Difference between revisions of "Roxanne (song)"

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|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
| <b>Released:</b>
 
| <b>Released:</b>
−
| [[1978-04-07]] (UK)  
+
| [[1978-04-14]] (UK)  
 
re-issue in April [[1979]]
 
re-issue in April [[1979]]
  
Line 43: Line 43:
  
 
He presented the song to the band at their rehearsal room in Finchley and they changed the Bossa Nova style to the rhythm we all know.
 
He presented the song to the band at their rehearsal room in Finchley and they changed the Bossa Nova style to the rhythm we all know.
 +
 +
There's a longer version from the [[Outlandos d'Amour]] sessions that lasts about four minutes.  Verse two is repeated with [[Sting]] singing it in a jazzy way - also changing some lines slightly to "I just have to tell you how I feel - I won't share you with another man" (!). The instrumental jam in the middle with just bass and drums is also extended.
 +
 +
[[Sting]] sang four different vocal takes and [[Nigel Gray]] combined the best bits to this longer version, which was edited down to the classic we all know.
  
 
When recording [[Outlandos d'Amour]] (initially for [[Illegal Records]]) at [[Surrey Sound Studios]] they presented the songs they had to [[Miles Copeland]]. He was indifferent until he heard [[Roxanne]].  
 
When recording [[Outlandos d'Amour]] (initially for [[Illegal Records]]) at [[Surrey Sound Studios]] they presented the songs they had to [[Miles Copeland]]. He was indifferent until he heard [[Roxanne]].  
Line 49: Line 53:
  
 
At the beginning of the song, during the intro, you can hear a strange piano chord, then [[Sting]] laughing.
 
At the beginning of the song, during the intro, you can hear a strange piano chord, then [[Sting]] laughing.
−
In fact, during the voice recording, [[Sting]] accidently sat on the piano just behind him.
+
In fact, during the recording of a fourth vocal track, a tired [[Sting]] sat down on the piano just behind him. As its lid wasn't closed a strange piano chord was created by [[Sting]]'s buttocks. They decided to keep this on the final mix.
−
They decided to keep this on the final mix.
+
Note that you won't hear it on the instrumental track, as it was recorded on a vocal track.
−
Note that you won't hear it on the instrumental track.
 
  
 
=Personnel=
 
=Personnel=
Line 59: Line 62:
  
 
* produced by [[The Police]]
 
* produced by [[The Police]]
−
 
−
=Ads=
 
−
This strange ad is from SOUNDS (April 22, [[1978]]) - promoting the original UK single release (back then you'd hear bits from the song when you called that number): [[Image:1978_04_22_Sounds_Call_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 
−
 
−
Another strange ad is from US radio magazine "Fred" (March 5, [[1979]]): [[Image:1979_03_05_Fred_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 
−
 
−
An ad for the [[1979]] re-release in SOUNDS (April 14, [[1979]]): [[Image:1979_04_14_Sounds_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 
  
 
=Release History=
 
=Release History=
Line 79: Line 75:
 
| [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
 
| [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
 
| [[1978-11-17]]
 
| [[1978-11-17]]
 +
| UK
 +
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 +
| [[Image:Police-album-messageinaboxthecompleterecordings.jpg|40px]]
 +
| [[Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings]]
 +
| [[1993-MM-DD]]
 
| UK
 
| UK
 
|}
 
|}
Line 95: Line 96:
 
| AMCD 905
 
| AMCD 905
 
| "[[Roxanne (song)|Roxanne]]" / "[[Canary In A Coalmine]]" / "[[The Bed's Too Big Without You (song)|The Bed's Too Big Without You]]" / "[[Can't Stand Losing You (song)|Can't Stand Losing You]]"
 
| "[[Roxanne (song)|Roxanne]]" / "[[Canary In A Coalmine]]" / "[[The Bed's Too Big Without You (song)|The Bed's Too Big Without You]]" / "[[Can't Stand Losing You (song)|Can't Stand Losing You]]"
−
| [[1988-06-01]]
+
| [[1988-04-25]]
 
| UK
 
| UK
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
Line 116: Line 117:
 
| AMS 7348
 
| AMS 7348
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Peanuts]]"  
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Peanuts]]"  
−
| [[1978-04-07]]
+
| [[1978-04-14]]
 
| UK
 
| UK
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
Line 248: Line 249:
 
| AM 363
 
| AM 363
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Synchronicity II]]"  
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Synchronicity II]]"  
−
| [[1986-11-DD]]
+
| [[1986-11-21]]
 
| UK
 
| UK
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
Line 272: Line 273:
 
| AMS 390 563-7
 
| AMS 390 563-7
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Every Breath You Take]]"  
 
| "[[Roxanne]]"/"[[Every Breath You Take]]"  
−
| [[1990-MM-DD]]
+
| [[1990-09-DD]]
 
| Germany
 
| Germany
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
Line 334: Line 335:
 
| Country
 
| Country
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
  
 
=Awards, nominations, and certifications=
 
=Awards, nominations, and certifications=
Line 382: Line 382:
 
=Lyrics=
 
=Lyrics=
 
'''Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.'''
 
'''Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.'''
 +
 +
* LP version:
 +
 +
<pre>
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Those days are over
 +
You don't have to sell your body to the night
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
 +
Walk the streets for money
 +
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
 +
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Roxanne
 +
Put on the red light
 +
etc...
 +
 +
I loved you since I knew ya
 +
I wouldn't talk down to ya
 +
I have to tell you just how I feel
 +
I won't share you with another boy
 +
I know my mind is made up
 +
So put away your make up
 +
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way
 +
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
You don't have to put on the red light / Roxanne
 +
Roxanne
 +
Put on the red light
 +
etc...
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
 +
* alternate version:
  
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
Line 393: Line 428:
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
−
Put on the red light, put on the red light
+
 
−
Put on the red light, put on the red light
+
I loved you since I knew ya
−
Put on the red light, oh
+
I wouldn't talk down to ya
 +
Have to tell you just how I feel
 +
I won't share you with another boy
 +
You know my mind is made up
 +
So put away your make up
 +
I just have to tell you how I feel
 +
I won't share you with another man
 +
 
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 +
Roxanne
 +
Put on the red light
 +
etc...
  
 
I loved you since I knew ya
 
I loved you since I knew ya
Line 407: Line 454:
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
 
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
−
You don't have to put on the red light
+
You don't have to put on the red light / Roxanne
−
Put on the red light, put on the red light
+
Put on the red light
 +
Roxanne
 +
Put on the red light
 +
etc...
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
 +
 +
=Ads=
 +
* this strange ad is from SOUNDS (April 22, [[1978]]) - promoting the original UK single release (back then you'd hear bits from the song when you called that number):
 +
[[Image:1978_04_22_Sounds_Call_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 +
 +
* another strange ad is from US radio magazine "Fred" (March 5, [[1979]]):
 +
[[Image:1979_03_05_Fred_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 +
 +
* an ad for the [[1979]] re-release in SOUNDS (April 14, [[1979]]):
 +
[[Image:1979_04_14_Sounds_Roxanne_ad.jpg|80px]]
 +
 +
=Reviews=
 +
* SOUNDS - April 15, [[1978]] review by Alan Lewis:
 +
 +
[[Image:1978_04_15_Sounds_Roxanne_review.jpg|200px]]
 +
 +
* Melody Maker - April 15, [[1978]] review by Ian Birch:
 +
 +
[[Image:1978_04_15_Melody_Maker_Roxanne_review.jpg|200px]]
 +
 +
* Record Mirror - April 15, [[1978]] review by Bev Briggs:
 +
 +
[[Image:1978_04_15_Record_Mirror_Roxanne_review.jpg|200px]]
  
 
=Quotations and trivia=
 
=Quotations and trivia=
−
The 7" single version of ''Roxanne'' sold over a half-million copies in the U.S. and would have qualified for Gold record certification under current rules set by the Recording Industry Association of America.  However, at the time of the song's release, singles were awarded with a Gold certification for sales of 1,000,000 units and a Platinum certification for sales of 2,000,000 units.  The change to certification of Gold status for sales of 500,000 7" units did not occur until January 1, 1989.
+
On [[1978-04-06 (The Police)|1978-04-06]] [[Stewart Copeland]] grabbed an advance copy of [[Roxanne]] from the DJ at the [[Music Machine]].
 +
 
 +
[[Andy Summers]] sent a single to Keith Richards who played it a lot during The Rolling Stones' US tour in the summer of [[1978]]. [[Keith Altham]] was forced to hear it and eventually became [[The Police]]'s publicist.
 +
 
 +
The 7" single version of ''Roxanne'' sold over a half-million copies in the U.S. and would have qualified for Gold record certification under current rules set by the Recording Industry Association of America.  However, at the time of the song's release, singles were awarded with a Gold certification for sales of 1,000,000 units and a Platinum certification for sales of 2,000,000 units.  The change to certification of Gold status for sales of 500,000 7" units did not occur until January 1, [[1989]].
  
 
=Alternate and cover versions=
 
=Alternate and cover versions=
−
An alternate version from the [[Outlandos d'Amour]] sessions lasted 3:59 minutes. Verse two was repeated with [[Sting]] singing it in a jazzy way. The instrumental jam in the middle with just bass and drums was also extended.
+
An alternate version from the [[Outlandos d'Amour]] sessions lasts 3:59 minutes.  
  
 
==Alternate versions==
 
==Alternate versions==
Line 458: Line 535:
 
=See also=
 
=See also=
 
* [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
 
* [[Outlandos d'Amour]]
 +
* [[1978-04-06 (The Police)|1978-04-06]]
  
 
=External links=
 
=External links=
Line 463: Line 541:
  
 
=References=
 
=References=
−
* Police, The. ''Outlandos d'Amour''. (1978) [Audio recording], A&M Records.
+
* [[Stewart Copeland]]'s diary ([[1978]] release date)
 
* ''ThePolice.com.'' UltraStar Entertainment LLC. 31 May 2008. <http://www.thepolice.com/discog/?v=so&a=2&id=219>
 
* ''ThePolice.com.'' UltraStar Entertainment LLC. 31 May 2008. <http://www.thepolice.com/discog/?v=so&a=2&id=219>
−
* personal information
+
* Craig Betts
 
* November [[1986]] release date from [[Outlandos newsletter]] - December [[1986]]
 
* November [[1986]] release date from [[Outlandos newsletter]] - December [[1986]]
 +
* [[1986]] UK press sheet provides the exact November 21 release date
  
 
[[Category:Songs (The Police)]][[Category:Songs (Sting)]]
 
[[Category:Songs (The Police)]][[Category:Songs (Sting)]]

Latest revision as of 00:50, 14 October 2024

"Roxanne"
1978 A&M single art for Roxanne.
Recorded by The Police
Released: 1978-04-14 (UK)

re-issue in April 1979

1979-04-05 (Japan)

Recorded: January - March 1978
Length: 3:12
Album(s): Outlandos d'Amour
Label(s): A&M
Writer(s): Sting
Producer(s): The Police
Studio(s): Surrey Sound Studios
Released as single? YES

"Roxanne" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police in 1978.

About the song

Sting had the idea for the song while being in Paris' red light district with The Police on 1977-10-20.

He presented the song to the band at their rehearsal room in Finchley and they changed the Bossa Nova style to the rhythm we all know.

There's a longer version from the Outlandos d'Amour sessions that lasts about four minutes. Verse two is repeated with Sting singing it in a jazzy way - also changing some lines slightly to "I just have to tell you how I feel - I won't share you with another man" (!). The instrumental jam in the middle with just bass and drums is also extended.

Sting sang four different vocal takes and Nigel Gray combined the best bits to this longer version, which was edited down to the classic we all know.

When recording Outlandos d'Amour (initially for Illegal Records) at Surrey Sound Studios they presented the songs they had to Miles Copeland. He was indifferent until he heard Roxanne.

Miles talked to people from A&M and got a record deal.

At the beginning of the song, during the intro, you can hear a strange piano chord, then Sting laughing. In fact, during the recording of a fourth vocal track, a tired Sting sat down on the piano just behind him. As its lid wasn't closed a strange piano chord was created by Sting's buttocks. They decided to keep this on the final mix. Note that you won't hear it on the instrumental track, as it was recorded on a vocal track.

Personnel

Release History

Albums

Roxanne appears on the following album releases:

Cover art Album title Release date Release country
Police-album-outlandosdamour.jpg Outlandos d'Amour 1978-11-17 UK
Police-album-messageinaboxthecompleterecordings.jpg Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings 1993-MM-DD UK

Singles

CD Singles

Cover art Catalog no. Songs Release date Release country
Police-compacthits.jpg AMCD 905 "Roxanne" / "Canary In A Coalmine" / "The Bed's Too Big Without You" / "Can't Stand Losing You" 1988-04-25 UK
Stub.gif AM 390 563-2 "Roxanne" / "Every Breath You Take" / "Message In A Bottle" (live) 1990-MM-DD Germany

7" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
1978roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-04-14 UK
Stub.gif AMS 6603 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-MM-DD Germany
Stub.gif AMS 6603 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-MM-DD The Netherlands
Stub.gif K 7376 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" YYYY-MM-DD Australia
Stub.gif K 7376 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" YYYY-MM-DD New Zealand
Stub.gif AM 01.09.1406 "Roxanne"/"Dead End Job" YYYY-MM-DD Peru
Stub.gif AMS 6603 " Hoxanne" /"Peanuts" YYYY-MM-DD Spain
Stub.gif AM 2096 (promo) "Roxanne"/"Roxanne" 1979-MM-DD Canada
Stub.gif AM 2096 (promo) "Roxanne"/"Dead End Job" 1979-MM-DD Canada
1979roxanne.jpg AM 2096 (promo) "Roxanne" (stereo) /"Roxanne" (mono) 1979-01-DD USA
Stub.gif AM 2096 "Roxanne" /"Dead End Job" 1979-01-DD USA
Stub.gif AM-70502 "Roxanne" /"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD Philippines
Stub.gif PAMS 7348 F "Roxanne" /"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD Portugal
1979roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD UK
Stub.gif AMS 6603 reissue "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD Germany
Stub.gif AMS 6603 reissue "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD The Netherlands
Stub.gif AMP-1029 "Roxanne"/"Can't Stand Losing You" 1979-MM-DD Japan
Stub.gif K 7376 reissue "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1980-MM-DD Australia
Stub.gif AM 8622 (Forget Me Nots reissue) "Roxanne" /"Can't Stand Losing You" YYYY-MM-DD USA
Stub.gif AMS 9211 (Do You Remember reissue) "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1982-MM-DD The Netherlands
Stub.gif AM-8622 (Memories reissue) "Roxanne"/"Can't Stand Losing You" 1985-MM-DD Canada
Stub.gif AM 8622 (Memories reissue) "Roxanne" /"Can't Stand Losing You" 1985-MM-DD USA
1986roxanne.jpg AM 363 "Roxanne"/"Synchronicity II" 1986-11-21 UK
Stub.gif AMS 390 161-7 "Roxanne"/"Synchronicity II" 1986-MM-DD Germany
Stub.gif AM 390 161-7 "Roxanne" /"Synchronicity II" 1986-MM-DD Spain
Stub.gif AM 118Y3039-2 (from The Police Box) "Roxanne"/"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 1987-MM-DD Japan
Stub.gif AMS 390 563-7 "Roxanne"/"Every Breath You Take" 1990-09-DD Germany
Stub.gif AM 75021 8622 7 (Memories reissue) "Roxanne" /"Can't Stand Losing You" 1996-MM-DD USA

12" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song(s)/B-side song(s) Release date Release country
1978roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1978-MM-DD UK
1979roxanne.jpg AMS 7348 "Roxanne"/"Peanuts" 1979-MM-DD UK
Radiosample.jpg SAMP 5 "The Bed's Too Big Without You"/"So Lonely"/"Can't Stand Losing You"/"Roxanne"/"Message In A Bottle"/"Walking On The Moon" 1980-MM-DD UK
Stub.gif AM 392 161-1 "Roxanne"/"Synchronicity II"/"Message In A Bottle" (live) 1986-MM-DD Germany
Stub.gif AM 392 161-1 "Roxanne"/"Synchronicity II"/"Message In A Bottle" (live) 1986-MM-DD Spain

Video

"SONG TITLE" appears on the following video and dvd releases:

Cover art Video title Release date Release country
Stub.gif Video or dvd title YYYY-MM-DD Country

Awards, nominations, and certifications

Awards

This section needs more information.

Year Winner Award Category
YYYY WINNER (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Nominations

This section needs more information.

Year Nominee Award Category
YYYY NOMINEE (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Certifications

This section needs more information.

Country Certifier Classification Certification
COUNTRY CERTIFIER (RIAA, IFPI...) CLASSIFICATION (Album, singles, foreign artist...) CERTIFICATION (Gold, Platinum, Diamond...)

Lyrics

Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.

  • LP version:
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
Put on the red light
etc...

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light / Roxanne
Roxanne
Put on the red light
etc...


  • alternate version:
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
Have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
You know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
I just have to tell you how I feel
I won't share you with another man

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
Put on the red light
etc...

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light / Roxanne
Put on the red light
Roxanne
Put on the red light
etc...

Ads

  • this strange ad is from SOUNDS (April 22, 1978) - promoting the original UK single release (back then you'd hear bits from the song when you called that number):

1978 04 22 Sounds Call Roxanne ad.jpg

  • another strange ad is from US radio magazine "Fred" (March 5, 1979):

1979 03 05 Fred Roxanne ad.jpg

  • an ad for the 1979 re-release in SOUNDS (April 14, 1979):

1979 04 14 Sounds Roxanne ad.jpg

Reviews

  • SOUNDS - April 15, 1978 review by Alan Lewis:

1978 04 15 Sounds Roxanne review.jpg

  • Melody Maker - April 15, 1978 review by Ian Birch:

1978 04 15 Melody Maker Roxanne review.jpg

  • Record Mirror - April 15, 1978 review by Bev Briggs:

1978 04 15 Record Mirror Roxanne review.jpg

Quotations and trivia

On 1978-04-06 Stewart Copeland grabbed an advance copy of Roxanne from the DJ at the Music Machine.

Andy Summers sent a single to Keith Richards who played it a lot during The Rolling Stones' US tour in the summer of 1978. Keith Altham was forced to hear it and eventually became The Police's publicist.

The 7" single version of Roxanne sold over a half-million copies in the U.S. and would have qualified for Gold record certification under current rules set by the Recording Industry Association of America. However, at the time of the song's release, singles were awarded with a Gold certification for sales of 1,000,000 units and a Platinum certification for sales of 2,000,000 units. The change to certification of Gold status for sales of 500,000 7" units did not occur until January 1, 1989.

Alternate and cover versions

An alternate version from the Outlandos d'Amour sessions lasts 3:59 minutes.

Alternate versions

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
Japanese Backing Track single.jpg AMP-782 "Every Breath You Take (backing track)"/"Roxanne (backing track)" 1983-MM-DD Japan

Cover versions

Cover versions of Roxanne appear on the following album releases:

Cover art Artist Album title Release date Release country
Reggatta Mondatta.jpg Aswad Reggatta Mondatta 1997-MM-DD The Netherlands
Policia cover.jpg Fall Out Boy Policia! A Tribute To The Police 2005-MM-DD USA
  • George Michael also did a cover version.

See also

External links

http://www.followtheleaders.fr/rox2006.htm

References

Retrieved from "http://thepolicewiki.org/Police_wiki/index.php?title=Roxanne_(song)&oldid=163236"