"Bombs Away" Questions

[jerseyfan]

I love Bombs Away. It's one of my favorite Police songs. I love everything about that song- the lyrics, vocals, drumming, bass and, especially, the guitar. And the song is all-around unique.

Did Andy play all the guitar parts? What guitar did he play? The beginning is so minimal yet it so enhaces the song. Then the solo is also great.

It's the Police at their best.

I could not find info on this song anywhere. Perhaps Jeff knows the 411. How about the man himself?

Thanks.

[secretjourneyranch]

Allow me to speculate...

The rhythm guitar parts are very Klark Kentish...very Rumblefish (Tulsa Tango comes to mind) so its easy for me to say Copeland played those plucky parts. The solo is too complex to be anybody but Andy. The bass guitar sounds too busy for an experienced bass player...almost like a guitarist switched over to bass, so its might be Stewart or Andy. One thing I'm certain of is who's on drums and who's on vox...

[jerseyfan]

secretjourney, that's very interesting and very plausible speculation.

You reminded me a Stewart quote from the Message in a Box booklet, where he's talking about A Sermon. Here's what Steweart said: Andy let me play most of the guitar, including the intro riff. He did the clever riff in the middle."

It's quotes like this that drive me crazy. Stewart is such a great musician and song writer. Yes, he's one of all-time great drummer. Yet he's really so much more. I wish that he would have kept writing pop songs. It's not too late.

[jeffseitz]

I wasn't present for the recording of this song but a few observations.
The intro chords were produced by a keyboard synth called a Roland 505 played by SC. And yes, it was used extensively on Rumblefish and Rhythmatist.
Counter guitar melody lines and backbeat rhythm parts are probably Stewart, very KK.
Guitar solo is definitely Andy. Telecaster on most of this record.
Bass I believe is Sting, possibly Andy.
The vocals are a combo of Sting and Stewart.
I hope this clarifies somewhat.

[jerseyfan]

Thank you, jeffseitz.

That post was very interesting and really informative. Those chords are so unique. Roland! I would have never guessed. Stewart's vocals on the song! Did not figure that one, either.

[Pezish]

Bombs Away...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fred-and-Friend ... 58aba86ed3

[jeffseitz]

[quote="Pezish"]Bombs Away...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fred-and-Friend ... 58aba86ed3[/quote]

Ha Ha Ha Funny!

[giovanni]

I talked to Stewart about the lyrics and their meaning, while I was writing the book about the meaning of every Police and Sting track (it was released in 2010); that's what he said:
'It's a sort of Romeo & Juliet, as I was writing about an impossible love story among a female soldier and a guy from the opposite army. Doesn't it sound romantic?'

Gio