Sheik Yerbouti

The Recording Sessions

"Where Were You In 1984!" -- Interview With Ed Mann by The Idiot Bastard, March 14, 2004

Napoleon and I [...] did all the backup vocals together on 'Sheik Yerbouti' -- that was about 1 week in the studio in 1978.

Live Sources

JWB (November 12, 2010)

Pat Buzby has figured out that Bobby Brown comes from 1/27/78, and Baby Snakes is from 1/25/78 (not 2/28).

Also, "Tryin' To Grow A Chin" and "City Of Tiny Lites" are likely from 1/27/78, since all the other versions are circulating and do not match the LP. I would denote those with a (probably) or (not certain but likely).

2. Flakes

(Take it away, Bob . . . )

Adrian Belew, Guitarhoo!, April 16, 2004

Um, there were a few times when I was in Franks company over the weekends that I would affect his thoughts on something. One time in particular I remember he was playing the song which would become "Flakes". He was singing this sort of folk song part in the middle. And when Frank sang and played he couldn't do that really. So when he sang and played guitar he couldn't do that at the same time. He had a real hard time to do that. It sounded like a bad Bob Dylan. hahaha... So I started singing it like a bad Bob Dylan immitation and it stuck and that became part of that song.

 

4. I'm So Cute

Charles Ulrich (alt.fan.frank-zappa, May 13, 2012)

Let's Play Doctor by B. S. (Billy Star):
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OigIPaITW_4>

The song title was a secret word at the 1/26/78 London show, as heard in Titties & Beer, Disco Boy, Watermelon In Easter Hay, and Dinah-Moe Humm on Hammersmith Odeon.

The inflection of "D-O-C-T-O-R" at the end inspired the coda of "I'm So Cute".

CD Remix

FZ quoted in "The CD Watchdog," ICE #43, October, 1990

In the case of 'I'm So Cute' -- I had to shorten it just to get the whole album on one CD. Better that than something more interesting musically, like 'Yo Mama.'

11. The Sheik Yerbouti Tango

Tan Mitsugu (August 7, 2011)

Out of curiosity, I listened to the final collage segment of The Sheik Yerbouti Tango at half speed. The first part, which consists of a few piano notes (3:54-3:55), turned out be from The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny (0:38-0:39, right channel).

 

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This page updated: 2012-05-13