STEWART COPELAND

What happened to the drums on Every Little Thing She Does is Magic on the Every Breath You Take DVD? The drums are completely different from the album version even though it is supposed to be a studio track. Also, the drums are far inferior to the album version. I'm even starting to question whether its Stewart? Why would they change the drum track?

To make things stranger, in the extras section of the disc, they have the ELTSDIM video again, but there it has the original drum track.

Weird!

By the way, is it just me or does the sound on that whole DVD kind of suck?

I wondered the same when I finally bought that disc a few weeks ago.....a buuuuuhhh?!?! I have to agree on the sound....it pales in comparison to the 5.1 Synch concert. Now if only they'd make a version where they mix out the doo-wop babes....ugh.

There are some weird mixes throughout the "regular" section of the DVD. Did you notice the echo on Stewart's snare at the beginning of CSLY? Or how about the absence of Andy's guitar chords on WOTM, especially on the chorus?

I'm guessing that the drums on "Magic" were one of the many takes Stew had to do while recording the tune. If you recall, Andy and Stewart were pulling their hair out trying to come up with parts that were equal to or better than those on Sting's demo. Finally, after the 3rd day or so, Stewart snuck in and recorded right over the demo, and that was the take that wound up in the final mix.

I can only imagine how frustrated he must have been. I can just hear him saying, "Oh yeah? Well, how about THIS, Motherf@#$er!" as he played his ASS off!

That's what we finally hear in the bonus section for the Jools Holland documentary. That take is one of his best drum tracks. It has everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink and without all that energy, the tune would not be the smash hit it was.

FYI the DTS EBYT the Classics CD has the same mix as the DVD (or vice versa since the CD came out first). I'm guessing when they went to remix in 5.1, they pulled from the masters and screwed with our drumming memories by using different tracks and mixing it differently than the original.

I will say that I LOVE how the bass line on Message really shines in the 5.1 mix. I also felt like I had discovered a new country when I first heard that different drumtrack on ELTSDIM- as much as I love the original, it was neat to hear a different interpretation!

Speaking of remixes...

What do you guys think of the "Classic Rock Mix" on "Message?" I'm not crazy about it. It's almost too "treble-y" for me. The drums are in your face, but they're too dry and the bass is pushed back in the mix. The flams at the beginning sound almost like they were done on an old "Synare." The only good thing about it is that you can really hear all the high harmonies on the vamp at the end.

Any thoughts?

Maybe I'm missing something. What mix are you talking about? On the DVD? If so, I agree that the mix stinks.

On the CD. It's either the or last next-to-last track.

[quote="zilboy"]Speaking of remixes...
What do you guys think of the "Classic Rock Mix" on "Message?" I'm not crazy about it. It's almost too "treble-y" for me.
Any thoughts?[/quote]

I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that this track was one mixed for radio airplay back in the days when it was a single. Since album tracks sound different once they've been broadcast, very frequently they'll remix them slightly in order for them to sound better on home radios (and don't forget that in 1979, mono portable radios were still very common--and AM radio was still a major player in Top 40/Popular radio, which was strictly mono).

I could be totally wrong on this, but it's possible the "Classic Rock" mix may just be one they made for airplay. Someone found in one of the tape boxes, and decided to add it as a "bonus".

I thought there was something wrong with my headphones when I first popped in the DVD. There are other tweaks to the songs that have been covered in past threads. The tracks they chose are simply alternate versions; there's an extra guitar lick in Can't Stand for example. The most noticeable are Spirits and Every Little Thing. I ran those thru my board at work and burned them on CD. I don't question why they chose to do it, but it certainly is a welcome gift.

Thanks for the info, Krok! I hadn't thought of that!

I really liked the "Classic Rock Mix" of MIAB - whilst it missed a couple of Andy licks on ending of the first chorus , it seemed fuller and sounded really fantastic turned up really loud!

Wouldn't want the whole catalogue to be treated in the same way mind you!