havent listened in decades; between Breath and Wrapped for me. Sting really lays the other lyrics on with a trowel, esp Sync II (great Andy there tho).
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 6 April 2009 18:21 (fifteen years ago) link
can't tell if you're being sarcastic, bimble, but i genuinely like the song. probably because it's the song i've known since i was little - fuck da haters
― prostitutes all over the place (k3vin k.), Monday, 6 April 2009 18:22 (fifteen years ago) link
I've half a mind to vote for "Mother". Or rather I'd vote for "Mother" if I had half a mind, or something.
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 6 April 2009 22:14 (fifteen years ago) link
But no, I'll go for title track #1, which I wish was longer.
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 6 April 2009 22:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Synchronicity II for me. But I do have a great love of Mother and hell, the whole rest of this album.
It's still my favorite Police actually, but that's because I haven't consciously gone through their catalog as an adult. I just continue to enjoy it the way I have since my Mom first bought the cassette and played it in her truck on long drives.
― Nate Carson, Monday, 6 April 2009 22:27 (fifteen years ago) link
Was it even a single in real form?
Oh yeah. It reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard charts. And, as Wiki notes, "(i)nterestingly, King of Pain was the only single from Synchronicity that did not have an accompanying music video."
― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 6 April 2009 22:31 (fifteen years ago) link
I was a young 'un, but I remember "King of Pain" hearing a lot on the radio (around Big Country's "In a Big Country" and H&O's "Family Man"), so its chart position makes sense.
― I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 6 April 2009 22:44 (fifteen years ago) link
*but I remember HEARING "KOP," rather
― I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 6 April 2009 22:45 (fifteen years ago) link
I thought Family Man was mostly an MTV music-video phenomenon. I can't even remember hearing it on the radio. Great song, tho.
― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 6 April 2009 22:47 (fifteen years ago) link
I for one am pleased to not see the CD bonus track "Murder By Numbers" included although it's better than at least half the songs on this album, but it's just refreshing to see an accurate representation of the original release for once.
The lyrics of The Police, although consistently terrible, have always been overshadowed by how great the music is (in this one person's opinion). This is why songs like "Tea In The Sahara" are so good. Unfortunately, some people just can't get over bad lyrics.. which seems to be the case with most people posting here.
"O My God" is not shitty because the bass line is sick, and the outro is sublime.
And "Synchronicity 1" is way underrated.. I think I'm voting for that.. okay I just did.
― billstevejim, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:30 (fifteen years ago) link
I suddenly want to make a huge 1983 mix.
― billstevejim, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:37 (fifteen years ago) link
H2O is the 1982 hit album from the duo Daryl Hall and John Oates. It featured three Top 10 U.S. singles, including "Maneater" which was the biggest hit of their career, spending four weeks at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The album title is a play on the chemical formula for water, where "H" is for Hall, and "O" is for Oates.
― I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:44 (fifteen years ago) link
late 82 album = singles charted in 83 stfu
― billstevejim, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:54 (fifteen years ago) link
no! I was responding to Daniel about "Family Man."
― I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:58 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah i'm down w/ tea in the sahara, even if it prefigures the solo sting tripe that was to come. i don't put much stock in lyrics though - unless it's so blatantly over-the-top or forgrounded in such a way that i can't get around it.
i think Becker/Fagen lyrics are the only ones where i actively pay attention and am not consistently dissapointed or embarrassed.
― now is the time to winterize your manscape (will), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 17:59 (fifteen years ago) link
fore-
― now is the time to winterize your manscape (will), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:00 (fifteen years ago) link
im all on defense today. sorry
― billstevejim, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Am I the only one who really, really loves Miss Gradenko?
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:18 (fifteen years ago) link
yeah, sorry
― maybe u should tell that to your laughing vagina (HI DERE), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:19 (fifteen years ago) link
What a mildly stupid fate I have.
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:20 (fifteen years ago) link
King Of Pain by a mile
This.
― a tiny, faltering megaphone (grimly fiendish), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:25 (fifteen years ago) link
THERE'S A LITTLE BLACK SPOT ON THE SUN TO-DAY
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:26 (fifteen years ago) link
THERE'S A SALE ON OUR GABARDINE SUITS TO-DAY
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:29 (fifteen years ago) link
"every breath you take" is unassailable even if no one ever needs to hear it again
OTM. It's a perfect song, a gorgeous recording, and a deserved juggernaut of a single. And, while it's weird to call it this, a monster riff.
― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 18:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Am I the only one who really, really loves Miss Gradenko
Maybe, but I do really, really like it.
― I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 19:32 (fifteen years ago) link
The results of this poll may surprise you, Abbot.
― •--• --- --- •--• (Pleasant Plains), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 19:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Weird, I had never noticed that Murder By Numbers was a cd bonus track before.
― Nate Carson, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 20:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm pretty sure this was the first album I ever bought new from a store with my own money (as opposed to from a garage sale; that was the White Album). I still pretty much like this record and think it was the best thing the Police ever did, and I like Mother too, because it has a pretty strong Crimson vibe to it. This album also introduced me to Paul Bowles and other stuff that was cool to be into when I was in junior high, even if it now seems kind of pretentiously passe. Anyway favorite song is probably Synch 2.
― akm, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 22:11 (fifteen years ago) link
"Wrapped Around Your Finger". Best Police song ever.
I like all of the singles here. Among the non-singles, "Tea In The Sahara", "Synchronicity I" and "Walking In Your Footsteps" are great, while "Mother" is of course horrible.
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 22:43 (fifteen years ago) link
And, hey! Yes "Murder By Numbers" was great!
― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 April 2009 22:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't understand why people hate Mother so much. I guess I would expect Geir not to like it, but I love its utter madness. I've heard Murder By Numbers, it's okay I guess.
― To Float Away On A Lifelong Song (Bimble), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 22:56 (fifteen years ago) link
Mother is a delight. I played that damn song so many times in 2001. Real Mother kick.
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 23:07 (fifteen years ago) link
It reminds me off a sillier/creepier (longer) '5% for Nothing.'
― i'm shy (Abbott), Tuesday, 7 April 2009 23:09 (fifteen years ago) link
I really, really hate "Mother". I'm all about crazy songs where someone just screams, but really.
― •--• --- --- •--• (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link
It is pretty out of place, I will admit.
― Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Abbott), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 01:12 (fifteen years ago) link
It was "Mother" that prepared me for the likes of Captain Beefheart and Wild Man Fischer
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 03:46 (fifteen years ago) link
"Synchronicity II" is awesome and really not overplayed for me - not sure what it was like at the time but it's now the Police single you never here. Sting may lay it on thick in places ("another suburban family morning" etc) but there's some really great moments of stridency and man, yeah, Summers is kicking ass on this one. Love the "BA DA DA DANG DANG BRANG A DANG A DANG DANG" after the part about how the guy's eyeballs ache. And the spooky evil rising from the dark Scottish lake works for me - the two parallel plots make a nice pair of really detailed daily breakdown versus really vague/menacing.
It's probably supposed to be some psychoanalytic BS where the dark Scottish lake is the guy's subconscious but I like it better as just this totally separate thing happening, "Meanwhile, far away, unbeknownst to our hero..."
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 04:11 (fifteen years ago) link
That said, this is the one Police album I haven't yet been able to make myself spring for a dollar copy of and so I'm not voting.
There's two versions of the cover art on the original LP. One has a bare breast. One does not.
Also, a lot of copies are not actually black, but semi transparent purple. Hold yours up to the light and check.
― Nate Carson, Wednesday, 8 April 2009 04:16 (fifteen years ago) link
They play 'Synchronicity II' as bumper music on Coast to Coast AM episodes about synchronicity.
DO YOU SEE
― Veteran of the Psychic Wars (Abbott), Wednesday, 8 April 2009 05:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
After this poll started I listened to this album about 400 times. Soooooo goooooooooood.
― fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:43 (fifteen years ago) link
I love how he says 'HUMILIATING kick in the CROTCH."
― fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:53 (fifteen years ago) link
I think Mother is great! It's so fucked up. I'm tempted to vote for it. Or Sync I. Can't decide.
― one art, please (Trayce), Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:57 (fifteen years ago) link
I thought ILM hated this album. Pleasant surprise that I was wrong. Best thing Sting was ever involved in of course.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 30 April 2009 00:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Yes because ILM is all one brain.
― one art, please (Trayce), Thursday, 30 April 2009 00:15 (fifteen years ago) link
"Best thing Sting was ever involved in of course"
Yes, except for DUNE.
― Nate Carson, Thursday, 30 April 2009 00:43 (fifteen years ago) link
the one that goes "I WILL LISTEN HARD TO YOUR TUITION"
― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 30 April 2009 01:43 (fifteen years ago) link
I stop caring about the Police after their third album. And by this one, I basically can't stand them. My wife, on the other hand, is a huge fan -- first concert she ever saw, etc. When I asked her what her favorite track was, she said she didn't have one because it's meant to be listened to as an entire album. But when pressed, she named "Synchronicity I," for being the "most rock." So I'll vote for that.
― xhuxk, Thursday, 30 April 2009 01:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, we just checked her copy, and the vinyl is in fact translucent purple -- looks pretty cool! We can't find any bare breasts, however (except for those belonging to actual Police members.)
― xhuxk, Thursday, 30 April 2009 01:59 (fifteen years ago) link
it's interview all the way for me
― ufo, Monday, 10 January 2022 03:16 (two years ago) link
that interview excerpt is great. also, now i wanna hear Copeland's "'rama-lama' punk version" (also what exactly does he mean by that phrasing?).
― I Am Fribbulus (Xax) (Doctor Casino), Monday, 10 January 2022 03:24 (two years ago) link
The estimable 80sography podcast recently published a track-by-track commentary by Hugh Padgham!
― Vast Halo, Saturday, 15 January 2022 20:05 (two years ago) link
The Revolver interview:
https://www.sting.com/news/title/revolver
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 15 January 2022 20:22 (two years ago) link
Man, that Pittsburgh joke reminds me of an awkward evening with a loud relative.
― birdistheword, Saturday, 15 January 2022 20:27 (two years ago) link
Lmao
Revolver: Bands like the Offspring cite 'Can't Stand Losing You' as an important early punk song. Wasn't it banned by the BBC? Copeland: Actually, we got a lot of mileage out of it being supposedly banned by the BBC. In fact, all that really happened was that we didn't make their playlist, so we turned that into 'Banned by the BBC'. Sting: Wait a minute - it was 'Roxanne' they wouldn't play. Then we had that publicity campaign with posters about how the BBC banned 'Roxanne'. The reason they had a problem with 'Can't Stand Losing You' was because the photo on the cover of the single had Stewart standing on a block of ice with a noose around his neck, waiting for the ice to melt. Copeland: Oh, so it was all my fault? Sting: No, no, I applauded you for doing that Stewart. The only problem is... you didn't actually go through with it. (laughs)
Copeland: Actually, we got a lot of mileage out of it being supposedly banned by the BBC. In fact, all that really happened was that we didn't make their playlist, so we turned that into 'Banned by the BBC'.
Sting: Wait a minute - it was 'Roxanne' they wouldn't play. Then we had that publicity campaign with posters about how the BBC banned 'Roxanne'. The reason they had a problem with 'Can't Stand Losing You' was because the photo on the cover of the single had Stewart standing on a block of ice with a noose around his neck, waiting for the ice to melt.
Copeland: Oh, so it was all my fault?
Sting: No, no, I applauded you for doing that Stewart. The only problem is... you didn't actually go through with it. (laughs)
― frogbs, Saturday, 15 January 2022 20:43 (two years ago) link
seriously they could reunite without instruments for a comedy banter tour and I'd be first in line for tickets
― poster of sparks (rogermexico.), Saturday, 15 January 2022 23:13 (two years ago) link
We’re watching Only Murders in the Building; turns out Sting is in the show, in kind of an amusing way (speaking of comedy).
― Rockin’, and rollin’, and whatnot (morrisp), Sunday, 16 January 2022 07:50 (two years ago) link
Sting otm about Copelands rhythms being completely in danceable though
― frogbs, Sunday, 16 January 2022 19:30 (two years ago) link
for bookmarkers who might not have seen: When the World is Running Down, You Make the POLL of What's Still Around – ILM Artist Poll #116 – THE POLICE - (Voting is open until Sunday, Nov 27)
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Saturday, 19 November 2022 16:00 (one year ago) link
box set coming:
https://wmgk.com/2023/08/22/sting-confirms-police-synchronicity-box-set-is-coming/
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 02:56 (eight months ago) link
Does the world need a Sychronicity boxed set?
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Wednesday, 23 August 2023 05:00 (eight months ago) link
tbh, except for Pet Sounds, I can't think of a single rock album box set that needed to be box set. They all should have been carved up into separate releases - e.g. a remastered (or remixed) edition of the album, a live album, and an outtakes/demos/studio rarities compilation. But economically speaking, when it comes to reissues, album box sets are the most viable products a label can come up with.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 05:45 (eight months ago) link
Looking forward to that 21-minute version of "Mother"
― pplains, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 13:57 (eight months ago) link
A whole disk of "Mother" ala the Fun House sessions.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 23 August 2023 13:59 (eight months ago) link
the motherlode
― NickB, Wednesday, 23 August 2023 17:27 (eight months ago) link
― pplains, Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Extended remix by Arthur Baker.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 23 August 2023 17:30 (eight months ago) link
this is an album that easily could have landed in my top 50 if I'd thought about it. certainly interested in hearing outtakes, but like most box sets, I'd go for a digital version.
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 23 August 2023 18:26 (eight months ago) link