Too Fast?

[TheEqualizer]

I've been thinking about this lately . . .

In my younger days, I used to LOVE how fast the Police would play live. To me, speed would equal energy.

However, now that I'm a bit older and grayer, I'm starting to wonder if additional speed is actually a detriment to some of the songs live rather than an improvement.

I think the 2007-08 tour made evident that Truth Hits Everybody definitely benefits from being played faster live. However, I'm starting to believe that Hole in My Life is better when played at the tempo during the 07-08 tour in comparison to prior tours.

It should be noted that I think the problem I have with the sped up versions sometimes is not with the bass, guitar, or drums, but with Sting's vocals. They just sound so hurried.

Any thoughts on how speed affected the performance of any particular songs live?

[Rusty James]

Always liked a frenetic song like CSLY.

[zilboy]

I really enjoyed the Tourzilla version of Truth Hits. It was closer to the original. I've never been crazy about the old '79 live versions - too fast and very sloppy. Wish Stewart would have stuck the tubular bells back in the Guitar solo, though. He could have triggered them with his foot.

I've never liked Hole In My Life, so...

Hated the live version of Fallout as well for the same reasons as Truth Hits.

Used to love the hyper version of Next To You, but I also dig the original. I did not like it during Tourzilla. Lost it's edge.

[secretjourneyranch]

I agree. I really liked the 07 version of Truth.

Speed was one of the main rifts in the band.
Sting HATED it, and Stew didn't seem to know HOW to slow down.
In the various concert clips and what not you can see Andy turning around and shouting at Stewart, you can find Sting shouting at Stewart, I bet even Seitz raised an eyebrow now and then.

The man was not much of a timekeeper in those days.
When the Police were on stage in the 79 80 era it was open warfare, not 3 men in concert.
Must've worked though.

Sting got it under control by Zenyatta.

[smax]

do i remember stewart saying during ES:TPIO tour that when he listened back to the tapes it was often the bass playing element speeding things up?

i like what they did to the songs from zenyatta onwards on tourzilla, and even tho "Can't Stand" and "Next To You" sounded , erm, rockin' at the gigs... now i listen back i still want those early songs to have more bite and noise.

On those Truth Hits sessions / rehearsal tapes from 83-ish you can hear Andy saying something like "i don't know why we are ruining a perfectly good song"... i think i agree with him....

i agree with you, EQ, about "truth HIts" from tourzilla, but can't completely agree with "Hole in my Life": i didnt really understand why they picked it other than it gives gordo the chance for more audience-baiting sing-a-long stuff, the song kinda leaves me cold now that it's morphed from quirky tune on Outlandos to something a bit more cabaret and regular.

you gotta love that shot of andy at pink pop mouthing "too fast".....

[Johnny O]

Too fast????
Too fast?!?!?!?
Is Christmas too Chistmasy? Is butter too buttery? Are the Clash too clashy?
If you're going to play in Stewart's band, you better keep up with the big guy! It's HIS train and we're all just stowaways.

[smax]

good point, but actually Butter is waaaaaaaay to Buttery.

[policerule]

I agree that sometimes the songs were too fast on occasion in the early days, but I still think that they should have been played faster on the tour. It's my only gripe with 07-08, but we've discussed that at length.

[Maud138]

I agree that sometimes the songs were too fast on occasion in the early days, but I still think that they should have been played faster on the tour. It's my only gripe with 07-08, but we've discussed that at length.

I agree! Most songs were far too slow.

[Shangeris]

I agree that sometimes the songs were too fast on occasion in the early days, but I still think that they should have been played faster on the tour. It's my only gripe with 07-08, but we've discussed that at length.

I agree! Most songs were far too slow.

I agree absolutely! My first thought was that in every concert you hear the songs are played way faster but in the 07-08 tour they played it too slow... they should have found an compromise between playing the songs too fast and too slow.

[plutonic]

do i remember stewart saying during ES:TPIO tour that when he listened back to the tapes it was often the bass playing element speeding things up?

I think it was at Savannah last year, but I can't remember when this quote came from. Maybe one of the docs. Stewart mentioned something about meeting Vinnie Colaiuta. Vinnie complained about Sting's rushing live. Could be just an entertaining stew story. But I think it's true.

i like what they did to the songs from zenyatta onwards on tourzilla, and even tho "Can't Stand" and "Next To You" sounded , erm, rockin' at the gigs... now i listen back i still want those early songs to have more bite and noise.

Agreed.

EQ makes an interesting point about the rushed vocals.

[TheEqualizer]

[quote="Maud138"][quote="policerule"]I agree that sometimes the songs were too fast on occasion in the early days, but I still think that they should have been played faster on the tour. It's my only gripe with 07-08, but we've discussed that at length. [/quote]

I agree! Most songs were far too slow.[/quote]

I agree to an extent. However, as PR noted, we have discussed the slowness of some songs to death. I just wanted to raise a counter point to see if anyone thought that in addition to some songs being dragged to death by being too slow, some were too fast.

Eh. That's what I get for not going to La Jolla. Running out of topics on which to post.