Every Little Thing... story by Jean Roussel

[Dietmar]

I've been to Paris on August 26 to meet journalist Gert Bruch for a joined interview of keyboarder Jean Roussel at his home near Paris.

Jean is a cool guy with a very nice home.
He told us about his musical history and about recording demos with Sting in the winter of 1980/1981.

One of the most entertaining stories was not about The Police, but about recording No Woman No Cry for Bob Marley. This song was composed by another guy and Bob wanted to do him a favour to earn some money. So - although he didn't think the song was any good - he decided to include the song on his album anyway. As the original recordings done in Jamaica were not good enough to be released that way the songs for album were polished in London - including Jean Roussel playing keyboards.
He had 45 minutes to do whatever he wanted on No Woman No Cry. When he had finished the now legendary keyboard parts Bob listened to the new recording and recognized that his original thoughts about the song were oh so wrong. And his pal earned quite some money with the song he wrote.
Listen to the original studio version NOW!

About recording Every Little Thing with Sting. Sting was on vacation in Canada - basically just for skiing. But the place up in the mountains where he crashed was also a recording studio. So he did the obvious thing and recorded demos. Jean was asked to join Sting and the owners of the studio for a dinner and then Sting and Jean went into the studio to work on Every Little Thing as Sting wanted to include keyboards.

Jean mentions that some studio guy interrupted the recordings and asked if anybody wanted some tea. Jean is sure that his question can be heard on the demo and probably on the Ghost recording as well.

Because when the Police tried to re-record Every Little Thing on Montserrat they didn't get anywhere near the demo's quality. So they had Jean flown in for a week, worked on that song together - still getting nowhere. Then they used the original demo as a guide track and Stewart played his drums to the existing sounds of the demo. (Andy probably did his guitar overdubs later, as Jean doesn't remember Andy playing anything at all!).

So the question is - where on that track is this guy asking if anyone wants some tea?
I've listened to the demo version and I guess I might have found the spot, but I might be imagining things. It's not as you really understand words...
I've already arranged that a musician I know tries to filter out the instruments at this particular spot to be able to hear voices a bit louder.

Maybe you want to listen to the demo and the Ghost recording, too - loudly - on your headphone - and let me know if you hear anything ...

I don't want to tell you where I think this might be - so I won't influence your perception.

OK, Paris - August 28 - Gert interviewed me about my experiences with The Police and Stewart and filmed some memorabilia I had brought with me for that occasion.
I showed some flyers, tickets, buttons, singles, Gateshead socks and the MSG shirt. Doesn't smell anymore!

So Gert is still filming. I don't want to talk about his plans, but it's a sign that he has not given up on eventually showing all the work he's been doing over the past years to the public !

Dietmar

[smudge]

Oh Dietmar. Thank you so much for the information. Loved the No Woman No Cry story - and SO good to hear Gert is still battling on - fingers crossed for him. But I may have to kill you re. the tea teaser. I choose to believe you are winding us up.

[njperry]

So this is a different demo of Every Little Thing than the one that appears on Strontium 90's Police Academy, right?

[Dietmar]

a) not pulling anyone's leg
b) yes, that would be one of the "Ghost demos" - they're in circulation - maybe even on youtube

Dietmar

[sockii]

Awesome stuff, thanks Dietmar. And keeping fingers and toes crossed for Gert...

[conroy]

Wooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Thanks for sharing, Dietmar and glad to hear Gert's quest perseveres!!!!

[MariaH]

Thats awesome. Now I have an excuse to break out the vinyl tomorrow with purpose.

Its just amazing how the stories keep coming out after so much time. Thanks, Dietmar. Will report back if I find/hear anything.

Also-keeping fingers & toes crossed for Gert.
[rumor has it that Gene & Mark may have something together in Jan. too]

[luddite lady]

Thanks for sharing Dietmar. I really enjoyed the "No Woman No Cry" story. That has always been one of my favourite Marley songs. (Just yesterday I was listening to the concert of Bob Marley at the Oakland Coliseum which I downloaded from Wolfgang's Vault on Wednesday. Good stuff!)
That's also very good news about Gert. I'm glad to know he has not given up the fight.
As you listen for the talk of tea on ELTSD, may I suggest that the offer could have been made in French.The studio is in the French speaking part of Canada and Jean Roussel is French as well. After all, we are talking about tea in the Laurentians, not Tea in the Sahara. For those who have taken up Dietmar's challenge, this adds a new wrinkle. The French words for some tea sound like "do tay".

[stevel]

Great read Dietmar really interesting I'll bet you could fill a book with this sort of stuff ....

[policerule]

I swear that I remember Stewart talking about Sting going away on a ski trip and coming back with the demos & making reference to keyboard parts and this drum machine/recorder that he used (I forget what it was called)... Did I dream this? Help?

Very cool story, Dietmar. Thanks for sharing!

I'll try to listen to the demo and the finished song, but I'm not sure that I have good enough headphones to pick up what you're talking about.

[njperry]

[quote="policerule"]I swear that I remember Stewart talking about Sting going away on a ski trip and coming back with the demos & making reference to keyboard parts and this drum machine/recorder that he used (I forget what it was called)... Did I dream this? Help?

Very cool story, Dietmar. Thanks for sharing!

I'll try to listen to the demo and the finished song, but I'm not sure that I have good enough headphones to pick up what you're talking about.[/quote]

You should use the headphones you showed in your prior avatar. They looked good.

[masayo]

Thank you so much for sharing us your story.
That was very interesting.
and I'm glad to know that Gert's still working on his film
Can't wait to watching it...I'm crossing my fingers for him & his works,too.

[Ramuthra]

I have the ghost in the machine demos but there is no demo for ELTSDIM...AU SECOURS!!!!

[TheEqualizer]

Great story.

I'm getting nothing when listening to the demos, though (i may have blown out my ears listening to Them Crooked Vultures a bit too loud).

[Dietmar]

I had a music producer listen to the song over and over again after working on it with equalizers. He couldn't find it either. So I've now just asked Jean Roussel agian to identify the spot.

Dietmar