Police

Synchronicity

The police's equal to The Beatles' Abbey Road

Review Score:

(10/10)
To phrase a quote from ex-A&M exec Bob Garcia, "What The Beatles were in the 1960s, what Led Zeppelin were in the 1970s, The Police were in the early 1980s, especially 1983", end quote.
He wasn't lying.
The Police released their fifth and final studio album Synchronicity in June of 1983.
The Synchronicity album like its predecessor, 1981's Ghost in the Machine, was produced by the band and Hugh Padgham.
In 1984, at the top of their game, The Police decided to call it quits (although the group did not officially disband until 1986) just like The Beatles did in 1970 and Led Zeppelin did in 1980!
How is The Police's swan song, read on!
The album begins with the first of bass player/vocalist Sting's eight numbers Synchronicity I, a relatively fast-paced rocker led by keyboard and 12-string electric guitar and was a rock radio staple. We then shift to somewhat African rhythms with Walking In Your Footsteps, a simple and calm song. We then go to O My God which sounded like a traditional Police composition. The more than slightly bizarre Mother is next with lead vocals by guitarist Andy Summers whom also wrote the song. Drummer Stewart Copeland leads Miss Gradenko, with vocals from Sting and Stewart and is a great number. We then end the first half with Synchronicity II which is in my opinion, one of the best songs songs the band ever did. The track was a Top 20 hit and an MTV and rock radio staple in late 1983/early 1984.
The second half of the album kicks off with the album's biggest hit, the chart-topping Every Breath You Take which is the band's biggest hit. The highlight of the song is Sting's bass guitar work and vocal delivery. The song was later re-worked for Puff Daddy(P.DIDDLEY SQUAT)'s I'll Be Missing You in 1997. Following this great track is King Of Pain, another excellent song and Top 10 hit and rock radio gem and was the reason I got this album in the fall of 1983 on vinyl. We then follow with Wrapped Around Your Finger which was a great ballad and another big hit. The original vinyl album wrapped with Tea in the Sahara, which coincidentally perfectly wrapped up The Police's musical career with its mysterious-sounding lyrics - the song brings to my head an image of the sahara desert and is a great number.
For the CD and cassette release of the album, Murder by Numbers was added and it's a great song, but using it as a closing for the album was reminiscent to what The Beatles did with Her Majesty at the end of Abbey Road after the majestic Golden Slumbers medley.
Synchronicity is one of the best albums of the eighties and one of the biggest selling. Synchronicity was the album that FINALLY ended Michael Jackson's Thriller's reign at #1 on the album charts and sold millions upon release(I was one of the many who helped Synchronicity stay at #1 for 17 weeks in 1983).
This album is HUGELY RECOMMENDED!

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