Belle and Sebastian's third, and most popular album, The Boy With The Arab Strap was released on 7th September 1998 and won the band the Brit Award for Best Newcomer in February 1999. 

The eponymous title track has become one of the most popular Belle and Sebastian songs and an iconic symbol of the live shows; no Belle and Sebastian show is over without fans being invited onstage to dance to ‘The Boy With The Arab Strap’.

The album was recorded in Glasgow at CaVa Studios during 1998. Videos were made at that time for Is It Wicked Not To Care and Dirty Dream #2 (directed by Lance Bangs).

Joining Stuart Murdoch on song writing duties on this album for the first time were band members Stevie Jackson, Isobel Campbell and Stuart David.