Police

Regatta de Blanc

Arguably Their Best

Review Score:

(10/10)
While The Police's juggernaut, Outlandos d'Amour woke the world up to a fresh, new sound, it was their sophomore effort that proved they were the real deal. Led by the radio hits "Message In A Bottle" and "Walking On The Moon," Regatta De Blanc started the snowball that would culminate in 1983's Synchronicity. Where Outlandos introduced the band, Regatta was the second date that made you believe this could be the one.
The "White Reggae" kicks off in what each member of the band calls the quintessential Police song, "Message In A Bottle." It captures everything right about The Police. Stewart Copeland's manic, driving, syncopated beat; Andy Summers' arpeggio and flange chords and crying responses to the lyric; Sting's counter-melodic lead bass, simple-yet poetic words tied together with harmonized vocals.
Throwing all the rules out the window, they follow up with the instrumental piece "Regatta De Blanc" (with an occasional Sting shout and trademark "Yo") The Grammy-award winning song resulted from live performances and was originally a musical bridge between songs.
"It's Alright For You" is a driving rocker featuring the usual quick-and-soaring Summers solo and excellent guitar work, while "Bring On The Night" takes the mood down several notches to prepare you for suicidal speeding driver and his careening car in "Deathwish."
Not to take you any further down, Sting brings the beat and the mood up to start the second side of the album with "Walking On The Moon." Another catchy lyric and melody lead by the bass with accentuation from the guitar and the reggae beat to wrap it all up.
"You want something corny?/Well you got it." That's the intro to Stewart Copeland's "On Any Other Day." A song about one hell-ish day for our hero. It's fun, upbeat and yes, corny. A very underrated, but great song. Sting returns to his longing ways with the clever and beautiful "The Bed's Too Big Without You."
The final three songs on Regatta are my favorite. They're not the "hits" that most remember, but they are well crafted songs that maybe don't have the pop hook, but each has its own moment that makes it a great tune. "Contact" is strange and dark, it smacks of the same slightly stalking theme to come later in "Every Breath You Take. " Likewise, "Does Everyone Stare" could be considered the precursor to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Our hero can't get the nerve up to ask out the girl of his dreams. Once again, clever lyrics and a great "clunky" melody put you in the shoes of the unrequited. The album wraps up with hectic "No Time This Time." I don't know how many times I played the air drums along with Stewart on this one!
Perhaps the most "reaggae-ish" of The Police albums, Regatta does not disappoint. You should buy every album The Police put out, but if you can afford only one, Regatta gives you the best taste of what The Police had to offer.

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