Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

The Zoo Crew is spinning the infectious "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police, from their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, for all the Zoo Freaks tuning in. This song, a vibrant blend of new wave and reggae, has a fascinating backstory. Originally penned by Sting in 1976, it was recorded as a demo in the home of Mike Howlett, capturing Sting’s raw talent with just an acoustic guitar, bass, African drum, and a TEAC 4-track recorder. This early version, later released on the 1997 Strontium 90: Police Academy album, showcases the song’s roots as a heartfelt acoustic ballad before it evolved into the polished hit we know today. Sting revealed in a 2025 interview that the song was inspired by his now-wife, Trudie Styler, adding a personal layer to its lyrics about unrequited love and romantic yearning.

The recording process for "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" was not without drama. Sting collaborated with French Canadian keyboardist Jean Roussel on a demo in early 1981, which the band’s record company instantly pegged as a hit. However, when The Police recorded the track at AIR Studios in Montserrat, tensions arose. Guitarist Andy Summers was frustrated by Roussel’s extensive piano parts, feeling they strayed from the band’s signature sound, famously remarking, “What the f**k is this? This is not the Police sound.” Drummer Stewart Copeland, on the other hand, found Roussel’s contributions more palatable, noting he was “just like us.” After struggling to “Police-ify” the track with various arrangements, the band ultimately overdubbed Sting’s original demo, with Summers adding guitar and Copeland layering drums, preserving much of the demo’s magic. This compromise led to the song topping charts in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and reaching No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Another quirky tidbit comes from Jean Roussel, who recalled a studio moment during the 1981 recording where a technician interrupted to ask if anyone wanted tea—a question that may have been captured on the final track. Additionally, Sting’s playful cymbal crash after the three-minute mark, played during his vocal takes, remains faintly audible in the Ghost in the Machine version, hidden beneath Copeland’s drumming. The song’s B-side, “Flexible Strategies,” was an improvised jam whipped up in ten minutes to meet the record company’s demand for a B-side, showcasing the band’s spontaneous creativity. Fans on Reddit’s ThePolice community often praise the song’s infectious energy, with posts like one from user djsoomo on X highlighting its recording at Le Studio in Quebec, a spot also used by Rush.

The Police, formed in London in 1977, consisted of Sting (lead vocals,bass), Andy Summers (guitar), and Stewart Copeland (drums). The band’s origin story began when Copeland, an American drummer with a background in progressive rock, met Sting, a Newcastle-born bassist and singer, in the UK’s burgeoning punk scene. Sting, then playing in a jazz-rock outfit called Last Exit, was spotted by Copeland, who was impressed by his charisma and voice. They joined forces with guitarist Henri Padovani, but the lineup solidified when Summers, a seasoned musician with stints in Soft Machine and The Animals, replaced Padovani. The trio’s early days were gritty, with Sting recalling in his book Lyrics By Sting that in 1976, he was broke, living in London with “no money, no prospects, nowhere to live,” and only Copeland’s phone number as a lifeline. Their punk-influenced, reggae-infused sound, honed through relentless gigging, caught attention with their debut single “Roxanne” in 1978, propelling them to global stardom as pioneers of the New Wave movement.

Fans can connect with The Police through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share throwbacks like a 2023 post about a 1982 live performance of “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” in Gateshead. For deeper dives, PoliceWiki offers a treasure trove of fan-curated info, from song histories to tour details. The Police Fans Facebook group is a vibrant hub for Zoo Freaks and beyond to discuss favorite tracks and share memorabilia. Though the band disbanded in 1986, reuniting briefly in 2007-2008, their legacy endures, with “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” remaining a timeless anthem of love and longing.