A FORGOTTEN GEM

While watching Demolition Man on T.V. last week, I remembered this little gem that I had on cassette. Well, it didn't take me long to track down an out of print copy of it on CD. While only the first song on this CD is from the movie, the remaining 5 tracks are live cuts from Sting's July 25, 1993 show in Italy. Along with his 2 live cuts from The Secret Policeman's Other Ball CD, these are the best live cuts by Sting that you've probably never heard. Definitely worth the time and trouble of tracking down (like I did).

A magnificent "It's probably me" version

The live version of "It's probably me" is brilliant!... I have heard it many times and its getting better and better. My hope is that Sting collects his best live recordings (also for the recent material) on a CD, and this version of "It's probably me" should be included.

Sting delivers bite on "Demolition" maxi single

By C.S.

Since his widely publicized departure from the almost legendary trio The Police, Sting has expanded his musical horizons on more than one occasion in his solo career. Some of his moves have beeen widely criticized for being soft ventures into new territory from hard -core Police fans, while others have decided to grow with the former school teacher.
"Demolition Man", a track that originally unveiled itself on The Police's "Ghost In The Machine" LP, is re-worked for the Sly Stallone Wesley Snipes film of the same name and offers some interesting live tracks as well.
The "Soul Power Mix" is Sting's first true blue venture into hip- hop and it is a dazzling piece of work with it's lively machine driven drum beat and matching vocal riff. This is one of the rare instances that a re- worked track struts an identity of it's own and certainly rates as one of Sting's funkier musical moments.
He adds a punchier and warmer sounding tonation to his bass playing than the "Ghost In The Machine" version on the single release from the film,which also contains orcestrial synth stabs that are ill -placed and dilute some of the live backbone away fro m it's strong foundation. Nevertheless,this was the re-work that was pressed for radio airplay, but anyone that picked up this maxi- single wuld concur that the bonus of the package are the live cuts.The first of these is the potent "It's Probably Me".
This was the third version of the song that was thrown out to the masses with the first being the bass- oriented blues tinged version with Eric Clapton from the Jason Patric / Jennifer Jason Leigh film "Rush",the second the more free flowing minus the drums take on Sting's "Ten Summoners Tales" LP, and the third re-incarnation offering some great rhythm guitar solos and an unlikely yet effective off beat tempo at the chorus that qualifies it to be a well done hybrid of the first two creations.
Unfortunately,I recieved the single package with the Beatles track "A Day In The Life" but minus the live version of "King Of Pain" from the last Police LP "Synchronicity". Anyone looking for some insight as to the quality of that particular piece of work on a liuve scale will have to re- visit my review upon recieving another copy of this single and/ or take in the commentary by the wide panel of individuals that recieved the single package with every song that was mentioned in the track listings on this site.
Overall, even with the omission of "King Of Pain' on this version of the single, the "Demolition Man" single,based on the brilliance of the the "Soul Power Mix" and the live take on "It's Probably Me",is a strong and entertaining enough one- two combination to find itself landing on solid three star ground with four star possibilities upon further review.

C.S.
7-8-03