The Police’s rise to mega stardom was very quick to say the least. Taking advantage of the the fledgling punk movement, drummer Stewart Copeland had recently left Prog band, Curved Air. He met up with Sting at a gig in Newcastle and exchanged numbers. When Sting left Newcastle for London, he tracked Copeland down and the rest is easy. The missing piece of the puzzle was ex-Zombies guitarist, Andy Summers, and the rest they say is history.
By the time they recorded this album, it was obvious the band’s future lay in a more commercial environment than the punk scene – as they could actually play and write great songs. Everyone knows Roxanne, and this would light the torch as the reggae vibe would carry the band throughout their career. Hole In My Life and Can’t Stand Losing You are the other two reggae heavy songs on the record, and are really great. There are two punk tinged tunes on the record with Peanuts and Be My Girl – just as a nod to the scene they piggy backed off of. This is probably my favourite Police album as it still has that raw edge to it that would ultimately disappear, and a much more polished sound would develop as they became pop icons.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
