Released right in the middle of the band’s original career, this was album number three. The band were flying by this point, and could literally do no wrong. Everything they wrote and put out was a Grade A product, and Sting obviously thought the same. When the band folded and went their separate ways, this album’s songs featured heavily in Sting’s first solo tour – albeit with different arrangements.
Side 1 is as near a perfect side of music you will hear anywhere. The single and big hit, Don’t Stand So Close To Me, leads off the album and is followed by one of my favourite Police songs, Driven To Tears. This track alone is what The Police were all about. Superb track! I don’t think music gets much better than When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around. Seemingly a very simple arrangement, but what a killer groove and melody that goes round and round. I never tire of hearing this. The fast reggae, almost calypso, groove of Canary In A Coalmine follows and again is a superb track. Don’t forget, only two albums earlier they were this quirky punky crossover band. Voices Inside My Head is next, and when played live, this was the track that they would extend to a full on groove out. Bombs Away closes out Side 1, and boys and girls I think you would agree, a near perfect side of music.
Now Side 2 does have its high points, namely the nonsense lyric of De Do Do Do, and the amazing Man In A Suitcase, but all the big guns were loaded onto Side 1. So I will still give it a 9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
