The Boy with the Arab Strap
Studio album by Belle & Sebastian
Released	September 7, 1998
Recorded	Ca Va Studios
Genre	Chamber pop
Length	45:28
Label	Matador
Producer(s)	Tony Doogan
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link Pitchfork Media (0.8/10) link
Belle & Sebastian chronology
If You're Feeling Sinister (1996) The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998) Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant (2000)

The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third album from the Scottish band Belle & Sebastian. The album is occasionally labelled as twee pop, a term the band and many fans dislike.^{[citation needed]} The instrumental of the title track "The Boy with the Arab Strap" was previously the theme tune for the television show Teachers. Part of the song 'Seymour Stein' is briefly featured in the 2000 film High Fidelity. The inspiration for the album's name came from the band Arab Strap, who are also from Scotland and briefly toured with Belle & Sebastian. An Arab strap is a sexual device for retaining an erection. Image File history File links Belle_sebastian_-_the_boy_with_the_arab_strap. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Baroque pop as a style originated in the mid 1960s as the flipside of sunshine pop. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Matador Records is a record label, famous for a roster of highly-respected indie rock artists and bands. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... A typical example of Pitchforks main page, as of 12-12-06 Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork and occasionally shortened to P4K, pitchy, or pfork,[1] is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... If Youre Feeling Sinister (1996) is the second album from Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian, released by the independent label Jeepster Records. ... Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant is the fourth album from the Scottish twee pop group Belle & Sebastian. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the genre of music. ... An instrumental is, in contrast to a song, a musical composition or recording without lyrics or any other sort of vocal music; all of the music is produced by musical instruments. ... The theme music of a radio or television program is a melody closely associated with the show, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits. ... Teachers was a British television Comedy Drama produced by Channel 4. ... High Fidelity is also the title of a book by Nick Hornby and a film directed by Stephen Frears, based upon Hornbys book. ... Arab Strap were a post-folk indie band from Scotland who were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground. ... An Arab strap is a sexual device, invented and most commonly used by the filthy Arab himself, Mark Yates. ...

Arab Strap were reportedly less than pleased with their inclusion in the title of the album. When questioned about it, Arab Strap's leader/singer, Aiden, said "They have a sense of humor." Malcolm, the band's instrumentalist, added, "Because Arab Strap is quite an interesting name. The words go well together. That's why we chose it as a band name. We're friends with them, but there's a limit to putting someone else's name on an album. They’re taking away something from us." He also mentioned that the album had been confused as a collaboration between the bands. ^[1]

The album features several lead vocals sung by members of the band other than Stuart Murdoch. Stevie Jackson sings lead on both "Seymour Stein" and "Chickfactor," and Isobel Campbell sings lead on "Is It Wicked Not To Care?". Stuart Murdoch, born August 25, 1968, is the lead singer and songwriter for Scottish indie rock septet Belle & Sebastian. ... Stevie Jackson is a Scottish musician and songwriter. ... Isobel Campbell (born on April 27, 1976) is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and Twee pop genres. ...

Track listing

1. "It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career" – 2:23
2. "Sleep the Clock Around" – 4:57
3. "Is It Wicked Not to Care?" – 3:22
4. "Ease Your Feet in the Sea" – 3:35
5. "A Summer Wasting" – 2:06
6. "Seymour Stein" – 4:42
7. "A Space Boy Dream" – 3:01
8. "Dirty Dream Number Two" – 4:14
9. "The Boy with the Arab Strap" – 5:14
10. "Chickfactor" – 3:31
11. "Simple Things" – 1:46
12. "The Rollercoaster Ride" – 6:36

Seymour Stein is an entrepreneur in the music industry whose career spans from the 50s onwards. ...

Personnel

• Stuart Murdoch - Vocals, Guitar
• Stuart David - Bass
• Isobel Campbell - Cello, Vocals
• Chris Geddes - Keyboards, piano
• Richard Colburn - Drums
• Stevie Jackson - Guitar, Vocals
• Sarah Martin - Violins
• Mick Cooke - Trumpet

Stuart Murdoch, born August 25, 1968, is the lead singer and songwriter for Scottish indie rock septet Belle & Sebastian. ... Looper are a Scottish indie-pop band, fronted by Stuart David, former Belle and Sebastian bassist. ... Isobel Campbell (born on April 27, 1976) is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and Twee pop genres. ...

References

1. ^ Laurence, Alexander (2001-05). An interview with Arab Strap (English) (HTML). Free Williamsburg. Retrieved on 2006-07-03.