Odd questions about Stewart Recordings

[cpriddims]

I have many wierd drum geek questions about Stewart's past. Here are a few for now.... Do you have any? Maybe we can bond together and figure some answers out!

1. On "Shadows In The Rain" off Zenyatta...did Stewart intentionally hit both sticks on the rim in the middle of the song or did he miss the rim shot? And do you ever feel the downbeat (like I do) in a different place than where it really is on that song?

2. What is "the other way of stopping?"

3. Are his "Excesses" still getting the better of him?

4. I have a long list of guesses as to which Police album correspondes to which Klark Kent track. We all know Klark 'snuck' in to the studio to make some illegal tracks during each Police session! Someone should have been watching the studio more closely!

More to come later...

[cpriddims]

Just a wild guess.......

The Klark Kent tracks "Stay Ready" and "Strange Things Happen" I think are outtakes from the rhythmatist cd that were never released. I also think it sounds like Sting singing backing vocal on the chorus for "Strange Things Happen." Maybe I have been living under a rock, but I have never heard any statements from Stewart about this. Anyone?? Am I close? Dead wrong? help!

BTW..what's up with all the analog signal path noise on Rhythmatist when Stewart is narrarating? Was it just cheap equipment?

Just more things that urk me. I know... I've got Stewart issues.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

So do we all, dear.

I have no idea off the top of my head on any of this, but I'm betting somebody here will!

[Popcorn Blizzard]

I'm confident that that is Sting singing backup on "Strange Things Happen" and "Stay Ready." I believe he also chimes in on the refrain for "Love Lessons." His contribution is uncredited though. Maybe Dietmar, our resident Police scholar, can confirm this.

[jedsoon]

i'll chime in with a few unsubstantiated opinions:

i have no idea when "stay ready" was recorded, but "strange things happen" was originally issued as the closing song to texas chainsaw massacre 2 and can be found on the soundtrack album, released in the same year as the rhythmatist. of course, both tunes were made available on 1995's klark kent compilation.

stylistically, they don't seem to fit in with the rhythmatist album, which is more about the melding of western sounds to african rhythm. i'll grant that "strange" DOES fit in sonically, even lyrically with those tunes, but its also from the same era, so it stands to reason. i can't imagine sting singing backup for stew by that point, since the group was mostly kaput by then.

as for noise in the narration, i get it all the time when using a mike for vocals, and i have cheap equipment, so that sounds like a great explanation!

i've heard stewart say precious little regarding his solo career overall. i think its because interviewers ask the wrong questions. all the more reason for him to write a book someday!

[STEWART]

Yes that was a missed rim-shot on “Shadows” (so shoot me)
The other way of stopping is the other way of ending a song.
My excesses aren’t that excessful any more.
No connection between Kent (PBUH) and Police albums.
Nor with Rhythmatist.
Backing vocals by a Kent acolyte named Derek Holt.
Sorry about the analogue signal path noise. (whatever that is)

Glad some of you have noticed how cool a player Jeff Seitz was and is.

Thanks for all of your kind words about the movie. I loved making it.

[Popcorn Blizzard]

Oops. I was wrong about the backing vocals. Who better to correct me than Stewart himself!

[georgygirl]

Nice answers...

Wishing you good luck in your show tomorrow

[cpriddims]

Thanks Stewart for actually reading this forum and even responding! That means alot to all of us.

I guess I can cancel my therapy session this week since you answered all those questions!

I am glad you missed the rim shot on Shadows. It's one of the many things that make your recordings so wonderful and spontaneous. No need to apologize for anything you've ever done on recordings. I am not complaining! I just wanted the security of knowing. Sorry I was off on the other things. I am still guessing that the same kits were used on some of the KK stuff but that's common knowledge I guess?

[Popcorn Blizzard]

Here's an odd question. At the end of the song "On Any Other Day," we hear a high-pitched chipmunk voice singing "Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday to you!" Did Stewart electronically manipulate his or Sting's own voice to get this effect? Was it merely a sample? Or did Alvin of Alvin and the Chipmunks contribute the vocal? Perhaps Alvin was trying to shake off his image as a kids' artist and show he could hang with the big boys?

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Hey Stew!! Best of luck with the Gizmo gig, which I'm betting is nearly over by now (it's 10 PM CST). I'm sure I speak for a goodly number of us when I say we're all there in spirit.

Thank YOU for making such an awesome movie, and - aw shucks - for being a cool guy. I've been a fan for about a million years, but there's just something about that narration with you and Andy that reminded me again of why I'm still here. I can't think of many others who'd see things quite the way you guys do...here's to many more years of fan appreciation for the both of you.

((Subliminal note: Make more movies...make more movies... Oh, and re-release the Klark Kent CD, willya?? I can't seem to get my mitts on a copy that isn't $90US...although I'm betting someone on the forum here may be willing to hook me up with a dubbed copy.))

[cpriddims]

WOW!

I watched the "Everyone Stares" dvd last night. Great job Stewart. I really liked all the 'derranging' you did with the audio tracks. Also, It was very refreshing to see all that new footage behind the scenes. Very appropriate ending I must say too!

You guys really did have a great time and I am glad you commented that you actually had more fun than fights. People always talk about you guys fighting and that's why you broke up. You gave us the real answers!

I will be sure to spread the word here amongst us drum geeks and Police fans in Atlanta. I am also planning on showing it in my music appreciation class if it's ok with you.

[cpriddims]

Here's another one I always wanted to know...

The beginning of Roxanne....

What happened at the beginning of the track when Andy starts? Did the tape machine have troubles getting started? Was Sting's laugh planned or a reaction to what he heard?

Maybe this is old news, but I ain't dun herd it yet.

[olivier]

[quote="cpriddims"] Was Sting's laugh planned or a reaction to what he heard? [/quote]

Sting's laugh is the reaction of the weird piano chord at the beginning.
Sting just sat accidentally in the keyboard behind him just before singing his part.

[Dietmar]

I guess I've read this in ACCOMPANYING THE POLICE, but I can't find the page right now:

Indeed the tape machine was an old one which had to run a few seconds to get to the correct speed. Andy started too early with the guitar so it sounds that strange now for eternity.

I love that the POLICE's songs sound - in a way - perfect to my ears. But then when I revisit them there's always a lot to discover. Slight mistakes which make the recording even more interesting, because it's NOT perfect.

Andy missing a beat on Roxanne. Strange clicking noises at the start of Don't Stand. The rim shot on Shadows.

One thing which was a mystery to me was the place of the first snare beat on King Of Pain. It took me years to understand that it's kind of logical where it is. But still very strange. If I try to play the beat as on the record I only manage it about 1 of 4 times...