The Police LIVE - The Bed's Too Big Without You (FYYC's 16min 'The Magic Is In The Middle' Live Mix)

Warning: only for enthusiasts!
This mainly concerns the audio: a 16 minute version of TBTBWY! The connoisseurs among you know that The Police often improvised ´intermediate pieces´ during their live performances. Pieces that did not appear on the studio versions of those songs. Initially simply because there was insufficient material to fully fill the agreed time for a show. But it quickly became a trademark of the band. For me this is the place where the real magic happens…! Where you can taste the raw energy from their early days and the beauty of the interplay. Where you can hear how the band experimented with throwing punk, rock, reggae and jazz influences into one musical blender. Even so many years later, those live intermediate pieces are still enchanting to me.
Nowadays, there are many live performances of TBTBWY available. But certainly not all equally top, especially in terms of sound quality. That is why I have selected some beautiful intermediate pieces and compiled them into one new (live) song. You can probably find them all on the web these days, but I used my own old crispy clear tape recordings and bootlegs from back then. They all date from their early years, 1979 and 1980, so I didn't use any later reunion tour versions. Early gigs from these years just sound so much better than when they hit the stadia later on. With the necessary creativity, this resulted in a live TBTBWY version of over 16 minutes. I also have a 33 minutes (!) version, even more extreme, but I don't dare to feed you that one (yet). In addition to the hypnotic middle section, listen also to the beautifully pulsating drums with which Copeland introduces the song, and which can be heard so clearly on the version used here.
And then the video. Since most of the audio used is not captured on film, what you hear is (mostly) not what you see. This applies to all audio, except for the Rockpalast performance (WDR, Hamburg 1980). So it was still quite a puzzle to produce a matching video. Hope you like it though.
By the way. I am a pure enthusiast, and have no rights to the footage used. Except from the Hamburg gig as mentioned, it comes from 'Don Kirshner's Rock Concert' gig (Los Angeles, 1980), 'Gusman Auditorium' gig (Miami, 1979), and the trailers from 'Cant Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police' (2015) and Everyone Stares - The Police Inside Out (2019).
Okay people, you have been warned, enjoy your meal!
If you like this enlarged version, you might also enjoy my remix version of the original studio-version, see: • The Police RENEWED - T...

[@DrGray_Drummer]

2023, and this would be a hit today. Copeland, Summers, and Sting. It's what god intended

[@victornorris1691]

I love this song ill never get fed up with it and I'll be soon 73 yrs of age, god bless you all

[@ukok8177]

What a sound , compare to what you hear today, its untouchable

[@rg2027x]

exactly..

[@GAPBYGAP]

So true,👍🏻

[@neilhunt835]

Andy was a very likeable classmate in Bournemouth UK in the 50s. Obviously Jazz lovers all its a real treat to see him & co letting loose here! KOOL STUFF!

[@Realg-ol4mx]

What a great memory I have of this song. I'm 59 years old now.

[@fyyc]

Thanks for sharing! Already returned inside your body, Real? 😉

[@tennislegendsonlineretrotennis]

I think this is really the most inventive and magical channel on KZbin. I honestly think Sting, Stewart and Andy would absolutely love it!

[@fyyc]

🙏🙏🙏 Hope so Solar...no sign of life untill now though... 🤔

[@DrGray_Drummer]

It's definitely great!

[@Emelefpi]

Andy was never known for blistering solos, but the sounds, vibes, and moods he could get out of his guitar were so mentally and spiritually transporting - especially when he was allowed to let loose in concert like he does here. I really enjoy his guitar work on live versions of 'Walking in Your Footsteps' from the '83 '84 Synchronicity tour

[@thomasburns6655]

Absolutely the greatest live performance band ever. You could see 10 shows on the same circuit and never hear the same version of a song twice.

[@DrGray_Drummer]

I completely agree. I don't think Stewart Copeland could play a song the same way twice if he wanted? He's just groovin', busy and at the same time playing for the music. The only other drummer I've seen play like that was Bonham. It's amazing how Copeland and the Police fooled the masses into believing they were playing "Pop" music.

[@thomasburns6655]

@@DrGray_Drummer - If you ever watch Omar Hakim, he's got that same thing. Amazing!

[@TheKinoEye]

One moment I'm in Miami, then suddenly I'm front row, in Cali at Don Kirshner's Rock Show. Am I now in Germany? I dont care. Time is irrelevant. The impression permanent. The music eternal. Let's go! Jah!

[@stevenknight8280]

Jazz and reggae you get the police

[@raymondcuadrado4404]

One of the best song ever by the police

[@nikosvitsilakis]

Have a nice trip in your mind even if the bed is tooooo big without you

[@aldopeer]

16 minutes in heaven....... No words....

[@aldopeer]

FYYC, I'm an avid, Dutch fan of The Police and saw them for the first time back in 1978, in Amsterdam. At that time I started to play drums and so, like every starting musician, I was looking for examples and inspiration. Then there was Stewart Copeland playing at The MilkyWay in Amsterdam and my faith was sealed. This was the man to follow! Still nowadays, I'm always scanning KZbin for TBTBWY-live versions and especcially because of those jamming/improvisation parts. I'm always mesmerized, almost hypnotized because of those magical moments. Such chemistry, so well gelled, they feel and communicating with eachother in such a wonderful way musically during those moments. This mix is awesome and yes, bring the 33 minutes version on!

[@fyyc]

Aldo, really many thanks for your nice and even moving comment. I did / do the same thing, sounds like I found a musical soulmate :-)

[@Auntkekebaby]

The second jam is the most creative live version I've heard yet. Trance. Sounds like you mixed a few live jams together. Go search and listen to ALL the live versions. SICK!!

[@gabedestellano]

The live Tokyo bootleg version of this song is UNBELIEVABLE... The over-delay on his voice and the drum mix are fucking stellar.

[@nattyhead5988]

Wicked creativity. Nice one. The Police...what a band.

[@fyyc]

Thanks Ianier!

[@ukok8177]

Who ever you are mr. FYYC, you really deserve my fullest respect , you made The police sound live longer and this a treat for a fan since 1979... Love 💕 please make more ...

[@fyyc]

Thanks UKok, but uhm...mr. KNNY?

[@nothingman2976]

I agree!!!

[@jasonbostic8051]

So glad I found this!

[@dynjarren8355]

This is music made by three consummate musicians! Who were advanced enough on their instruments 🎸 that they knew how to improvise like Jazz players. Brilliant! And I appreciate your new mix’s. I applaud you! Thanks! 👏🏻🎸😎

[@fyyc]

Dyn, you just made my day...🙏

[@Mike-uu9dm]

Their live Power outta this

[@chrisbrennan2891]

In all do respect sir!! You are a Person with a special soul ! God hay blessed you i wish i felt the same but I do! Grateful for life ,,! And so much more,ive been through hell and am always fighting the fight snd and also trying to just be !! take a break and a breath . You have helped tons of people and me , like so many say ,I Now see so much and never new exactly what was going on in certain songs until you my brother with all your work you have done and and i listen bti everything and i mean everything.this police stuff is so outrageous and all the songs are recorded and sound incredible! The beds to big with out you Ahh incredible! All of them but the drums and Stew .what can i say or do for s a special soul like you who gets out of him self and spends all this time and gives it to others .I believe the more we get out of our selves and help others the more we get !! Thanks my brother. Thanks a million!!?!

[@fyyc]

Thanks for your kind words, Chris. It's a kind of therapy for me, doing this, and when it also suits others, even better! 💜💚💜

[@Semiam1]

Very Jazzy. Your mixes are great and trippy. They should be played in planetariums like they did with Pink Floyd back in the 70s.

[@fyyc]

Thanks, Semiam!

[@ukok8177]

I keep coming back to this song version and I cant get enough from it .. brilliant stuff ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@MrUndersolo]

A perfect mix of elements... Well done!

[@fyyc]

Thanks, K. Glad you like it.

[@Realg-ol4mx]

I think I was about 16 years old when I had my only ever out of body experience, to this song. Yep, I was on stage with them as part of there band. What an experience it was.

[@gavinhealphy3071]

Best band that ever lived by a country mile saw donkeys years ago that was enough of a living memory for me people

[@cdawson1161]

Wow - pure magic. Thanks for sharing this awesome mix

[@yiddir1]

Man, what a crazy live version is this! Splendid sound and a great image - sound sync. Can't wait for the 33 minute version! :-)

[@MartinPlischka-ek3xt]

The Police ich liebe die Musik ❤️

[@P121463S]

Have loved these guys since the beginning ….thank you Stewart, Andy and Sting

[@19zach75]

Musical geniuses!!! And this mix does the song justice!!! Bravo!!!

[@VALERIOFOTOGRAFOVIDEO]

507 - bellissima canzone - ciao da VALERIO !!!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@spinalcrackerbox]

What "Dark Star" was to the Grateful Dead, the middle part of TBTBWY could be for the Police on certain nights.

[@markshorter76]

Great idea and a very enjoyable mix! Many of their long jams are a treat. One of my favourite versions of TBTBWY is from their concert in Melbourne 22 Feb 1981 - it has some magical moments although it is from a slightly later date.

[@fyyc]

Thanks! Agree on Melbourne...

[@tonyvelez70]

This is freaking awesome!

[@edgejourney]

Nice mix! 🔥

[@IncognitoChild]

- love it!🙂

[@christophebercaud6586]

It's honey for all of us. Hello from France.😉🎶🎸🧲♠♥♦♣

[@fyyc]

Bonsoir la bas!

[@Bothtapes]

Exactly !

[@calummcnab3222]

Brilliant Just Brilliant.

[@fyyc]

Thanks Calum, nice words!

[@mycross1]

one more studio album please!!!!!!!

[@vicentealvarez6723]

Fabulosa remezcla para una bella canción, un leyenda musical que no se olvidará 🧡🧡🧡🧡✌✌✌✌👌👌👌👌

[@lindamacmanus6352]

Wow! Brillant

[@NachoDimari]

Fabulous! Many thanks. Would love to listen something like this with So Lonely

[@fyyc]

I would too! :-)

[@gabrielrojas6038]

Excelente

[@georginaelizondo]

Sounds cool vid, thanks for the share 👌👍🐎💚👈🏻🎶🎼🥁✔️

[@fyyc]

Gracias Maria! Took me quite some time to make, song ánd video...

[@georginaelizondo]

@@fyyc you did it great. Keep it on...mysocks 👀 you 👈

[@georginaelizondo]

@@fyyc Salu2 🤗 salud 🍻👈🎶🥁💚

[@bonzoleum]

A badass machine!!!!

[@osmaromolina753]

I wish they would bury the hatchet and regroup...and maybe crank out a couple of albums...

[@christinescarff4920]

How sad, she’s gone and left him.Personally I wouldn’t have left any of the three of them !!!

[@christinescarff4920]

The thing is, you men are really more interested in the music and we females are more interested in the blokes !!!

[@rg2027x]

😹 honesty

[@christinescarff4920]

@@rg2027x Actually, that’s not strictly true !It’s just that a song like that is slightly riske so brought out my sense of humour ! 😂😂😂🤷‍♀💥

[@WizardGlik]

This song was partly responsible for the demand/rise in the sales of twins beds during the sales calendar year 1980.

[@christophebercaud6586]

The sound of the fretless bass! Round, round, round, round, round. Encore et toujours chez les fous! It's better than Waterloo! Though! 🤣💂

[@nwouncia2011]

K... in a trance now

[@fyyc]

Thanks nwouncia, stay in it ;-)

[@haysfordays]

@4:00 sounds like the seeds of "Spirits"!

[@evanfraser6010]

Ever thought of doing eltsdim the sting and the radio actors version. A bit of Gong hurdy gurdy type of ear candy. Ooh go on.....

[@richardbotch4528]

Fuckin brilliance nothing more to say$$$

[@xaviermartorivilardebo9089]

This is so beautiful...in the audio i can recognize Beziers 80 (live in Paris) and Hamburg 80, that can be seen in the images...can you tell me the other one?.....and yet so well mixed!!! Congrats.

[@fyyc]

Well Xavier, you ask the cook for his ingredients, but I rather suggest to just enjoy the complete dinner :-) Quite in the right direction though!

[@xaviermartorivilardebo9089]

@@fyyc no probs man..anyway, keep it up!! Great job, hoping for more..

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thank you ! The vocal piece sort of ties in with Shadows in the Rain. ls this Klark technology ?

[@fyyc]

No Klark nor Kent involved... 😀

[@tennislegendsonlineretrotennis]

Do you know of Rick Beato’s KZbin channel? He’s a huge Sting and Police fan and actually got Sting and Dominic on his channel for an amazing interview… you should contact Rick, he would love your work and he has an enormous amount of subscribers, plus he’s a real authority on music…

[@fyyc]

Did see the interview, but I'm not so much looking for more (and more and more and more, pfff) subscribers. Simply hope people get a joy of what I do. Greetz!

[@hochiminhunited1444]

Awesome. Can you download the audio of this anywhere?

[@fyyc]

Ho Chi Minh, there are tools around to dl directly from the Tube...

[@guyjones3665]

Newcastle 79.. radio 1 recording .. mixed up...

[@nothingman2976]

I will put The Police up against anyone......

[@desmondknox]

Wait a minute this video isn't the actual jamming session as am sure that it was Newcastle this isn't it.. Or is this the real jam it does it sync . Please confirm. I have original bootleg tape cassette from the 80s gig

[@fyyc]

Well, not sure I fully understand your question. As I wrote: most of the audio used is not captured on film, so what you hear is (mostly) not what you see. This applies to all audio, except for the Rockpalast performance. So it was quite a puzzle to produce a matching video... hope you liked it, though.

[@paulwilk69]

Love it apart from playing those silly electronic drums Mr Copeland

[@fyyc]

Agree, a wrong flirt with 'modern features'

Fabulous. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@blasarielaquino3548]

36..

[@fyyc]

33? ....

[@JayMatsuedaOfficial]

should rename your channel to FOYC!, not FYYC!...

[@fyyc]

Ha ha ha! :-) I must confess: you are absolutely right! 👌But after my first post it was unchangeable ...

[@fyyc]

you're a real connoisseur!

[@georginaelizondo]

@@fyyc 😲👀🍻👈