Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (song)

From PoliceWiki
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
the US single cover
Recorded by The Police
Released: 1981-10-DD (UK)

1981-10-21 (Japan)

Recorded: January 1981 - 1981-07-26
Length: 4:20
Album(s): Ghost In The Machine
Label(s): A&M
Writer(s): Sting
Producer(s): Hugh Padgham
Studio(s): AIR Studios, Montserrat
Released as single? YES

"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police in 1981.

About the song

According to the liner notes of the CD "Strontium 90: Police Academy" Sting already recorded his "solo" demo version at Mike Howlett's house in the autumn of 1976.

In the winter of 1980 / 1981 Sting recorded another demo version at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Canada - together with keyboarder Jean Roussel. In August 2009 Jean mentioned that some studio guy interrupted the recordings and asked if anybody wanted some tea. He is sure that his question can be heard on the demo and probably on the Ghost recording as well. While recording his vocal takes Sting played a cymbal (after the 3 minute mark). As the demo would eventually become the basis for the LP track that cymbal can actually still be heard on Ghost In The Machine (as well as the vocal tracks and the keyboards from that demo) - only hidden by Stewart's drums.

The Police eventually recorded the definitive version of that song at AIR Studios. The police-ified versions that they tried over the course of five days didn't quite work.

An alternate slightly faster version features Stewart counting in. The song's structure and main arrangement are similar to the LP version, but the drums are way different, as are the vocals in the chorus and the few keyboards. Andy repeatedly plays a few new guitar tones in the long extended end - which also features various vocal takes and way more lines of Sting's "Do I Have To Tell A Story..." repetition. When you think the song is almost done at 4:44 minutes the drums pick up speed again, bringing this early take to a whopping 5:25 minutes !

The beginning of this alternate version can be heard in Stewart Copeland's movie Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out.

The only way the song would really shine was to use the actual Sting / Jean Roussel demo as a guideline and adding overdubs. A step towards that version we all know is the alternate version that can be heard on DTS releases (with different guitars & drums). The "Ghost demo" that's in circulation seems to be another step into the right direction as it features many parts from the original Sting demo but also includes Andy Summers' Roland GR-300.

Personnel

Release History

Albums

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic appears on the following album releases:

Cover art Album title Release date Release country
Police-album-ghostinthemachine.jpg Ghost In The Machine 1981-10-02 UK
Police-album-messageinaboxthecompleterecordings.jpg Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings 1993-MM-DD UK
Every Move You Make.jpg Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings 2018-11-16 UK
Ghost picture disc.jpg Ghost In The Machine (picture disc) 2022-11-04 worldwide

Singles

CD Singles

Cover art Catalog no. Songs Release date Release country
Stub.gif Catalog no. "Song"(s) YYYY-MM-DD Country

7" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
EveryLittleThing UK.jpg AMS 8174 "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"/"Flexible Strategies" 1981-10-DD UK
Everylittlethingusa.jpg AMS 8174 "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"/"Shambelle" 1981-MM-DD USA

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

"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" appears on the following video and dvd releases:

Cover art Video title Release date Release country
Police-everybreathyoutakethevideo.jpg Every Breath You Take: The Videos 1986-MM-DD Country
Police-everybreathyoutakethedvd.jpg Every Breath You Take: The DVD 2003-04-07 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.

Though I've tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve
As I've done from the start

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met
It's a big enough umbrella
But it's always me that ends up getting wet

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

I resolve to call her up a thousand times a day
And ask her if she'll marry me in some old fashioned way
But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone?

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Every little thing
Every little thing

Quotations and trivia

This section needs more information.

Alternative and cover versions

Alternative versions

Cover versions

Cover versions of Every Breath You Take appear on the following album releases:

Cover art Artist Album title Release date Release country
Reggatta Mondatta.jpg Chaka Demus & Pliers Reggatta Mondatta 1997-MM-DD The Netherlands
Policia cover.jpg Anadivine Policia! A Tribute To The Police 2005-MM-DD USA

See also

This section needs more information.

External links

References

  • Police, The. Ghost In The Machine. (1981) [Audio recording], A&M Records.
  • 1992-04 Bass Player (use of the H van Zalinge Electric Stand-Up Bass)
  • Hugh Padgham
  • Juke - December 5, 1981 (recording over five days)