"...Make The Best Of What's
Around..."
The
last time the Police's catalogue was remastered in 2003 (by Bob Ludwig), each
CD was an enhanced version with a single video of note as the bonus track
("Roxanne" for the debut, "Walking On The Moon" for the
second and so on).
This 2018/2019 reissue goes back to basics...removing the
vids and net content and adding peripheral recordings from the band's initial
studio output between 1978 and 1983 (they disbanded when Sting went solo in
1984).
Police
fans will know that this gorgeous box set first appeared a year ago with the
same title as a VINYL 6LP treat on 16 November 2018 – all records remastered
and pressed up as Half-Speed Masters at Abbey Road. This is simply the belated
CD variant of that using the same 2018 remasters (unfortunately minus the
24-page booklet). Five Studio Albums onto 5 Individual CDs and a Bonus Disc
Compilation called "Flexible Strategies" that gathers up 12 straggler
single B-sides and rarities (I've broken it down track-by-track, see list
below).
The
bonus track "Murder By Numbers" that was on the original Cassette and
CD versions of 1983's "Synchronicity" (also the B-side of the
"Every Breath You Take" 45) has now been moved over to that
compilation and each card repro sleeve made into a gatefold (including No. 6).
The collage photo of the band for "Zenyatta Mondatta" and the inner
sleeve for "Ghost In The Machine" (which admittedly was never much to
look at) are at least reproduced on the inside of the card gatefolds - but the
lyrics for "Synchronicity" are AWOL (the first two LPs only had paper
inners) and the sixth has a boring non-event inner gatefold when it could have
been used to display the pictures sleeves for the singles and their A-sides.
While there is no booklet or any lyrics (mores the pity), there is a pleasingly
oversized clamshell box with a ribbon inside to remove the card sleeves without
too much damage (there are no inner protective bags for the CDs which are tight
inside the flaps – so watch that as you remove them).
But
surely the big news is the upgraded mastering which to my ears is mind-blowingly
good and the intro price of less than seventeen spondulicks for six CDs – a
proper Christmas cracker if ever there was one. So what do you get...
Released
Friday, 15 November 2019 - "Every Move You Make: The Studio
Recordings" by THE POLICE on UMC/A&M/Polydor 779 757-7 (Barcode
602577975776) is a 6-Disc Clamshell Box Set that breaks down as follows...
CD1
"Outlandos D'Amour" (38:17 minutes) - originally UK released November
1978 UK on A&M Records AMLH 68502
CD2
"Regatta De Blanc" (41:56 minutes) - originally UK released October
1979 on A&M Records AMLH 64792
CD3
"Zenyatta Mondatta" (38:28 minutes) - originally UK released October
1980 on A&M Records AMLH 64831
CD4
"Ghost In The Machine" (41:20 minutes) - originally UK released
October 1981 on A&M Records AMLK 63730
CD5
"Synchronicity" (39:55 minutes) - originally UK released June 1983 on
A&M Records AMLX 63735
CD6
"Flexible Strategies" (43:38 minutes) - released 15 November 2019
1.
Dead End Job - non-album B-side to "Can't Stand Losing You" in
October 1978 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7381)
2.
Landlord - non-album B-side to "Message In A Bottle" in September
1979 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7474)
3.
Visions Of The Night - non-album B-side to "Walking On The Moon" in
November 1979 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7494)
4.
Friends - non-album B-side to "Don't Stand So Close To Me" in October
1980 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7564)
5.
A Sermon - non-album B-side to "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" in November
1980 (UK, A&M Records AMS 7578)
6.
Shamelle - non-album B-side to "Invisible" in September 1981 (UK,
A&M Records AMS 8164)
7.
Flexible Strategies - non-album B-side to "Every Little Thing She Does Is
Magic" in October 1981 (UK, A&M Records AMS 8174)
8.
Low Life - non-album B-side to "Spirits In The Material World" in
December 1981 (UK, A&M Records AMS 8194)
9.
Murder By Numbers - non-album B-side to "Every Breath You Take" in
May 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 117)
10.
Truth Hits Everybody (1983 Remix) - non-album B-side to "Every Breath You
Take" in May 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 117 DOUBLE-PACK Version - second
45 was catalogue number A&M AM*01)
11.
Someone To Talk To - non-album B-side to "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
in July 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 127)
12.
Once Upon A Daydream - non-album B-side to "Synchronicity II" in
October 1983 (UK, A&M Records AM 153)
The
remasters are superlative. Their explosively hip debut hit the 1978 British New
Wave landscape running with gutsy and lyrically smart tunes like "Next To
You" (wow those drums and that guitar break), "So Lonely" and
the brilliant "Can't Stand Losing You" – all utterly booted and
suited now. Then you go deeper - album cuts like "Bring On The
Night", "Deathwish" and "The Bed's Too Big Without
You" simply rock-fabulous on the second platter - huge bass and drums -
all that power-trio tightness roaring out of your speakers. The Zenyatta double
of "Driven To Tears" segueing into "When The World Is Running
Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" is stunning as is the
sheer thump that comes off "Voices In My Head". The brass on
"Too Much Information" and the sexy sway of "Tea In The
Sahara" – all better.
What's
missing - fans will notice the May 1977 UK debut 45 for "Fall Out"
b/w Nothing Achieving" on Illegal Records IL 001 is not here - probably licensing
- and several B-sides like the live version of "Man In A Suitcase"
that turned up on the second 45 in the "Every Breath You Take"
double-pack is also AWOL. The 1986 remake for "Don't Stand So Close To
Me" isn’t here either - but these are minor omissions once you clap your
ears on the clarity of the Remasters.
Is
the bonus disc any good - in truth and excepting better B-sides like
"Murder By Numbers", "Low Life", "Someone To Talk
To" and "Once Upon A Daydream" - overall the supposed Bonus Disc
"Flexible Strategies" makes for a painful listen. Police B-sides
really were not the greatest - the ludicrous speed of "Landlord" and
the throwaway nature of instrumentals like "Shamelle" and
"Flexible Strangers" haven't worn at all well. And that 1983 remix of
"Truth Hits Everybody" sanitised the cool punk kick the original
debut album version had – neutering a punchy anthem. It is however cool to hear
those better outsiders in such good audio again ("Once Upon A
Daydream" should have been on the "Synchronicity" album instead of the dog that "Mother" was).
To
sum up - the five albums only remind you of how good THE POLICE really were - a
fantastic singles band too – Sting’s writing getting better and more
sophisticated with each outing – Andy Summers on Guitar with Stewart Copeland
on Drums making the perfect trio. The remasters are genuinely ace, it looks
damn good and "Every Move You Make: The Studio Recordings" is
currently selling its rather tasty little booty for three quid less than its
pre-purchase price of a twenty spot.
"...When
the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around..." -
Sting sang on that thrown-together third album. Even on a bad day, The Police
were still head and shoulders above so many bands of the time. My advice, with
this amount of quality in such a tasty display and the
cheap-as-a-politician's-promise price tag - grab this oversized regatta de
bollocks while you still can...
