderson – Engineer
  • Andre Lewis – Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr)
  • Bob Ludwig – Mastering Engineer
  • Tommy Mars – Keyboards, Vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – Engineer
  • Davey Moire – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Engineer
  • Patrick O'Hearn – Bass, Vocals
  • David Ocker – Clarinet
  • Randy Thornton [1] – Vocals (bckgr)
  • John Williams – Art Direction
  • Gail Zappa – Photography
  • Amy Bernstein – Artwork, Layout Design
  • Peter Wolf – Keyboards
  • Barbara Isaak – Assistant
  • Randy Thornton – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
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External links