My Police Best Drum track poll!

[dontboxmein]

What is not on here Is "No Time This Time"...incredible track!!!!!

[Wait and See]

>>>Yes...he did exactly what they (or perhaps mainly Sting) wanted. That's what good engineer's and producers do.<<<

I don't know. I can imagine he might have urged them to do many more takes in an attempt to get the sound exactly right. After you play anything enough times, you start get sick of it, and it comes through to the listener. That's probably the best way of describing what's wrong about Synchronicity to me-- there is absolutely no spontaneity in it.

>>>I find your comment about Synchronicity amusing though...as Zenyatta is clearly the most "pre-packaged Pop for the Top 40 masses" album. Synchronicity may have ended up being played more in the Top 40, but the sound and musical approach was far more sophisticated, artsy and esoteric than anything else in the Top 40 at the time.<<<

Again, I have to point to the fact that Padgham was later responsible for Phil Collins's "No Jacket Required". You don't get any slicker, more clinical pop music than that album. He did get a great drum sound for Phil Collins, though. I'm not taking that away from him.

>>>Zenyatta was my first real Police album, and was my favourite for a long time. I couldn't understand why even the band said that it wasn't their best work...but now after many years, and after learning all about how that came about, I can understand where they are coming from. There was an awful lot of filler on there....but it was great to listen to.<<<

I don't think Zenyatta is their best album-- I think Regatta is-- but I think it's their best *sounding* album. The sound of the rhythm section is first and foremost for me, and I think they nailed it on that one.

[blueboy]

[quote="Wait and See"]Again, I have to point to the fact that Padgham was later responsible for Phil Collins's "No Jacket Required". You don't get any slicker, more clinical pop music than that album. He did get a great drum sound for Phil Collins, though. I'm not taking that away from him.[/quote]

I'm failing to see the argument here. All I can make of it is that you hate Phil Collins. Again... good producers make the "artists" vision happen. He doesn't put his signature all over everything like Mutt Lange as an example.

Synchronicity sounds nothing like No Jacket Required...other than that it was engineered to a high standard. I think you need to read those articles a little more thoroughly again to understand the role Hugh played. Essentially at that point in his career, he was still a glorified engineer.

Yes, I too was driven to tears by the barrage of Phil Collins on the radio in the '80s...but that was Phil Collins, playing Phil Collins music, recorded the way Phil Collins wanted it to sound. As an engineer, Hugh Pagham created the famous Phil Collins drum sound, but he didn't write Su Su Sudio for god's sake! Face Value sounds nothing like No Jacket. He also did (IMO) Sting's best album Ten Sumner's Tales which is different again. It's kind of interesting how all of the albums he has worked on sound different, and are a true reflection of where that artist was at that point in their career and at that time in music history.

That's what good producers do.

If you want someone to blame about the direction the Police took...try emailing Sting@Sting.com.