Difference between revisions of "Murder By Numbers"

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!  colspan="2" | <big>'''"Murder By Numbers"'''</big>
 
!  colspan="2" | <big>'''"Murder By Numbers"'''</big>
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
−
|  colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:breath.jpg|thumb|center|Every Breath You Take 7" cover (Murder By Numbers was the b-side...)]]
+
|  colspan="2" align="center" | [[Image:breath.jpg|thumb|center|[[Every Breath You Take]] 7" cover ([[Murder By Numbers]] was the b-side...)]]
 
|- style="background-color: #E6E6E6;"
 
|- style="background-color: #E6E6E6;"
 
!  colspan="2" | Recorded by [[The Police]]
 
!  colspan="2" | Recorded by [[The Police]]
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|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
| <b>Album(s):</b>
 
| <b>Album(s):</b>
−
| [[Synchronicity]] (CD)
+
| [[Synchronicity]] (Cassette / CD)
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
|- style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"
 
| <b>Label(s):</b>
 
| <b>Label(s):</b>
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=About the song=
 
=About the song=
−
The song was developed rather quickly at [[AIR Studios]] on Montserrat. Andy had the guitar chords, [[Sting]] had some lyrics. According to [[Stewart Copeland]] the very first take of that song ended up as the B-Side of [[Every Breath You Take]] 7" and on cassette versions of the [[Synchronicity]] album. Stewart played a long drum intro in the dining room, until Andy and [[Sting]] joined in. [[Jeff Seitz]] remembers that he and other roadies were instructed not to be too enthusiastic with their handclaps at the end - to give the impression of an unimpressed club audience.  
+
==Writing==
 +
[[Sting]] wrote the lyrics to a different melody, probably in mid-[[1982]].
  
−
This trivia and the fact that there seems to be a demo version of that song show that there had at least been some rehearsals prior to the one-take recording.
+
==Utopia demo==
 +
[[Sting]] recorded a demo at [[Utopia Studios]] which features this other melody. It was a rather run-of-the-mill up-tempo song with a drum machine pattern, guitars and bass. The lyrics however were completely in place.
 +
 
 +
The demo had the working title [[Nos 6]]. It lasts 3:25 minutes and can be found on the [[Synchronicity]] box set that was released on [[2024-07-26]].
 +
 
 +
==Montserrat recording==
 +
The song was developed rather quickly at [[AIR Studios]] on Montserrat. [[Andy Summers]] had the guitar chords, [[Sting]] obviously had thy lyrics in place. According to [[Stewart Copeland]] the very first take of that song ended up as the B-Side of the [[Every Breath You Take]] 7" and the cassette versions of the [[Synchronicity]] album. He often told the story that he was already playing the rhythm in the dining room, then [[Sting]] and later Andy joined in.
 +
 
 +
Stewart's memory might have been influenced by the long drum intro on the version that has been officially released - and he always likes to tell a good story. But in the original take - and it still '''IS''' a one take wonder - the song didn't start with a drum intro at all.
 +
 
 +
[[Sting]] counts the band in and plays the first bass notes right before that first bell you hear on the official release. Bass and guitar are playing throughout the whole song, but were muted for the „drum intro“ and the first verse. For the rest of the song only the occasional bum note and a [[Sting]] adlib were muted.
 +
 
 +
[[Jeff Seitz]] remembers that he and other roadies did their handclaps "live" (and not as overdubs) right after [[The Police]] finished their take. They had been instructed not to be too enthusiastic with their handclaps at the end - to give the impression of an unimpressed club audience.
 +
 
 +
[[Hugh Padgham]] however is sure that "they were definitely not recorded live when the band played the song".
  
 
=Personnel=
 
=Personnel=
−
* Sting - bass, vocals
+
* [[Sting]] - bass, vocals
−
* Stewart Copeland - drums
+
* [[Stewart Copeland]] - drums
−
* Andy Summers - guitar
+
* [[Andy Summers]] - guitar
  
 
* [[Danny Quatrochi]], [[Jeff Seitz]], [[Tam Fairgrieve]] - handclaps
 
* [[Danny Quatrochi]], [[Jeff Seitz]], [[Tam Fairgrieve]] - handclaps
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| [[2005-03-23]]
 
| [[2005-03-23]]
 
| Japan
 
| Japan
 +
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF;"
 +
| [[Image:Every_Move_You_Make.jpg|40px]] [[Image:Flexible_Strategies.jpg|40px]]
 +
| [[Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings]] / [[Flexible Strategies (album) | Flexible Strategies]]
 +
| [[2018-11-16]]
 +
| UK
 
|}
 
|}
  
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=Quotations and trivia=
 
=Quotations and trivia=
−
[[Jeff Seitz]] originally remembered that the song was done at [[Le Studio]], but [[Stewart Copeland]] and [[Hugh Padgham]] are sure that it was already done on Montserrat - the long drum intro seems to confirm that.
+
[[Jeff Seitz]] originally remembered that the song was done at [[Le Studio]], but [[Stewart Copeland]] and [[Hugh Padgham]] are sure that it was already done on Montserrat.
  
 
=Alternative and cover versions=
 
=Alternative and cover versions=
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* Police, The. ''Synchronicity''. (1983) [Audio recording], A&M Records.
 
* Police, The. ''Synchronicity''. (1983) [Audio recording], A&M Records.
 
* [[Stewart Copeland]], [[Hugh Padgham]], [[Jeff Seitz]]
 
* [[Stewart Copeland]], [[Hugh Padgham]], [[Jeff Seitz]]
 +
* Fabio Trentini (demo info after listening to [[Pete Smith]]'s tapes)
  
 
[[Category:Songs (The Police)]][[Category:Songs (Sting)]][[Category:Songs & Compositions (Andy Summers)]]
 
[[Category:Songs (The Police)]][[Category:Songs (Sting)]][[Category:Songs & Compositions (Andy Summers)]]

Latest revision as of 14:00, 12 August 2024

"Murder By Numbers"
Every Breath You Take 7" cover (Murder By Numbers was the b-side...)
Recorded by The Police
Released: 1983
Recorded: December 1982
Length: 4:36 minutes
Album(s): Synchronicity (Cassette / CD)
Label(s): A&M
Writer(s): Andy Summers, Sting
Producer(s): The Police, Hugh Padgham
Studio(s): AIR Studios
Released as single? B-SIDE

"Murder By Numbers" is a song written by Andy Summers and Sting and recorded by The Police in 1982.

About the song

Writing

Sting wrote the lyrics to a different melody, probably in mid-1982.

Utopia demo

Sting recorded a demo at Utopia Studios which features this other melody. It was a rather run-of-the-mill up-tempo song with a drum machine pattern, guitars and bass. The lyrics however were completely in place.

The demo had the working title Nos 6. It lasts 3:25 minutes and can be found on the Synchronicity box set that was released on 2024-07-26.

Montserrat recording

The song was developed rather quickly at AIR Studios on Montserrat. Andy Summers had the guitar chords, Sting obviously had thy lyrics in place. According to Stewart Copeland the very first take of that song ended up as the B-Side of the Every Breath You Take 7" and the cassette versions of the Synchronicity album. He often told the story that he was already playing the rhythm in the dining room, then Sting and later Andy joined in.

Stewart's memory might have been influenced by the long drum intro on the version that has been officially released - and he always likes to tell a good story. But in the original take - and it still IS a one take wonder - the song didn't start with a drum intro at all.

Sting counts the band in and plays the first bass notes right before that first bell you hear on the official release. Bass and guitar are playing throughout the whole song, but were muted for the „drum intro“ and the first verse. For the rest of the song only the occasional bum note and a Sting adlib were muted.

Jeff Seitz remembers that he and other roadies did their handclaps "live" (and not as overdubs) right after The Police finished their take. They had been instructed not to be too enthusiastic with their handclaps at the end - to give the impression of an unimpressed club audience.

Hugh Padgham however is sure that "they were definitely not recorded live when the band played the song".

Personnel

Release History

Albums

Murder By Numbers appears on the following album releases:

Cover art Album title Release date Release country
Police-album-synchronicity.jpg Synchronicity 1983-MM-DD Country
40px At The Movies 1997-MM-DD Japan
40px My Funny Valentine: At The Movies 2005-03-23 Japan
Every Move You Make.jpg Flexible Strategies.jpg Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings / Flexible Strategies 2018-11-16 UK

Singles

7" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
Breath.jpg AM 117 "Every Breath You Take"/"Murder By Numbers" 1983-05-20 UK
Breath pic.jpg AMX 117 "Every Breath You Take"/"Murder By Numbers" 1983-05-27 UK
Breath double.jpg AM 117 + AM*01 "Every Breath You Take"/"Murder By Numbers"/"Man In A Suitcase (live)"/"Truth Hits Everybody (remix)" 1983-06-03 UK

12" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song(s)/B-side song(s) Release date Release country
Stub.gif Catalog no. "A-side song"/"B-side song" (add more songs as necessary) YYYY-MM-DD Country

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. 

Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art

There really isn't any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone's coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess

It's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC

Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less

Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore

Because it's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC

Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our greatest killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name

But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand

Because it's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your A B C D E

Quotations and trivia

Jeff Seitz originally remembered that the song was done at Le Studio, but Stewart Copeland and Hugh Padgham are sure that it was already done on Montserrat.

Alternative and cover versions

Alternative versions of Murder By Numbers appear on the following album releases:

Cover art Artist Album title Release date Release country
Stub.gif Frank Zappa (with Sting) Broadway The Hard Way 1989-05-25 Country
Policia cover.jpg Maxeen Policia! A Tribute To The Police 2005-MM-DD USA

See also

This section needs more information.

External links

This section needs more information.

References

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