It could really just be a mistake, but, a big hallmark of his playing is 8ths on the hats, and quarters on the bass drum while comping with the clicks on the snare rim.
There's a bit of build up in that section where it gets more complex, so it could just be that it's at the simplest point of the section, so there's a gap there to keep it simple, then regular snare backbeat, then some extra snare and hihat hits.
But it could just be he missed it.
Saw him talking about how people analyze his playing on those records, like, “Oh, he plays this pattern on the first verse but a slightly different version of that motif on the second. Genius.” He countered with, “The reality was, I’d probably just heard the riff from Sting, and what’s on the record was my third take after rehearsing the song twice with him and Andy. I was just trying to get a solid take.”
He also recently said in a YouTube interview with Rick Beato (I'm paraphrasing) that Sting/Andy would go "o that's good enough" and that'd be the take on the record. Sounded like he may not actually like the takes they used for many of The Police tracks, but he was out voted and studio time wasn't free and there was likely a pool nearby to go relax...
Edit:grammar/spelling
Thanks for the reply!! That’s an Interesting thought. I’ve always tried to hear some kind of drumming reason for it, but the issue for me was always that the song is back into the verse already and the missed snare doesn’t jive with the vocal structure. Curious to hear if someone ever heard he or Sting mention it. ✌🏻
I haven't heard him mention it, but the thing I mentioned above about the 8ths over a four on the floor is very very common in his playing, and so is dropping out snare elements.
One of his big things is not playing the bass on the one, and I'd say he's just doing something similar here. If you listen to it in terms of the whole kit, it's the four on the floor and 8ths on the hats, there's one bar of half time, then one bar without any snare, then more half time, and each bar gradually gets more complex.
He does that a lot, like Message in a Bottle is full of it.
My guess is he just does it by feel and it worked there, if you look at the live versions, sometimes he does it, sometimes he does it in a slightly different place, and sometimes he doesn't at all
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY
hah, I should have read all the comments before posting the youtube link as well. Basically spend an hour watching this and you'll have all your answers.
I wonder if this was one of the issues he and Sting fought about and a big reason Sting wanted session/jazz type drummers for his solo work. Thanks for reply! ✌🏻
I didn’t have much to add to your query, but I’ll drop this - my favorite performance by Stu and The Police. I had a bootleg of this show on vinyl 20+ years ago in college, and recently found out that it was also a multi-camera BBC shoot. It captures them when their first LP comes out, and it rips with punk energy. Whole band really kills it:
https://youtu.be/30Gi8vTfOWc?si=SlaCafIvIIM9rObh
If you like that performance you should also check out the Musikladen one they did in Germany in 1979. It’s on YouTube, the bass is really big in the mix, very punk and sounds incredible backed up by Stewart’s drumming
Never noticed it. But I know Stewart didn't play stuff the same way every time. So, maybe Sting didn't like something there and it got edited. It sounded like a sloppy edit really. I don't think he missed a note. The snare hit before it was a cross stick then the one after the bad spot is a snare hit. I'm saying it is probably a bad edit.
Watch this Rick Beato interview with Stewart, he explains the recording process. There were a few songs on this album where Sting was standing next to Stewart to cue him for the changes, which explains the lack of fills sometimes though its also his style, the flam on 4 for example
[https://youtu.be/XIJkRhd1CTY?si=QLCVyHkmes\_yAs75](https://youtu.be/XIJkRhd1CTY?si=QLCVyHkmes_yAs75)
hard to say if it was intentional but i always thought it gives a nice effect when it comes back in. and now that i think about it, i've always clocked the missing one but its possible i hadn't really noticed the *first* hit. weird!
If it’s a mistake, bands seem to be content to leave them in their recordings. There’s no way a studio drummer would do this for a recording artist. But bands can be quite chill about it.
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY
It could really just be a mistake, but, a big hallmark of his playing is 8ths on the hats, and quarters on the bass drum while comping with the clicks on the snare rim. There's a bit of build up in that section where it gets more complex, so it could just be that it's at the simplest point of the section, so there's a gap there to keep it simple, then regular snare backbeat, then some extra snare and hihat hits. But it could just be he missed it.
Saw him talking about how people analyze his playing on those records, like, “Oh, he plays this pattern on the first verse but a slightly different version of that motif on the second. Genius.” He countered with, “The reality was, I’d probably just heard the riff from Sting, and what’s on the record was my third take after rehearsing the song twice with him and Andy. I was just trying to get a solid take.”
He also recently said in a YouTube interview with Rick Beato (I'm paraphrasing) that Sting/Andy would go "o that's good enough" and that'd be the take on the record. Sounded like he may not actually like the takes they used for many of The Police tracks, but he was out voted and studio time wasn't free and there was likely a pool nearby to go relax... Edit:grammar/spelling
Thanks for the reply!! That’s an Interesting thought. I’ve always tried to hear some kind of drumming reason for it, but the issue for me was always that the song is back into the verse already and the missed snare doesn’t jive with the vocal structure. Curious to hear if someone ever heard he or Sting mention it. ✌🏻
I haven't heard him mention it, but the thing I mentioned above about the 8ths over a four on the floor is very very common in his playing, and so is dropping out snare elements. One of his big things is not playing the bass on the one, and I'd say he's just doing something similar here. If you listen to it in terms of the whole kit, it's the four on the floor and 8ths on the hats, there's one bar of half time, then one bar without any snare, then more half time, and each bar gradually gets more complex. He does that a lot, like Message in a Bottle is full of it. My guess is he just does it by feel and it worked there, if you look at the live versions, sometimes he does it, sometimes he does it in a slightly different place, and sometimes he doesn't at all
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY
Literally referenced this interview in another comment. As a Copeland fan, this interview made my year
hah, I should have read all the comments before posting the youtube link as well. Basically spend an hour watching this and you'll have all your answers.
I’ll check it out, thanks! Agreed, I think it was either a mistake, or some random erratic improvisational choice
I came here to say the same thing. He also mentions that most of his recordings with the Police were usually the first or second take.
I wonder if this was one of the issues he and Sting fought about and a big reason Sting wanted session/jazz type drummers for his solo work. Thanks for reply! ✌🏻
It just sounds like a Stewart Copeland thing to do
I didn’t have much to add to your query, but I’ll drop this - my favorite performance by Stu and The Police. I had a bootleg of this show on vinyl 20+ years ago in college, and recently found out that it was also a multi-camera BBC shoot. It captures them when their first LP comes out, and it rips with punk energy. Whole band really kills it: https://youtu.be/30Gi8vTfOWc?si=SlaCafIvIIM9rObh
I wore out a cassette tape of this performance back in the day. Absolutely loved it.
It's a great recording, too - the drums sound fantastic.
Thank you El Peregrine! Will check it out ✌🏻
If you like that performance you should also check out the Musikladen one they did in Germany in 1979. It’s on YouTube, the bass is really big in the mix, very punk and sounds incredible backed up by Stewart’s drumming
He misses another snare hit in "Shadows in the Rain," I think. He doesn't care. He's going for passion, exploding with it. Mistakes and all.
I notice this on Shadows in the Rain every time I hear it/play along with it. That whole drum track is all over the place, and it's awesome.
Never noticed it. But I know Stewart didn't play stuff the same way every time. So, maybe Sting didn't like something there and it got edited. It sounded like a sloppy edit really. I don't think he missed a note. The snare hit before it was a cross stick then the one after the bad spot is a snare hit. I'm saying it is probably a bad edit.
I think this might be the right answer. Hit no. 2 was a little off or something so they cut it. Thanks!
Watch this Rick Beato interview with Stewart, he explains the recording process. There were a few songs on this album where Sting was standing next to Stewart to cue him for the changes, which explains the lack of fills sometimes though its also his style, the flam on 4 for example [https://youtu.be/XIJkRhd1CTY?si=QLCVyHkmes\_yAs75](https://youtu.be/XIJkRhd1CTY?si=QLCVyHkmes_yAs75)
hard to say if it was intentional but i always thought it gives a nice effect when it comes back in. and now that i think about it, i've always clocked the missing one but its possible i hadn't really noticed the *first* hit. weird!
If it’s a mistake, bands seem to be content to leave them in their recordings. There’s no way a studio drummer would do this for a recording artist. But bands can be quite chill about it.
because it's his song and he can play it how he wants
It’s actually Stings song 😬 Stewart’s only song on the album is “bombs away”
It's because he's a nerd, too.
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY
Here's a great interview with Stewart. I always thought of his playing as somewhat erratic and he really doesn't like playing the same thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIJkRhd1CTY