In the late 1970s and into the early 1980s, the Police were in operation. However, that was sufficient for them to establish themselves as one the representatives of the British new wave, making them known all over the world.
Look no further than the fact that Synchronicity, the final studio album from The Police, reached number one status in the United States by selling more than eight million copies, in addition to the fact that it also achieved this status in four other nations.
Sadly, at the height of the band’s glory, Sting decided to pursue a solo career, which led to the other members splitting up. The Police briefly came back together for a tour in 2007 and 2008, but since their aborted effort to record a sixth studio album in 1986, they have essentially been broken up.
1. Synchronicity
It is fair to say that Sting is very interested in Arthur Koestler. After all, The Roots of Coincidence, another book by the author that served as a type of introduction to parapsychology, inspired both the term and a large portion of the substance of Synchronicity, as well as the book’s title.
In any case, as seen by its previously reported sales figure in the United States, Synchronicity was a huge hit. The popularity of the album led some to believe that The Police were the most well-known band in the world at the time, making it all the more regrettable that it would also be their final release.
Synchronicity’s musical style was once more on the experimental end of the spectrum. One of the album’s most frequently heard compliments is that it features a diverse range of styles that are nevertheless expertly blended into coherent wholes.
Similar to this, there was a lot of discussion on the genuine enthusiasm that went into the endeavor. An interesting 180-degree turn from the opinions expressed about some of The Police’s previous albums.
2. Ghost in the Machine
The Police, as was previously noted, experimented with their albums after Zenyatta Mondatta. This is evident in the title of Sting’s album, Ghost in the Machine, which is a reference to Gilbert Ryle’s phrase and Arthur Koestler’s book of the same name.
The expression is a useful abbreviation for the concept of mind-body dualism, which denotes either the non-physical nature of mental activities or the separation of the mind and body. The phrase isn’t exactly used in this manner in Koestler’s book.
Instead, it advances the theory that the human brain was constructed using earlier, more rudimentary processes that act as a ghost in the machine and that, as a result, its higher reason may occasionally be overcome by these systems. Something that can trigger harmful emotions such as hatred.
The Police’s contribution to Ghost in the Machine was well-liked anyway. It received plaudits for not just being well-made but also for embracing a larger variety of styles than previously, making it both more ambitious and successful at being more ambitious. a difficult combination to execute in practice.
3. Outlandos d’Amour
Some bands don’t become successful until after a certain number of albums have been released. The Police, on the other hand, wasn’t one of those because their debut album Outlandos d’Amour was so successful that some people even believe it to be one of the best debut albums ever created.
This is really amusing because the critiques from the time were far from complimentary compared to those from afterward. One reviewer, for instance, praised the band’s technical prowess but was unimpressed by their simultaneous portrayal of themselves as punks.
Another reviewer, on the other hand, bemoaned what he perceived to be the band members’ lack of emotional conviction. Outlandos d’Amour went platinum in six different countries, paving the groundwork for The Police’s subsequent careers.
The debut single, “Roxanne,” which is still one of the band’s most well-known tracks, is likely to be recognized by interested listeners.
4. Reggatta de Blanc
Reggatta de Blanc, on the other hand, was created under more permissive guidelines than its direct descendant Zenyatta Mondatta. Something that was advantageous to the product’s overall quality. To say that The Police had no problems recording the album would be an exaggeration.
For instance, the band struggled to produce enough new material to fill up the album, and as a result, they ended up using parts of their older songs to create new songs.
Reggatta de Blanc, however, had stronger playing, superior songwriting, and an elevated sense of confidence when compared to the band’s debut CD, so there can be little doubt that the process was successful. As a result, there was a strong sense of progress, which was encouraging for all yet to come.
5. Zenyatta Mondatta
The Police’s third studio album is titled Zenyatta Mondatta. For background, it was recorded while the band was on their second tour, so it took less than four weeks to complete. As a result, the band feels that Zenyatta Mondatta is somewhat of a letdown, to the extent that they attempted to re-record a few of its songs in 1986.
Musically, it’s noteworthy to notice that this album is exactly what one would anticipate from the third of The Police’s five studio albums, i.e., it serves as a bridge between the group’s earlier works and their later, more experimental efforts. It is therefore on the more conservative side of things.
However, it’s vital to keep in mind that Zenyatta Mondatta is still an album released by The Police, which means that it has a number of noteworthy tracks. The song “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” which is still among the group’s most well-known, is a great illustration.