dcxciii. VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Sheik of Araby
Six Versions
From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925):
"When Jordan Baker had finished telling all this we had left the Plaza for half an hour and were driving in a victoria through Central Park. The sun had gone down behind the tall apartments of the movie stars in the West Fifties and the clear voice of little girls already gathered like crickets on the grass rose through the hot twilight:
'I'm the Sheik of Araby
Your loves belongs to me
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep'"
As politically incorrect as can be, we have to honor this song from 1921 -- music by Ted Snyder, lyrics by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler -- simply because the music is so delightful, despite the uncomfortable lyrics.
"Proudly he scorns her smile or tear
Soon he will conquer love by fear."
Perhaps we should be a bit consoled because she will
"rule this land with me." However, this woman must endure the advances of a man who
"at night when you're asleep / Into your tent I'll creep"
"Proudly he scorns her smile or tear
Soon he will conquer love by fear."
Perhaps we should be a bit consoled because she will
"rule this land with me." However, this woman must endure the advances of a man who
"at night when you're asleep / Into your tent I'll creep"
**
Most performers skip the verse and just play the chorus, which is a shame because the verse has a wonderfully Oriental flavor ...
A contemporary performance -- the only one that plays both the verse & chorus.
One of the earliest examples, of multi-tracking, Bechet plays every instrument: clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano, bass and drums!
Each part was recorded on a 78 rpm acetate; if a mistake was made, it meant everything had to start over.
Each part was recorded on a 78 rpm acetate; if a mistake was made, it meant everything had to start over.
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