Project Page “The Sheik of Araby” Listening Description–The Beatles and Kid Clayton
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon
Good Evening!!!!
George Harrison
Features “Sheik of Araby” New Orleans recording 
The Beatles playing in the Cavern Club in August 1962--Liverpool, England
Albums: The Beatles Anthology 1 and The First Kid Clayton Session: 1952
For my first musical description, I am featuring “The Sheik of Araby”. I am featuring two versions. The first version is by Kid Clayton’s band. It was recorded in August 1952 in New Orleans. Kid Clayton’s version is completely instrumental–featuring instruments such as clarinets, banjo (chords), trumpets, percussion and piano. Basically, Kid Clayton’s version is “Jazzy” and the band is obviously influenced by swing-jazz music.
The second version is performed by The Beatles on January 1st 1962. They performed “The Sheik of Araby” at Decca Studios in London, England.
George Harrison sung the lead vocal and John Lennon provided short back up vocals. John Lennon was being humorous…and he would occasionally interrupt George’s solo by saying “Not-Arf”. The song is heavily influenced by electric guitar, electric hofner bass (a McCartney classic instrument) and drums.
George was only 19 years old when he recorded this song so his vocals sound extremely fresh and youthful. I must say that I admire the Beatles entire career, especially their early 1960′s period. During this period, they were gaining experience by performing in live clubs, like the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. During this time, they also toured Germany, Scotland–performing their favorite cover songs and they were beginning to perform their own songs.
I am really impressed with both versions and I really enjoy listening to George’s vocals. He sings the notes so well. The music flows so wonderfully.
I am including a video that features three early Beatles recordings! (A real treat!). “Three Cool Cats”, “The Sheik of Araby” and “Like Dreamers Do”. The first two tunes are sung by George and then the last recording is sung by Paul McCartney.
“The Sheik of Araby” was written by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler. The music was originally composed by Ted Snyder in the early 1920′s.
According to the liner notes of the Beatles Anthology 1 album, “the song was first performed in the stage musical “Make it Snappy” and the 1940 Hollywood movie “Tin Pan Alley”, but the Beatles were inspired by a cheeky, chirpy rock and roll version by Joe Brown, consequently their Decca performance had humour to the fore, right from the beat-style Arabic mood-setting kick-off” ( Pg. 13, Derek Taylor).
The Beatles’ version only lasts for 1.35 and Kid Clayton’s version lasts for 3.30.
John Lennon performed the rhythm guitar, Pete Best (he was the original drummer for the Beatles before Ringo Starr stepped in.) played drums and Paul is on bass.
It is very important to note the Arabic influenced guitar in the beginning of the song. Then, the Beatles start playing their signature “early ’60′s beat rock and roll music”. George Harrison played Gretsch/Rickenbacker guitars. John played Rickenbacker guitars as well. The Rickenbacker guitar sounds very gritty and it gives the music that special “rock and roll” feel. I would have to say that the meter is duple and the song does not have tension. The recording sounds extremely smooth and relaxed. They were recording live in a studio, so they were in an environment that welcomed their sound. The timbre is somewhat loud and this song has such a great rock sound! The Beatles enjoyed making musical magic and the sense of community is very apparent.
Everyone works together during the recording to make sure that it turned out just right. The Beatles came out with so many great albums and films! I love “Abbey Road” (1969) “The White Album” (1968), “Revolver” (1966), “Rubber Soul” (1965–This album is influenced by the work of Bob Dylan and it features the Indian Sitar on “Norwegian Wood”), “Meet the Beatles” (1963).
Throughout the song, the same chords are being repeated over and over again…George’s vocals are consistent throughout. It is pretty much guitar, bass, vocal and drums/cymbals.
In Kid Clayton’s version, the tempo is extremely fast, there are different instruments playing one after the other. The musicians are hardly stopping to take a breath! The entire song is so energetic! It reminds me of Dixieland music. There are so many instruments going on at one time.
These sessions were recorded in 1952 in New Orleans. The musicians were playing the magic of 1920′s jazz/dixieland music in the 1950′s! It’s an amazing recording! There are no lyrics in this version, it’s all instrumental. In the beginning of the song, the clarinet leads all the instruments and then all the different instruments seem to take on a life of their own! There are banjos, trumpets, piano, loud bass percussion/cymbals. The pulse and tempo is extremely fast! Throughout each layer in the song, each instrument is doing their own separate performance. For example, the clarinet is constantly playing high and low notes. The percussion is very soft in some parts of the song and then the drums do their own solo performance! The timbre is very loud and the banjo plays the same chords over and over again. This song is a real trip! In my opinion, this song is dissonant because it sounds very tense. This song in major key….it sounds to me like there is a lot of tension in the brass instruments. There is constant call and response in the “Sheik of Araby”. It’s like the instruments are the voices who provide the magic in the music. It sounds to me that the banjo acts as the chorus and the clarinet acts as the main solo singer. This is simply an amazing piece of music. I am truly impressed. Even though there are lyrics to this song, I suppose Kid Clayton’s band chose to do an instrumental version. I really enjoy Kid Clayton’s work!!! Each musician is doing their own improvisation to make the song unique. For example, the piano solo sounds like ragtime music or 1890′s western music! This song has multiple layers yet the song as itself acts as a whole. The dynamics is extremely loud and I love that live studio sound! It really brings out the clarity in the music!
In comparison, the Beatles are playing the same tune, but they are playing in a rock and roll style. The Beatles were influenced by 1950′s rockabilly artists such as Elvis (they met him later in 1965!), Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino (New Orleans musician, singer of “Ain’t That A Shame” and ”Blueberry Hill”), Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Bill Haley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Interestingly, John Lennon released a solo album in 1975 called “Rock and Roll” in which he performed a impressive version of “Ain’t That A Shame”.
In the Beatles version, the song ends rapidly with Paul McCartney singing in the background.
The lyrics:
Well, I am a Sheik of Araby
Your love belongs to me
Well, at night when you’re asleep
Into your tent I’ll creep
The stars that shine above
Will light a way to love
You’ll rule this world with me
I am the Sheik of Araby
George repeats these lyrics over and over until the song is over. He is a master at holding the notes as he is saying the verse.
He contours the notes quite well. This song is so easy to sing along with!
George would later go on to write such classics as “Here Comes the Sun”, “Don’t Bother Me”, “I Need You”, “Taxman”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “All Things Must Pass”, “Something” and “My Sweet Lord”.
Sadly, George passed away in November 2001 after battling cancer. George Harrison is my hero (along with John Lennon and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr). I miss him terribly and I love to keep his musical legacy alive! He was such a wonderful musician and person!
Lastly, “The Sheik of Araby” is a magical song. Both versions are energetic and fun to listen to. It’s quite amazing to me how the Beatles version is interconnected with the older version of Kid Clayton.. They certainly knew how to play the magic of music! “The Sheik of Araby” is a New Orleans musical treasure!
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