The Police - The Police
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Free Music Notes for The Police
Free Music Review: I can't believe the people complaining about the omission of DSSCTM '86!
Hit: 5 Stars
I gave this set 5 stars just for leaving that song out!
Free Music Review: Very Good, but there is one compilation that is better
Hit: 4 Stars
It is hard to believe that a band can become a Hall of Fame band with just five studio albums to their name, but the Police are such a band. This is an honor that the Police are most worthy of. The Police were sort of an off-shoot of the Punk Rock movement of the late 1970s. The band would eventually encompass other influences - namely Classic Rock, Reggae, Jazz, Dance, and even Folk. For the most part, it is fair to say there was a Punk Rock and Reggae influence on the band for their first two albums" - "Outlandos D'Amour" and "Regatta de Blanc". Both of these albums were terrific efforts - mostly because The Police used applied their unique style to a formula that worked. The Police would soon transform their sound to a more Classic Rock sound. With each successive album ("Zenyatta Mondatta", "Ghost in the Machine", and "Synchronicity"), the Police would continue to grow as a band and incorporate a variety of genres into their sound. In 1986, the Police officially disbanded and it wouldn't be until 2007 when they would officially reunite for a reunion tour. To build some momentum for the tour, the Police would release a two CD greatest hits collection entitled "The Police". This compilation does provide a good portfolio of the band's classic tracks.
"The Police" takes tracks from each of the band's five albums. Six tracks from "Outlandos D'Amour" ("Can't Stand Losing You", "Next to You", "Roxanne", "Truth Hits Everybody", "Hole in My Life", "So Lonely"); Four tracks from "Regatta De Blanc" ("Message in a Bottle", "Regatta De Blanc", "Bring on the Night", "Walking on the Moon"); Five tracks from "Zenyatta Mondatta" ("Don't Stand So Close to Me", "Driven to Tears", "Canary in a Coalmine", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", "Voices Inside My Head"); Four tracks from "Ghost in the Machine" ("Invisible Sun", "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", "Spirits in the Material World", "Demolition Man"); Eight tracks from "Synchronicity" ("Every Breath You Take", "Synchronicity I", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Walking In Your Footsteps", "Synchronicity II", "King of Pain", "Murder By Numbers", "Tea in the Sahara"). This collection also includes the band's debut single - not released on the five studio albums - "Fallout". There is an import version of this collection that includes two addition tracks - "The Bed's Too Big Without You" (from "Regatta De Blanc") and "Rehumanize Yourself" (from "Ghost in the Machine"). My big argument is that this collection tends to go too heavy on "Synchronicity" - with eight of the eleven tracks from that album on this collection. One can also make the argument not enough was taken from "Regatta De Blanc" or "Ghost in the Machine". For the most part, this compilation does a good job at taking the essential tracks from the Police's music portfolio.
One strength of this collection is that the tracks are chronologically arranged by the studio album they released. This allows you to see how a band has progressed over time. In the case of the Police, this is essential because I think it is important to hear how their sound evolved.
When considering a greatest hits compilation, it is important to know that bands often release several flavors of compilations.
"Every Breath You Take - The Singles": This was a compilation released in 1986. It only includes twelve tracks. It contains an updated version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" called "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86"). All of the tracks on this collection are found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation. For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.
"Every Breath You Take - The Classics": An Updated Version of "Every Breath You Take - The Singles". It includes both versions of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and an additional version of "Message in a Bottle" (that version is not found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation). For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.
"The Very Best of Sting and The Police": This provides a mix of Sting's solo work with some of the Police's best hits. There are two versions of this collection - one from 1997 and one from 2002 with the latter one being more complete. These compilations do not preserve the chronological ordering of the band.
"Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings": This is exactly as advertised. It includes every song from each of the five studio albums as well as some B side songs, live tracks, and songs not originally found on CD. These songs are arranged in chronological order on four CDs. It also includes the "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" version.
It is worth noting that "The Police" 2 CD compilation is very good. If you are looking for a greatest hits collection by the Police, this stands up much stronger than the two "Every Breath You Take" compilations. It also provides more depth from the Police perspective than the two versions of "The Very Best of Sting and The Police". However, if one is considering a greatest hits collection, I would easily opt for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation. You are going to get so much more for your money. You also get the benefits of a boxed set (including a very good booklet). Every song on this 2 CD compilation is going to be found on the "Message in a Box" collection. My recommendation would be to go for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation.
Free Music Review: Excellent compilation that could have been perfect with some additional songs...4 1/2 stars
Hit: 4 Stars
A perfect excuse to exploit their catalog again, A&M/Universal (or whatever the congolmerate is called now)has put together a terrific compilation of the band's album tracks and hits. It appears that the masters used for the album reissues from a couple of years ago are the source here as they sound excellent and exactly the same as the previous set. This is a huge improvement over the various single disc sets released since 1986.
"Fall Out" was their first single and has only appeared on their four disc anthology on CD before this. We get 6 songs from the band's first album "Outlandos d' Amour" 4 tracks from their second album "Regatta De Blanc" their second album, 5 tracks from "Zenyatta Mondatta" their third album, 4 tracks from their fourth album "Ghost in the Machine" and a whopping 8 tracks (most of the album!)from "Synchroncity". We don't get anything from their soundtrack album "Brimstone and Treacle" (which includes the terrific song "I Burn For You") nor anything from their live album. Also missing are b-sides to most of their singles some of which are outstanding.
With 14 songs on each disc there was some room for additional tracks some of which might not have been big hits but deserved a larger audience. "I Burn For You","Bombs Away", "Darkness", "Nothing Achieving" and "Visions of the Night", "Low Life", "The Bed's Too Big Without You" (which they are playing on the tour) are among the songs that probably should have been included.
As mentioned the sound is very good on these discs although there isn't a mastering credit. It does sound very similar to the individual re-releases from a couple years back and has slightly better detail than the boxed set released 14 years ago. The later recordings benefit the most from the remaster although all the songs sound fine. It would have been nice to have comments for each song and more in the way of liner notes on the recordings but that doesn't detract from this anthology. I suspect that there are rarities out there (such as demos, etc.) that could have been added to entice fans who have their other releases but none are here.
This is a very good set for fans looking for the bulk of the best album tracks and hits. The packaging includes a one sheet with some credits on it that folds out into a replica of an early concert poster for the band. The slip case is kind of cool as well. When you slide the holder out of the slipcase the band's songs are listed on the yellow cover (and you can see them when you hold it up to the light).
Free Music Review: Everything They Do Is Still Magic
Hit: 4 Stars
This year, there seems to be a lot of classic rock returning to the concert touring schedules. With the hype of classic rock groups like Genesis that have hit some well-received raves, and others groups like Foreigner that have been flops, many are anxiously eager to see something different than who has to be hot on MTV. Nonetheless, the one groups that everybody is anxiously waiting for is The Police. It has been one of the biggest surprises this past year, as Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers reunited and delivered to concert seekers. Now, to celebrate the reunion, a new hits collection has hit the shelves, and here it is.
The 2007 Police is a double album retrospective celebrating the British Rock groups 30th anniversary, and their reunion tour. The collection spans throughout the groups 70's and early to mid 80's success. The songs here have all been remastered well, and deliver the classic rock to a whole new audience. The collection includes classics like the #1 smash Every Breath You Take, Don't Stand So Close To Me, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, the haunting Wrapped Around Your Finger, and Message In A Bottle. The collection also includes tracks that've been overlooked from their previous Every Breath You Take: The Classics hits album including Synchronicity I, and their first tracks like Fallout, Demolition Man and So Lonely. Still, there are a few tracks overlooked like their 1986 driven remake of Don't Stand So Close To Me, but the collection does deliver absolutely well.
All in all, The Police is a great hits package that works very well in welcoming a new generation to one of the most influential Rock groups of all time. If you are a die hard Police fan, or a newcomer to their music than you'll definitely want to hear this great hits package. I absolutely recommend this. No matter what happens, every breath they took, we are still listening to them.
Album Cover: A-
Songs: B+
Price: B+
Remastering: A
Overall: B+
Free Music Review: I was hoping for more than this
Hit: 4 Stars
Message in a Box: The Complete RecordingsThe Police Greatest Hits
I guess this was ok to release as a 30th Anniversary tribute, but I was so hoping for way more than this. "Message In A Box" which is a more complete anthology has much more and is worth paying the extra dollars for, but even that is lacking so many tracks from The Police. The "Brimstone and Treacle" Tracks aren't available on MIAB and none of the "Ghost In The Machine" Demos either. There needs to be a Complete Police anthology for all of us die hard Police fans. We already own everything they have ever done plus a plethera of Sting's solo music. We really would love to see a real Anthology. Here's hoping they do the unplugged session they postponed on MTV and it ends up on a much more complete anthology too. Talk of a new album is being discussed as well.But this anthology will intoduce The Police to a lot of younger fans who have started to catch on to their wonderful music.