The Police

[The MPCist]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

I know they did some records in A&M studio A - A Range Trident. I made a record on it.

Isn't that particular console at a project studio...? Think it was Slam Slack or something.... Steve Reid's place...

[Kris]

From Tree Sound Studio's (Atlanta) website:

The centerpiece of Tree Sound Studios is an SSL 4000 E/G console, serial #11 - the eleventh SSL ever made! This console has some of the coolest vibes, having been Le Studio's A room console, installed in 1980. One of the first bands to use it was Rush for the recording of "Moving Pictures". They also worked on it for some of "Exit...Stage Left" and "Signals". The Police also utilized old #11 for some of the recording of "Synchronicity" and "Ghost in the Machine". The console lived at Le Studio until it was sold in 1985 and changed hands several times until 1991 when it ended up at Chesire Sound in Atlanta. Tree Sound acquired the console in 1993, where it continues to yield great sounding records, and will cruise on into the next century.

[Jules]

Henry Padovanti - had a gig as A&R man at IRS in the late 80's.

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by Jules

Henry Padovanti - had a gig as A&R man at IRS in the late 80's.

Really? Interesting. What's he doing now? Any idea?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Jeff Goodman]

Originally Posted by The MPCist

Isn't that particular console at a project studio...? Think it was Slam Slack or something.... Steve Reid's place...

Yes, that TSM now belongs to Steve Reid.

Jeff

[kats]

I thought I'd share that I had seen the Police when they were touring Zenyatta Mandatta. Worst light and sound show that I can remember - really really underwhelming - most energy I've ever felt at a show - they were really giving er hell. Copeland by far stole the show...I was only a few feet away from him - wierdest look on his face when playing the drums, as if someone had clubbed him in the head.,...seriously bonkers.

Lost interest in the band after they discovered they had something important to say

[AjD]

For more fuel to the theory that the raw (earlier) Police sound is mostly Copeland's influence, check out Klark Kent - Copeland's late '70s (roughly 1978-80) nome de plume as a solo artist.

Copeland released several singles, starting in '78, playing all the instruments and even singing, performing under the name Klark Kent. There's a 1980 self-titled LP that collects several cuts. It's very Police-like.

From an online review:

Stewart's alter-ego, Klark Kent, released this album whereupon he sang and played all instruments (including guitar, bass, drums, piano and kazoo.) The impetus for this new identity would seem drawn from Stewart's growing frustration with Sting, and these are likely songs Stewart penned that Sting refused to perform and record with the band.

The similarity to the early Police sound is obvious... Those who enjoy the Police sound of Outlandos... and Regatta... should definitely make a point to check these recordings out.

Adam
drawingroom

[hociman]

Originally Posted by themaidsroom

does anyone know a great record that
stewart copeland has made in the last couple
of years ??

I don't think of it as a great record, but he collaborated with Trey Anastasio and Les Claypool to form Oysterhead. The record is titled The Grand Pecking Order.

[hociman]

Originally Posted by Frequency

Ghost in the machine and Synchronicity sound modern still today. Padgham is great.

Padgham is why I wanted to get into this industry. Sqye, tell Hugh I typed this! He sure doesn't know me, but it might make his day. It was my own decision to move to post though. I'm not sure if I'll ever make it back to music.

[hociman]

Originally Posted by Jules

they were not real punks,

Indeed. There is even a page in Message in a Box where all it says is "The Police: Pretend Punks" with a shot of Sting with Blond hair (must have been around the time of the Wrigley's movie promo).

Originally Posted by Jules

had jobs teaching at private schools,

Sting

Originally Posted by Jules

in an ad agency

Must've been Andy.

Originally Posted by Jules

and one was the son of a rich ex CIA director.

Stewart

Originally Posted by Jules

(all uncool attributes in the day and age of punk rock street cred

Does that make Stewart the most un-cool one?

[hociman]

Originally Posted by cgarges

Did Nigel Gray do much after the Police records? I always loved those records and don't recall ever really seeing his name after that.

Don't know, but Nigel created the opening for Hugh Padgham. Page 40 of Message in a Box has the details.

[hociman]

Originally Posted by cgarges

He is a great engineer, but he only did two of the five Police records and he didn't really have anything to do with "Dream Of The Blue Turtles."

The Message in a Box notes don't have engineer credits (WTF? ), but as far as I can tell Padgham engineered/produced Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity. Laurie Latham is credited as producer for Don't Stand So Close to Me '86, which is all The Police could muster in what was supposed to be the sessions for their sixth album. I wonder if they used Hugh for that work at all?

[hociman]

Originally Posted by cgarges

Are you talking about the Strontium 90 record with Mike Howlett or something else?

That wasn't a record. It was a concert where Sting was invited, and Stewart played because the drummer that invited Sting backed out. Howlett's guitarist was...Andy Summers.

Originally Posted by cgarges

I think there was an earlier single vesion of "Fall Out," too. I can't remember if Henry Padovanti is on that or not.

He is.

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by Tubthumper

....Apparently Stuart once wrote F*CK OFF YOU C*NT across his 4 rack toms as an acknowledgement of his undying admiration for the Sting thing.

If you look at Zenyatta's record sleeve (the one with all the pictures on it), there are a number of photos that contain Copeland's drum kit, including the toms that contain those words. Needless to say, my 9-year-old mind was blown when i saw those curse words on my drum hero's skins! hahahahaha!
-J

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by cgarges

He is a great engineer, but he only did two of the five Police records and he didn't really have anything to do with "Dream Of The Blue Turtles."

Ask him about the Sheryl Crowe record.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

Thanks for correcting my stats - I KNEW I shouldn't have been so lazy before typing

FWIW - I'm really not a fan of most of Dream of the Blue Turtles - not my cup of tea - WAY too much "Mudslide for Jesus" organ IMHO, I know I'm probably one of the only ones who thinks this.

And I (and everyone in the industry knows all about the Crow record, especially after the VH1 special). Hey, they (hugh and Sheryl) tried - and the sound wasn't what she felt comfortable with. I admire her for being brave and confident enough to stick to her guns as an artist. My favorite of her records is hewr 2nd one - the one SHE produced - she's an amazing musician/ artist. Nothing but respect here.

Hugh is amazing, though. And a GREAT guy to work with.

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by hociman

Padgham is why I wanted to get into this industry. Sqye, tell Hugh I typed this! He sure doesn't know me, but it might make his day. It was my own decision to move to post though. I'm not sure if I'll ever make it back to music.

When I found out that Hugh wanted me to produce the last record I worked on with him, I literally cried. It was one of the highest tips of the cap I've received in this industry as a producer/songwriter/engineer/programmer. The project was called Luminous, and was not released in the UK, but will be released here soon.

For a guy who's record sounds helped to shape some of my musical perceptions as a teenager, I was extremely honored. And he did engineer my favorite "sounding" Police albums.

[David Herbert]

Stewart Copleland definitely put the Police together, the line up, sound (punk/reggae), and image. Not to take away from Sting or Andy Summers- I doubt that anyone else could have written Sting's songs or polished the sound as Andy Summer's guitar did.
Stewart Copeland is an amazing drummer, but when I saw him with Oysterhead he was rushing the beat painfully. Still the most creative drummer in rock (without being wanky). So energetic.
I am facsinated by the theory IRS was funded by the CIA. The Police always had a sense about them that there was something deeper and more mysterious going on. If this is so, let's have out with it! The cold war is over.
David

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by hociman

The Message in a Box notes don't have engineer credits (WTF? ), but as far as I can tell Padgham engineered/produced Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity.

Yeah, ummm... that would make two of the five. I have the vinyl as well as the CDs and the box set.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by hociman

That wasn't a record. It was a concert where Sting was invited, and Stewart played because the drummer that invited Sting backed out. Howlett's guitarist was...Andy Summers.

Half the record is live (a monitor mix, actually). The other half is a demo session that Howlett put together before the gig. According to Howlett, it's the first time Sting, Stewart, and Andy ever played together. February '77 at Virtual Earth in London. The gig was May 28th in Paris. Howlett claims that he saw Sting before he saw Andy and that Sting brought Stewart along to the session. Take that as you will.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Ruphus]

Originally Posted by Sqye

I admire her for being brave and confident enough to stick to her guns as an artist. My favorite of her records is hewr 2nd one - the one SHE produced - she's an amazing musician/ artist. Nothing but respect here.

Agreed, that´s my favourite too.
Listening to her phrasing on that album I always think it sounds so refined like if she had been coached, but indeed she must have produced it herself, and that´s really admirable work.
I´m listening to "Edemption Day" as mix reference a lot. Not that I´d come even close, but anyway. Wonder what mic is on her vocals, and the verb on the bass sounds much like an RSS to me.

Ruphus

[stevep]

Apparently they would just play the different sections of the songs for long periods of time and when they got the different sections or some of the transitions feeling good, they'd just splice them together. Same thing goes for the tops of the tunes and all the drum solos at the end of "No Time This Time." A lot of times at the top of a tune, they would just edit in at the top of a drum fill and unmute Sting and Andy on "one."

I love it! so much creativity ..... And no undo with a razorblade !

Aha The good old days.......

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by hociman

The Message in a Box notes don't have engineer credits (WTF? ), but as far as I can tell Padgham engineered/produced Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity. Laurie Latham is credited as producer for Don't Stand So Close to Me '86, which is all The Police could muster in what was supposed to be the sessions for their sixth album. I wonder if they used Hugh for that work at all?

Even during the Synchronicity sessions, the Police were fighting so much, Hugh begged Dennis (Muirhead -- criminal defense attorney, and one time honcho at Sun Studios - and very nice gentleman, I might add) to get him off of the project. Hugh said it was miserable - Stewart would come in and track drums, then Sting would come in and erase the tracks - it was NUTS. According to Hugh, it happened juts the way it was descirbed in a popular article that was circulating about the band during those times. I can't remember which, but you guys could probably find it if you did a search on Hugh and Synchronicity. Those were awful days in the studio for Hugh.

But GREAT records

[Drumsound]

I agree whole heartedlly that the Police were much greater than the sum of the individual players. I saw Andy Summers a couple weeks ago and is was good, but not special (though he did a beautiful version of 'Round Midnight). Sting has gotten so boring that saying his name makes me sleepy. Stewart Copeland shaped the sound of the group, but is obnoxious as a person and as a player.

There I said it!

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

There I said it!

Blasphemer!

When did you meet Stewart?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by cgarges

Blasphemer!

When did you meet Stewart?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

I know that would get you going!



I've seen and read a lot of interviews. I could be wrong about him as a person...

[Frequency]

I've met Stewart through the Internett several times, and friends of mine have met him personally.

He is the nicest and funniest guy in the world. And any interview with him is always highly entertaining. He's a comedian.

Check out www.stewartcopeland.net or www.stewartcopeland.co.uk.


Someone wondere what Henry Padovani is doing these days. Well, he released a record this year, On one of the songs he reunited the original Police with Sting on bass and Stewart on drums.

For more info, check out
http://www.henrypadovani.com/

[AshleySmith06]

Originally Posted by zarembo

isn't Hugh Padgham going to be a guest moderator here sometime soon?


wouldn't that be nice....

Yes it would!!! Any news on that?

[juniorhifikit]

Originally Posted by Frequency

Someone wondere what Henry Padovani is doing these days. Well, he released a record this year, On one of the songs he reunited the original Police with Sting on bass and Stewart on drums.

For more info, check out
HenryPadovani.com

I worked on that a little - both the track with Stuart and the one with Manu. Never met either one, and not sure if they used my mixes. Henry seems a nice guy.

[JP11]

I do believe The Police are the last band to do what The Beatles did...

hugely popular, lots of big hits and big albums...

yet good!

well done, well written, intellectual and arty, eclectic to a degree (not nearly as The Beatles)...easy to listen to and yet interesting lyrically and musically...

I don't think there's been a band since...has there?

[monkeyxx]

I am a little younger, I must have been victim to the lack of Police praise post-breakup. the day I put Outlandos D'Amour in my CD player on the recommendation of a friend was, uh, kind of a blow away moment. I think I must have listened to it for a month straight. making up for years of missing out. (last month, I just discovered Nirvana !!)

count me a fan of Stewart Copeland's drumming, Sting's excellent vocals, and Andy Summers' wickedly smooth guitar thing