What do you get when you join three different musicians with three entirely different outlooks on what music is and how to create it? If you said The Police, you would be right… but that answer probably comes to you more quickly than an understanding of the collective themselves.
Formed in 1977, the London-based trio of Bassist/Vocalist Sting, Guitarist, Andy Summers, along with American Drummer Stewart Copeland would swiftly make an impact with their unique brand of Rock, Punk Rock, and Ska. A sound that was solely their own, the 1978 debut of Outlandos d’Amour was monstrous, featuring tracks like “Next to You,” “So Lonely,” “Roxanne,” and “Can’t Stand Losing You.” However, this would only be the tip of the iceberg, because 1979’s Reggatta de Blanc, 1980’s Zenyatta Mondatta, and 1981’s Ghost in the Machine each displayed excellence in every facet of the world.
Astounding to see, The Police would soon be considered one of the most innovative Rock bands since The Beatles, and historically have been annotated one of the greatest of all time. High praise band that was broken up within nine years of forming, The Police’s consistent strive for musical perfection exerted an energy that left them exhausted. Unquestionably driven by the songwriting of Sting, there is no question that Summers’ guitar work and Copeland’s second-to-none drumming had a tremendous amount of influence on their songs. With this being said, with one hit after another The Police had an excessive amount of stress on them to keep it going into late 1982 when they began working on their fifth album Synchronicity.
Released June 17, 1983, Synchronicity found the members at a crossroads with themselves and as a collective band. Up against the overwhelming pressure of being the biggest Rock band on the planet, they exiled themselves to the Caribbean island of Montserrat to work on the album. An absolute paradise, unfortunately, it was anything but such for The Police who slowly tethering at the seams. Disagreeing on the direction of songs and trying to find a compromise, there was also the impending implication that Sting himself was indeed considering a sole career. So, where would this all lead? Well, eventually to the band’s inevitable break up in 1986, but not before Synchronicity would become the band’s biggest album ever.
Dubbed album of the year in 1983 by Rolling Stone Magazine, winning a Grammy Award in 1984, beyond this, Synchronicity is not just considered one of the best albums of the ‘80s, but all time. Ironic, considering it would be the last album the band would ever record together, the stories behind it all are nearly as fascinating as the music itself. As alluded to, these were pressure-packed times for the band, and it was showing in their lack of communication, constantly being at odds while recording, with an ever-present threat of breaking up. Fortunately for themselves as artists, and of course the listening work, they battled through these trials to finish the album.
Recently celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Synchronicity in 2023, UMe / Polydor has assembled the most comprehensive retrospective of the album in 2024 with the release of a super deluxe edition. Arriving on July 26th, this new set comes in various formats (which include a 6CD, 4LP, 2CD, 2LP Colored, 1LP Picture Disc, or e-album). Offering you much more than just the original studio album, looking at the grandest edition of this release, the 6-disc Limited Edition Boxset includes an additional 55 previously unreleased tracks. A whole heck of a lot of music to listen to, it is broken down into B-sides, demos, outtakes, alternative mixes, and many previously unavailable live recordings. Breaking all of this down, the rarities in the studio are extremely compelling to listen to with the knowledge of everything the band was going through. Furthermore, these recordings give you insight as to where the songs came from, how they developed, and where they may have gone.
Beyond all of this, the live recordings are simply fantastic with a set from The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum from September of 1983 being a huge highlight. The music aside, the 6-disc Limited Edition Deluxe Boxset also is packaged in a high-quality, heavy 62-page book with tons of rare photos and engaging writing that takes parts of interviews with the band members and intertwines into liner notes that provide a thoughtful education.
Worth the investment, if you are on a budget, the e-album mirrors this epic set digitally. This is while the 4LP Super Deluxe Edition and 2LP Deluxe Colored Vinyl, 1 LP Picture Disc each has something to offer collectors too. With many options to pick from, if you or someone you know appreciate The Police and understand the brilliance of Synchronicity, it is highly recommended to go for the gusto and pick up the 6-Disc Limited Edition Deluxe Boxset, because Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
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