The Police | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Nominally, the Police were punk rock, but thats only in the loosest sense of the term. The trios nervous, reggae-injected pop/rock was punky, but it wasnt necessarily punk. All three members were considerably more technically proficient than the average punk or new wave band. Andy Summers had a precise guitar attack that created dense, interlocking waves of sounds and effects. Stewart Copeland could play polyrhythms effortlessly. And Sting, with his high, keening voice, was capable of constructing infectiously catchy pop songs. While they werent punk, the Police certainly demonstrated that the punk spirit could have a future in pop music. As their career progressed, the Police grew considerably more adventurous, experimenting with jazz and various world musics. All the while, the bands tight delivery and mastery of the pop single kept their audience increasing, and by 1983, they were the most popular rock & roll band in the world. Though they were at the height of their fame, internal tensions caused the band to splinter apart in 1984, with Sting picking up the majority of the bands audience to become an international superstar. Stewart Copeland and Sting (born Gordon Sumner) formed the Police in 1977. Prior to the bands formation, Copeland, the son of a CIA agent, had attended college in California, before he moved to England and joined the progressive rock band Curved Air. Sting was a teacher and a ditch digger who played in jazz-rock bands, including Last Exit, on the side. The two musicians met at a local jazz club and decided to form a progressive pop band with guitarist Henri Padovani. For the first few months, the group played local London pubs. Soon, they were hired to appear as a bleached-blonde punk band in a chewing gum commercial. While the commercial provided exposure, it drew the scorn of genuine punkers. Late in 1977, the band released its first single, "Fall Out," on IRS, an independent label Stewart Copeland founded with his brother Miles, who was also the manager of the Police. The single was a sizable hit for an independent release, selling about 70,000 copies. Padovani was replaced by Andy Summers, a veteran of the British Invasion, following the release of "Fall Out." Summers had previous played with Eric Burdons second lineup of the Animals, the Zoot Moneys Big Roll Band, the Kevin Ayers Band, and Neil Sedaka. The Police signed with A&M; by the spring of 1978, committing to a contract that gave the group a higher royalty rate in lieu of a large advance. A&M; released "Roxanne" in the spring of 1978, but it failed to chart. The Police set out on a tour of America in the summer of 1978 without any record to support, traveling across the country in a rented van and playing with rented equipment. Released in the fall of 1978, Outlandos dAmour began a slow climb into the British Top Ten and American Top 30. Immediately after its release, the group began a U.K. tour supporting Alberto y los Trios Paranoias and released the "So Lonely" single. By the spring of 1979, the re-released "Roxanne" had climbed to number 12 on the U.K. charts, taking Outlandos dAmour to number six. In the summer of 1979, Sting appeared in Quadrophenia, a British film based on the Who album of the same name; later that year, he acted in Radio On. Preceded by the number one British single "Message in a Bottle," Reggatta de Blanc (fall 1979) established the group as stars in England and Europe, topping the U.K. charts for four weeks. Following its release, Miles Copeland had the band tour several countries that rarely received concerts from foreign performers, including Thailand, India, Mexico, Greece, and Egypt. Zenyatta Mondatta, released in the fall of 1980, became the Polices North American breakthrough, reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. and Canada; in England, the album spent four weeks at number one. "Dont Stand So Close to Me," the albums first single, became the groups second number one single in the U.K.; in America, the single became their second Top Ten hit in the spring of 1981, following the number ten placing of "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" in the winter. By the beginning of 1981, the Police were able to sell out Madison Square Garden. Capitalizing on their success, the band returned to the studio in the summer of 1981 to record their fourth album with producer Hugh Padgham. The sessions, which were filmed for a BBC documentary hosted by Jools Holland, were completed within a couple months, and the album, Ghost in the Machine, appeared in the fall of 1981. Ghost in the Machine became an instant hit, reaching number one in the U.K. and number two in the U.S. as "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" became their biggest hit to date. Following their whirlwind success of 1980 and 1981, in which they were named the Best British Group at the first Brit Awards and won three Grammys, the band took a break in 1982. Though they played their first arena concerts and headlined the U.S. Festival, each member pursued side projects during the course of the year. Sting acted in Brimstone and Treacle, releasing a solo single, "Spread a Little Happiness," from the soundtrack; the song became a British hit. Copeland scored Francis Ford Coppolas Rumble Fish, as well as the San Francisco Ballets King Lear, and released an album under the name Klark Kent; he also played on several sessions for Peter Gabriel. Summers recorded an instrumental album, I Advance Masked, with Robert Fripp. The Police returned in the summer of 1983 with Synchronicity, which entered the U.K. charts at number one and quickly climbed to the same position in the U.S., where it would stay for 17 weeks. Synchronicity became a blockbuster success on the strength of the ballad "Every Breath You Take." Spending eight weeks at the top of the U.S. charts, "Every Breath You Take" became one of the biggest American hits of all time; it spent four weeks at the top of the U.K. charts. "King of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" became hits over the course of 1983, sending Synchronicity to multi-platinum status in America and Britain. The Police supported the album with a blockbuster, record-breaking world tour that set precedents for tours for the remainder of the 80s. Once the tour was completed, the band announced they were going on "sabbatical" in order to pursue outside interests. The Police never returned from sabbatical. During the Synchronicity tour, personal and creative tensions between the bandmembers had escalated greatly, and they had no desire to work together for a while. Sting began working on a jazz-tinged solo project immediately, releasing The Dream of the Blue Turtles in 1985. The album became an international hit, establishing him as a commercial force outside of the band. Copeland and Summers demonstrated no inclination to follow their bandmates path. Copeland recorded the worldbeat exploration The Rhythmatist in 1985, and continued to compose scores for film and television; he later formed the prog rock band Animal Logic. With his solo career -- which didnt officially begin until the release of 1987s XYZ -- Summers continued his art rock and jazz fusion experiments; he also occasionally collaborated Fripp and John Etheridge. During 1986, the Police made a few attempts to reunite, playing an Amnesty International concert and attempting to record a handful of new tracks for a greatest-hits album in the summer. As the studio session unraveled, it became apparent that Sting had no intention of giving the band his new songs to record, so the group re-recorded a couple of old songs, but even those were thrown off track after Copeland suffered a polo injury. Featuring a new version of "Dont Stand So Close to Me," the compilation Every Breath You Take: The Singles was released for the 1986 Christmas season, becoming the groups fifth straight British number one and their fourth American Top Ten. A few more quiet years passed, but 1992 found Summers taking the helm as musical director for Dennis Millers late-night show and Sting taking his vows with Trudie Styler. At the wedding, the three Policemen hopped on-stage for a very impromptu set, then, just as quickly, dismissed any rumors of an official Police reunion in the future. That same year a Greatest Hits album was released in the U.K., and in 1994 the box set Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings was released, followed in 1995 by the double album Live. Things again went quite on the Police front as the millennium rolled around. Then, in 2003, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the group into its pantheon. The band did reorganize enough to perform three tunes at the induction ceremony, but again, it looked as if that single show was going to be the extent of their collaboration. There was a brief reunion of sorts with original Police guitarist Henri Padovani, on his 2004 album A Croire Que CEtait Pour la Vie, where Copeland and Sting appeared on one track together -- but still no signs of a full-blown reunion. Sting released his autobiography, Broken Music, in 2003, and by 2006 Copelands documentary, Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out, and Summers autobiography, One Train Later, had joined the ranks. Odd side projects and collaborations with other musicians continued, but the real Police news came in conjunction with another seemingly one-off reunion gig -- this time for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Amid the hoopla, it was announced that the Police would indeed be embarking on a world tour, beginning on May 28, 2007, in Vancouver. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 17 Title: Outlandos d’Amour Released: 1978 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Next to You (02:54) 2 So Lonely (04:49) 3 Roxanne (03:12) 4 Hole in My Life (04:54) 5 Peanuts (04:01) 6 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 7 Truth Hits Everybody (02:55) 8 Born in the 50’s (03:44) 9 Be My Girl / Sally (03:24) 10 Masoko Tanga (05:42) |
| Outlandos d’Amour : Allmusic album Review : While their subsequent chart-topping albums would contain far more ambitious songwriting and musicianship, the Polices 1978 debut, Outlandos dAmour (translation: Outlaws of Love) is by far their most direct and straightforward release. Although Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland were all superb instrumentalists with jazz backgrounds, it was much easier to get a record contract in late-70s England if you were a punk/new wave artist, so the band decided to mask their instrumental prowess with a set of strong, adrenaline-charged rock, albeit with a reggae tinge. Some of it may have been simplistic ("Be My Girl-Sally," "Born in the 50s"), but Sting was already an ace songwriter, as evidenced by all-time classics like the good-girl-gone-bad tale of "Roxanne," and a pair of brokenhearted reggae-rock ditties, "Cant Stand Losing You" and "So Lonely." But like all other Police albums, the lesser-known album cuts are often highlights themselves -- the frenzied rockers "Next to You," "Peanuts," and "Truth Hits Everybody," as well as more exotic fare like the groovy album closer "Masoko Tanga" and the lonesome "Hole in My Life." Outlandos dAmour is unquestionably one of the finest debuts to come out of the 70s punk/new wave movement. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 17 Title: Reggatta de Blanc Released: 1979-10-05 Tracks: 11 Duration: 42:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 2 Reggatta de Blanc (03:07) 3 It’s Alright for You (03:14) 4 Bring on the Night (04:17) 5 Deathwish (04:16) 6 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 7 On Any Other Day (02:59) 8 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (04:27) 9 Contact (02:39) 10 Does Everyone Stare (03:47) 11 No Time This Time (03:20) |
| Reggatta de Blanc : Allmusic album Review : By 1979s Reggatta de Blanc (translation: White Reggae), nonstop touring had sharpened the Polices original blend of reggae-rock to perfection, resulting in breakthrough success. Containing a pair of massive hit singles -- the inspirational anthem "Message in a Bottle" and the spacious "Walking on the Moon" -- the album also signaled a change in the bands sound. Whereas their debut got its point across with raw, energetic performances, Reggatta de Blanc was much more polished production-wise and fully developed from a songwriting standpoint. While vigorous rockers did crop up from time to time ("Its Alright for You," "Deathwish," "No Time This Time," and the Grammy-winning instrumental title track), the material was overall much more sedate than the debut -- "Bring on the Night," "The Beds Too Big Without You," and "Does Everyone Stare." Also included was one of Stewart Copelands two lead vocal appearances on a Police album, the witty "On Any Other Day," as well as one of the bands most eerie tracks, "Contact." With Reggatta de Blanc, many picked Sting and company to be the superstar band of the 80s, and the Police would prove them correct on the bands next release. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 17 Title: Zenyattà Mondatta Released: 1980-10-03 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 2 Driven to Tears (03:22) 3 When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around (03:37) 4 Canary in a Coalmine (02:27) 5 Voices Inside My Head (03:53) 6 Bombs Away (03:06) 7 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 8 Behind My Camel (02:55) 9 Man in a Suitcase (02:20) 10 Shadows in the Rain (05:03) 11 The Other Way of Stopping (03:22) |
| Zenyattà Mondatta : Allmusic album Review : The stage was set for the Police to become one of the biggest acts of the 80s, and the band delivered with the 1980 classic Zenyatta Mondatta. The album proved to be the trios second straight number one album in the U.K., while peaking at number three in the U.S. Arguably the best Police album, Zenyatta contains perhaps the quintessential new wave anthem, the haunting "Dont Stand So Close to Me," the story of an older teacher lusting after one of his students. While other tracks follow in the same spooky path (their second Grammy-winning instrumental "Behind My Camel" and "Shadows in the Rain"), most of the material is upbeat, such as the carefree U.S./U.K. Top Ten "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," "Canary in a Coalmine," and "Man in a Suitcase." Sting includes his first set of politically charged lyrics in "Driven to Tears," "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of Whats Still Around," and "Bombs Away," which all observe the declining state of the world. While Sting would later criticize the album as not all it could have been (the band was rushed to complete the album in order to begin another tour), Zenyatta Mondatta remains one of the finest rock albums of all time. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 17 Title: Ghost in the Machine Released: 1981-10 Tracks: 11 Duration: 41:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 2 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 3 Invisible Sun (03:44) 4 Hungry for You (JAurais Toujours Faim de Toi) (02:52) 5 Demolition Man (05:57) 6 Too Much Information (03:42) 7 Rehumanize Yourself (03:10) 8 One World (Not Three) (04:46) 9 Omegaman (02:47) 10 Secret Journey (03:33) 11 Darkness (03:13) |
| Ghost in the Machine : Allmusic album Review : For their fourth album, 1981s Ghost in the Machine, the Police had streamlined their sound to focus more on their pop side and less on their trademark reggae-rock. Their jazz influence had become more prominent, as evidenced by the appearance of saxophones on several tracks. The production has more of a contemporary 80s sound to it (courtesy of Hugh Padgham, who took over for Nigel Gray), and Sting proved once and for all to be a master of the pop songwriting format. The album spawned several hits, such as the energetic "Spirits in the Material World" (notice how the central rhythms are played by synthesizer instead of guitar to mask the reggae connection) and a tribute to those living amid the turmoil and violence in Northern Ireland circa the early 80s, "Invisible Sun." But the best and most renowned of the bunch is undoubtedly the blissful "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," which topped the U.K. singles chart and nearly did the same in the U.S. (number three). Unlike the other Police releases, not all of the tracks are stellar ("Hungry for You," "Omegaman"), but the vicious jazz-rocker "Demolition Man," the barely containable "Rehumanize Yourself," and a pair of album-closing ballads ("Secret Journey," "Darkness") proved otherwise. While it was not a pop masterpiece, Ghost in the Machine did serve as an important stepping stone between their more direct early work and their more ambitious latter direction, resulting in the trios exceptional blockbuster final album, 1983s Synchronicity. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 17 Title: Synchronicity Released: 1983-06-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Synchronicity I (03:23) 2 Walking in Your Footsteps (03:36) 3 O My God (04:02) 4 Mother (03:05) 5 Miss Gradenko (02:00) 6 Synchronicity II (05:05) 7 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 8 King of Pain (04:59) 9 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 10 Tea in the Sahara (04:15) 11 Murder by Numbers (04:33) |
| Synchronicity : Allmusic album Review : Simultaneously more pop-oriented and experimental than either Ghost in the Machine or Zenyatta Mondatta, Synchronicity made the Police superstars, generating no less than five hit singles. With the exception of "Synchronicity II," which sounds disarmingly like a crappy Billy Idol song, every one of those singles is a classic. "Every Breath You Take" has a seductive, rolling beat masking its maliciousness, "King of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" are devilishly infectious new wave singles, and "Tea in the Sahara" is hypnotic in its measured, melancholy choruses. But, like so many other Police albums, these songs are surrounded by utterly inconsequential filler. This time, the group relies heavily on jazzy textures for Stings songs, which only work on the jumping, marimba-driven "Synchronicity I." Then, as if to prove that the Police were still a band, theres one song apiece from Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, both of which are awful, as if theyre trying to sabotage the album. Since they arrive on the first side, which is devoid of singles, they do, making the album sound like two EPs: one filled with first-rate pop, and one an exercise in self-indulgence. While the hits are among Stings best, they also illustrate that he was ready to leave the Police behind for a solo career, which is exactly what he did. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 17 Title: Every Breath You Take: The Singles Released: 1986 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (02:48) 3 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 4 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 5 Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (04:49) 6 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 7 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 8 Invisible Sun (03:44) 9 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 10 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 11 King of Pain (04:59) 12 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) |
| Every Breath You Take: The Singles : Allmusic album Review : Depending on whose report you believe, the Police recongregated in 1985 to either begin work on their sixth studio album or a greatest-hits collection that was to include all new, reworked versions of the hits. Neither ever materialized due to hostility between the members, and when all the trio could show for its work was an insipid remake of "Dont Stand So Close to Me," the Police decided to call it a day. So instead of following the original plan, A&M issued Every Breath You Take: The Singles, which included 11 original versions of their hits plus the new track, titled "Dont Stand So Close to Me 86," which prevents the collection from being definitive. Still, the Police were responsible for some of the greatest rock tunes of all time, and all 11 originals are superb: "Roxanne," "Walking on the Moon," "Invisible Sun," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "King of Pain," the title track, and others. The only criticism is the absence of other hits/videos/radio faves such as "Synchronicity II," "Demolition Man," and "So Lonely." [In 1995, A&M replaced Every Breath You Take: The Singles with Every Breath You Take: The Classics, which finally included the original version of "Dont Stand So Close to Me," as well as its 1986 remake, and a remix of "Message in a Bottle."] | ||
 | Album: 7 of 17 Title: Their Greatest Hits Released: 1990 Tracks: 13 Duration: 55:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (02:48) 3 So Lonely (04:49) 4 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 5 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 6 Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (04:49) 7 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 8 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 9 Invisible Sun (03:44) 10 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 11 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 12 King of Pain (04:59) 13 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) |
 | Album: 8 of 17 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1992 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:08:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (02:48) 3 So Lonely (04:49) 4 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 5 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 6 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (04:27) 7 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 8 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 9 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 10 Invisible Sun (03:44) 11 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 12 Synchronicity II (05:05) 13 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 14 King of Pain (04:59) 15 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 16 Tea in the Sahara (04:13) |
 | Album: 9 of 17 Title: Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings Released: 1993-09-28 Tracks: 78 Duration: 4:45:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Fall Out (02:03) 2 Nothing Achieving (01:56) 3 Dead End Job (03:35) 4 Next to You (02:54) 5 So Lonely (04:49) 6 Roxanne (03:12) 7 Hole in My Life (04:54) 8 Peanuts (04:01) 9 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 10 Truth Hits Everybody (02:55) 11 Born in the 50’s (03:44) 12 Be My Girl / Sally (03:24) 13 Masoko Tanga (05:42) 14 Landlord (live) (02:36) 15 Next to You (live) (03:11) 16 Landlord (03:09) 17 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 18 Reggatta de Blanc (03:07) 19 It’s Alright for You (03:14) 20 Bring on the Night (04:17) 21 Deathwish (04:16) 1 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 2 On Any Other Day (02:59) 3 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (04:27) 4 Contact (02:39) 5 Does Everyone Stare (03:47) 6 No Time This Time (03:20) 7 Visions of the Night (03:05) 8 The Beds Too Big Without You (mono) (03:29) 9 Truth Hits Everybody (live) (02:26) 10 Friends (03:36) 11 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 12 Driven to Tears (03:22) 13 When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around (03:37) 14 Canary in a Coalmine (02:27) 15 Voices Inside My Head (03:53) 16 Bombs Away (03:06) 17 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 18 Behind My Camel (02:55) 19 Man in a Suitcase (02:20) 20 Shadows in the Rain (05:03) 21 The Other Way of Stopping (03:22) 1 A Sermon (02:32) 2 Driven to Tears (live) (03:29) 3 Shambelle (05:00) 4 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 5 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 6 Invisible Sun (03:44) 7 Hungry for You (JAurais Toujours Faim de Toi) (02:52) 8 Demolition Man (05:57) 9 Too Much Information (03:42) 10 Rehumanize Yourself (03:10) 11 One World (Not Three) (04:46) 12 Omegaman (02:47) 13 Secret Journey (03:33) 14 Darkness (03:13) 15 Flexible Strategies (03:43) 16 Low Life (03:45) 17 How Stupid Mr. Bates (02:41) 18 A Kind of Loving (02:03) 1 Synchronicity I (03:23) 2 Walking in Your Footsteps (03:36) 3 O My God (04:02) 4 Mother (03:05) 5 Miss Gradenko (02:00) 6 Synchronicity II (05:05) 7 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 8 King of Pain (04:59) 9 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 10 Tea in the Sahara (04:13) 11 Murder by Numbers (04:33) 12 Man in a Suitcase (live) (02:17) 13 Someone to Talk To (03:08) 14 Message in a Bottle (live) (04:51) 15 I Burn for You (04:49) 16 Once Upon a Daydream (03:31) 17 Tea in the Sahara (live) (05:06) 18 Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (04:49) |
| Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings : Allmusic album Review : Despite their legendary status, the Police only released five albums during their brief reign from 1978-1983. In addition, the trio had amassed a healthy amount of both studio and live B-sides, plus songs that only appeared on soundtracks. For the 1993 four-CD box set Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings, every single song the Police ever recorded is included. All the tracks were digitally remastered for the project, sounding superior to the original CD versions of the single albums. Also included is a 68-page booklet that includes an interesting (and often humorous) biography, a time line, and notes from all three bandmembers regarding the rarities that appear for the first time on compact disc here. But of course, the real charm of the box set is the music -- album tracks ("Hole in My Life," "Its Alright for You," "Driven to Tears"), hits ("Message in a Bottle," "Cant Stand Losing You," "Spirits in the Material World"), and rarities ("Fallout," a live version of "Next to You") are all timeless classics. While the set is highly recommended to newcomers just discovering the wonders of the Police, longtime fans should consider replacing their tinny-sounding single CDs with the definitive Message in a Box. After all, it contains a total of 24 tracks unavailable (for the most part) anywhere else. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 17 Title: Live! Released: 1995-06-13 Tracks: 30 Duration: 2:24:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Next to You (02:57) 2 So Lonely (07:33) 3 Truth Hits Everybody (02:33) 4 Walking on the Moon (04:59) 5 Hole in My Life (04:08) 6 Fall Out (02:46) 7 Bring on the Night (05:16) 8 Message in a Bottle (04:27) 9 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (08:51) 10 Peanuts (03:08) 11 Roxanne (04:42) 12 Can’t Stand Losing You (07:54) 13 Landlord (02:27) 14 Born in the 50’s (04:18) 15 Be My Girl / Sally (04:51) 1 Synchronicity I (02:53) 2 Synchronicity II (04:44) 3 Walking in Your Footsteps (04:55) 4 Message in a Bottle (04:35) 5 O My God (03:36) 6 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:32) 7 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:21) 8 Tea in the Sahara (04:52) 9 Spirits in the Material World (02:57) 10 King of Pain (05:53) 11 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (03:46) 12 Every Breath You Take (04:37) 13 Roxanne (06:10) 14 Can’t Stand Losing You (06:48) 15 So Lonely (07:30) |
| Live! : Allmusic album Review : 1995 finally saw the release of the Polices long-rumored first official live album, the two-CD Live!. The first CD was recorded back in 1979 in Boston, for an FM broadcast during the tour for their second album, Reggatta de Blanc, while the second disc is from their final tour in 1983 during a tour stop in Atlanta. While the first disc is excellent -- it captures the Police at their most frantic and energetic -- the second disc is pretty darn uninspired (Stings vocals in particular), as evidenced by the unnecessary and annoying backup singers that are detected throughout. Highlights abound on disc one, including early faves like "Next to You," "So Lonely," "Bring on the Night," "The Beds Too Big Without You," "Roxanne," "Walking on the Moon," and "Cant Stand Losing You." And while disc two contains a few standouts ("Tea in the Sahara," "Every Breath You Take"), those dastardly backup singers make most of the songs sound like blah lounge versions ("King of Pain," "Synchronicity I," "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"). Still, the first disc of Live! makes it a recommended purchase to the serious Police fan. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 17 Title: Every Breath You Take: The Classics Released: 1995-09-12 Tracks: 14 Duration: 59:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 3 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 4 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 5 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 6 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 7 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 8 Invisible Sun (03:44) 9 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 10 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 11 King of Pain (04:59) 12 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 13 Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (04:49) 14 Message in a Bottle (new classic rock mix) (04:50) |
| Every Breath You Take: The Classics : Allmusic album Review : By deleting the 1986 hits collection Every Breath You Take: The Singles and replacing it nearly ten years later with Every Breath You Take: The Classics, A&M improved the original set -- but only slightly. Instead of finally adding the missing hits that were mysteriously absent the first time around ("Synchronicity II," "Demolition Man," "So Lonely," etc.), there are only two additional tracks -- the original version of "Dont Stand So Close to Me" and a "New Classic Rock Mix" of "Message in a Bottle." Again, the included hits speak for themselves -- "Roxanne," "Walking on the Moon," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," -- but ultimately, The Classics misses the mark. Why would a Police fan who already owns The Singles want to replace it with a modestly different repackaging? A&M should have added some of the missing classics instead of just rehashing what many fans already own. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 17 Title: The Very Best of Sting & The Police Released: 1997-11-10 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:18:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 3 Englishman in New York (04:27) 4 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 5 Seven Days (04:39) 6 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 7 Fields of Gold (03:40) 8 Fragile (03:54) 9 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 10 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 11 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (04:15) 12 Brand New Day (06:20) 13 Desert Rose (04:45) 14 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (04:28) 15 When We Dance (edit) (04:17) 16 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 17 Roxanne (03:12) 18 So Lonely (04:49) |
| The Very Best of Sting & The Police : Allmusic album Review : In the summer of 1997, Puff Daddy took "Ill Be Missing You," a sappy reworking of "Every Breath You Take," to the top of the charts across the world; it became the biggest rap single in history. The success of "Ill Be Missing You" had the bizarre byproduct of making the Police hip again among both rock and rap artists. So, what better way to celebrate the occasion -- as well as the 20th anniversary of the Polices first album -- than to release another compilation, this time combining highlights from the Police and Stings solo career? The Very Best of Sting & the Police does just that, combining 14 songs -- not necessarily his biggest hits, either -- in a seemingly random chronological order. The Police cuts are generally classics ("Message in a Bottle," "Cant Stand Losing You," "Every Breath You Take," "Walking on the Moon," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Dont Stand so Close to Me," "Roxanne"), but there are several big hits left off, which should probably be expected for an integrated collection like this. What does come as a surprise is the solo material. Theres plenty of good music on his records, but the selection here emphasizes his MOR side, relying on songs like "Fields of Gold," "Englishman in New York," "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot," "Russians," and "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," instead of some of his more ambitious material. Obviously, that selection is designed to snag a mature, thirty-something audience, which makes the inclusion of Puff Daddys remix of "Roxanne" (included in both its original and remixed incarnations) a little puzzling, since that strives to appeal to a younger audience. Then again, you dont really expect coherence from a collection that simply wants to cash in at the right moment. While its hard to ignore the fact that this disc isnt necessary, the music itself is good, and certain casual fans may find this useful, but anyone following Sting or the Police for any length of time will find The Very Best Of superfluous. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 17 Title: Every Breath You Take Released: 2005-10-28 Tracks: 29 Duration: 2:12:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 3 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 4 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 5 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 6 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 7 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 8 Invisible Sun (03:44) 9 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 10 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 11 King of Pain (04:59) 12 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 13 Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86 (04:49) 14 Message in a Bottle (new classic rock mix) (04:50) 1 Synchronicity I (02:52) 2 Synchronicity II (04:44) 3 Walking in Your Footsteps (04:54) 4 Message in a Bottle (04:35) 5 O My God (03:36) 6 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:32) 7 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:21) 8 Tea in the Sahara (04:52) 9 Spirits in the Material World (02:57) 10 King of Pain (05:53) 11 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (03:46) 12 Every Breath You Take (04:37) 13 Roxanne (06:10) 14 Can’t Stand Losing You (06:48) 15 So Lonely (07:26) |
 | Album: 14 of 17 Title: The Police Released: 2007-06-05 Tracks: 28 Duration: 1:51:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fall Out (02:03) 2 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 3 Next to You (02:54) 4 Roxanne (03:12) 5 Truth Hits Everybody (02:55) 6 Hole in My Life (04:49) 7 So Lonely (04:49) 8 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 9 Reggatta de Blanc (03:04) 10 Bring on the Night (04:17) 11 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 12 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 13 Driven to Tears (03:22) 14 Canary in a Coalmine (02:27) 1 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 2 Voices Inside My Head (03:50) 3 Invisible Sun (03:44) 4 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 5 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 6 Demolition Man (05:57) 7 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 8 Synchronicity I (03:23) 9 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 10 Walking in Your Footsteps (03:36) 11 Synchronicity II (05:05) 12 King of Pain (04:59) 13 Murder by Numbers (04:33) 14 Tea in the Sahara (04:13) |
| The Police : Allmusic album Review : To coincide with their 30th anniversary reunion tour in 2007 the Police released the anthology The Police, the first two-CD retrospective ever assembled on the group. They may not have had a double compilation to their credit, but they had single discs and box sets, which may raise the question of whether they need a set like this -- and the answer is yes, but this set falls just a bit short of being the definitive Police double disc. At only 28 tracks, this feels a little too slim. It may be twice as long as 1995s Every Breath You Take: The Classics (and, in a way, that was only 12 tracks, since that contained the 1986 remake of "Dont Stand So Close to Me" and a classic rock mix of "Message in a Bottle," which were little more than padding), but there are a handful of Police staples that are missing, including "Born in the 50s," "The Beds Too Big Without You," "Shadows in the Rain," and "Rehumanize Yourself," and the heavy emphasis on Synchronicity (all but three songs from the LP are present; yes, Andy Summers bizarro "Mother" is one of the tunes missing in action) threatens to overwhelm the second disc. That said, Synchronicity does deserve such a heavy exposure, given that its the bands biggest album, and its hard to argue with the rest of the selections here since it covers all the familiar hits and most, but not all, of the second-tier classics including "Truth Hits Everybody," "Bring on the Night," "Canary in a Coalmine," "Driven to Tears," and their first single, "Fallout." It may not seem like much, but if those aforementioned four tunes were here, The Police would have all the core songs from the trio and this would be truly definitive, but as it stands this collection stands as simply an excellent overview. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 17 Title: Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires Released: 2008-11-11 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:47:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Message in a Bottle (05:00) 2 Synchronicity II (06:23) 3 Walking on the Moon (06:19) 4 Voices Inside My Head / When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of Whats Still Around (07:04) 5 Dont Stand So Close to Me (04:42) 6 Driven to Tears (05:51) 7 Hole in My Life (05:07) 8 Truth Hits Everybody (04:02) 9 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:41) 10 Wrapped Around Your Finger (06:11) 1 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:38) 2 Invisible Sun (05:03) 3 Walking in Your Footsteps (04:36) 4 Cant Stand Losing You / Reggatta de Blanc (06:31) 5 Roxanne (08:11) 6 King of Pain (05:18) 7 So Lonely (06:53) 8 Every Breath You Take (06:14) 9 Next to You (05:08) |
 | Album: 16 of 17 Title: The 50 Greatest Songs Released: 2009-04-14 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:15:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Roxanne (03:12) 2 Next to You (02:54) 3 Hole in My Life (04:54) 4 Peanuts (04:01) 5 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 6 Truth Hurts Everybody (02:54) 7 Born in the 50’s (03:44) 8 Reggatta De Blanc (03:05) 9 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 10 It’s Alright for You (03:14) 11 Bring on the Night (04:17) 12 Deathwish (04:16) 13 King of Pain (04:59) 14 Tea in the Sahara (04:07) 15 I Burn for You (04:49) 16 Every Breath You Take (live) (04:39) 17 Wrapped Around Your Finger (live) (05:24) 1 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 2 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (04:27) 3 Contact (02:39) 4 Does Everyone Stare (03:46) 5 No Time This Time (03:20) 6 Visions of the Night (03:05) 7 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 8 Driven to Tears (03:22) 9 When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around (03:37) 10 Bombs Away (03:06) 11 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 12 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 13 Behind My Camel (02:55) 14 Man in a Suitcase (02:15) 15 Synchronicity I (03:23) 16 Fall Out (live) (02:25) 17 Landlord (live) (02:36) 1 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 2 Secret Journey (03:33) 3 Murder by Numbers (04:33) 4 Someone to Talk To (03:08) 5 Invisible Man (03:44) 6 So Lonely (04:49) 7 Demolition Man (05:57) 8 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 9 Synchronicity II (05:05) 10 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 11 Darkness (03:13) 12 Miss Gradenko (02:00) 13 Rehumanize Yourself (03:10) 14 O My God (04:02) 15 Cant Stand Losing You (live) (06:34) 16 Dont Stand So Close to Me 86 (06:25) |
 | Album: 17 of 17 Title: Every Move You Make - The Studio Recordings Released: 2018-11-16 Tracks: 65 Duration: 4:02:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Next to You (02:53) 2 So Lonely (04:49) 3 Roxanne (03:12) 4 Hole in My Life (04:54) 5 Peanuts (04:01) 6 Can’t Stand Losing You (03:01) 7 Truth Hits Everybody (02:55) 8 Born in the 50’s (03:44) 9 Be My Girl / Sally (03:24) 10 Masoko Tanga (05:42) 1 Message in a Bottle (04:51) 2 Reggatta de Blanc (03:07) 3 It’s Alright for You (03:14) 4 Bring on the Night (04:17) 5 Deathwish (04:16) 6 Walking on the Moon (05:02) 7 On Any Other Day (02:59) 8 The Bed’s Too Big Without You (04:27) 9 Contact (02:39) 10 Does Everyone Stare (03:47) 11 No Time This Time (03:20) 1 Don’t Stand So Close to Me (04:01) 2 Driven to Tears (03:22) 3 When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around (03:37) 4 Canary in a Coalmine (02:27) 5 Voices Inside My Head (03:53) 6 Bombs Away (03:06) 7 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (04:08) 8 Behind My Camel (02:55) 9 Man in a Suitcase (02:20) 10 Shadows in the Rain (05:03) 11 The Other Way of Stopping (03:22) 1 Spirits in the Material World (02:59) 2 Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (04:20) 3 Invisible Sun (03:44) 4 Hungry for You (j’aurais toujours faim de toi) (02:52) 5 Demolition Man (05:57) 6 Too Much Information (03:42) 7 Rehumanize Yourself (03:10) 8 One World (Not Three) (04:46) 9 Ωmegaman (02:47) 10 Secret Journey (03:33) 11 Darkness (03:13) 1 Synchronicity I (03:23) 2 Walking in Your Footsteps (03:36) 3 O My God (04:02) 4 Mother (03:05) 5 Miss Gradenko (02:00) 6 Synchronicity II (05:04) 7 Every Breath You Take (04:13) 8 King of Pain (04:59) 9 Wrapped Around Your Finger (05:13) 10 Tea in the Sahara (04:13) 1 Dead End Job (03:35) 2 Landlord (03:07) 3 Visions of the Night (03:05) 4 Friends (03:36) 5 A Sermon (02:23) 6 Shambelle (05:10) 7 Flexible Strategies (03:42) 8 Low Life (03:46) 9 Murder By Numbers (03:43) 10 Truth Hits Everybody (03:47) 11 Someone To Talk To (03:05) 12 Once Upon A Daydream (03:32) |