Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 30
 Very Good, but there is one compilation that is better July 28, 2007
L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
It is hard to believe that a band can become a Hall of Fame band with just five studio albums to their name, but the Police are such a band. This is an honor that the Police are most worthy of. The Police were sort of an off-shoot of the Punk Rock movement of the late 1970s. The band would eventually encompass other influences - namely Classic Rock, Reggae, Jazz, Dance, and even Folk. For the most part, it is fair to say there was a Punk Rock and Reggae influence on the band for their first two albums" - "Outlandos D'Amour" and "Regatta de Blanc". Both of these albums were terrific efforts - mostly because The Police used applied their unique style to a formula that worked. The Police would soon transform their sound to a more Classic Rock sound. With each successive album ("Zenyatta Mondatta", "Ghost in the Machine", and "Synchronicity"), the Police would continue to grow as a band and incorporate a variety of genres into their sound. In 1986, the Police officially disbanded and it wouldn't be until 2007 when they would officially reunite for a reunion tour. To build some momentum for the tour, the Police would release a two CD greatest hits collection entitled "The Police". This compilation does provide a good portfolio of the band's classic tracks.
"The Police" takes tracks from each of the band's five albums. Six tracks from "Outlandos D'Amour" ("Can't Stand Losing You", "Next to You", "Roxanne", "Truth Hits Everybody", "Hole in My Life", "So Lonely"); Four tracks from "Regatta De Blanc" ("Message in a Bottle", "Regatta De Blanc", "Bring on the Night", "Walking on the Moon"); Five tracks from "Zenyatta Mondatta" ("Don't Stand So Close to Me", "Driven to Tears", "Canary in a Coalmine", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", "Voices Inside My Head"); Four tracks from "Ghost in the Machine" ("Invisible Sun", "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", "Spirits in the Material World", "Demolition Man"); Eight tracks from "Synchronicity" ("Every Breath You Take", "Synchronicity I", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Walking In Your Footsteps", "Synchronicity II", "King of Pain", "Murder By Numbers", "Tea in the Sahara"). This collection also includes the band's debut single - not released on the five studio albums - "Fallout". There is an import version of this collection that includes two addition tracks - "The Bed's Too Big Without You" (from "Regatta De Blanc") and "Rehumanize Yourself" (from "Ghost in the Machine"). My big argument is that this collection tends to go too heavy on "Synchronicity" - with eight of the eleven tracks from that album on this collection. One can also make the argument not enough was taken from "Regatta De Blanc" or "Ghost in the Machine". For the most part, this compilation does a good job at taking the essential tracks from the Police's music portfolio.
One strength of this collection is that the tracks are chronologically arranged by the studio album they released. This allows you to see how a band has progressed over time. In the case of the Police, this is essential because I think it is important to hear how their sound evolved.
When considering a greatest hits compilation, it is important to know that bands often release several flavors of compilations.
"Every Breath You Take - The Singles": This was a compilation released in 1986. It only includes twelve tracks. It contains an updated version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" called "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86"). All of the tracks on this collection are found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation. For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.
"Every Breath You Take - The Classics": An Updated Version of "Every Breath You Take - The Singles". It includes both versions of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and an additional version of "Message in a Bottle" (that version is not found on "The Police" 2 CD compilation). For the most part, this collection preserves the chronological ordering of the band.
"The Very Best of Sting and The Police": This provides a mix of Sting's solo work with some of the Police's best hits. There are two versions of this collection - one from 1997 and one from 2002 with the latter one being more complete. These compilations do not preserve the chronological ordering of the band.
"Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings": This is exactly as advertised. It includes every song from each of the five studio albums as well as some B side songs, live tracks, and songs not originally found on CD. These songs are arranged in chronological order on four CDs. It also includes the "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" version.
It is worth noting that "The Police" 2 CD compilation is very good. If you are looking for a greatest hits collection by the Police, this stands up much stronger than the two "Every Breath You Take" compilations. It also provides more depth from the Police perspective than the two versions of "The Very Best of Sting and The Police". However, if one is considering a greatest hits collection, I would easily opt for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation. You are going to get so much more for your money. You also get the benefits of a boxed set (including a very good booklet). Every song on this 2 CD compilation is going to be found on the "Message in a Box" collection. My recommendation would be to go for the "Message in a Box" collection over this 2 CD compilation.
 Good Sound Quality! Questionable Track Selections! August 26, 2007
Frederick Baptist (Singapore)
5 out of 17 found this review helpful
I guess I'm lucky as I got the Made In Singapore version which also came with a very nifty free Police tee-shirt which truth be told went a long way in my decision to get this yet another Police greatest hits compilation. I was also impressed by the unique jewel case design and the cd booklet actually opens up into a poster which I thought was cool.
Speaking as a fan from the very beginning though I can safely tell you that the tracks on this baby do not even remotely represent their best work. I have been able over the years to filter their songs into what is truly The Police's 20 greatest songs and they are listed below:
1. Roxanne
2. Can't Stand Losing You
3. Message In a Bottle
4. Walking On the Moon
5. Don't Stand So Close To Me
6. Driven To Tears (brilliant lyrics)
7. Canary In a Coalmine
8. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
9. Behind My Camel (Grammy award winner btw)
10.Spirits In the Material World
11.Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
12.Invisible Sun
13.Omegaman (a masterpiece of guitaring excellence)
14.Secret Journey
15.Darkness (my all-time favourite Police track, simply a work of art)
16.Synchronicity II
17.Every Breath You Take
18.King of Pain
19.Wrapped Around Your Finger
20.Tea In the Sahara
Thankfully with the advent of the MP3, I have been able to compile on my own what is truly the best work this great band has ever done. If you already have all the albums save yourself the money and instead of getting this album, why don't you compile your own favourite tracks the way I did?
They STILL didn't get it right!!! Unbelievable!! June 30, 2007
Thomas E. Harper (NW Indiana)
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This collection was much needed, not only to introduce a new generation of fans to the Police's music as they reform and tour this summer but also to have an anthology that would stay in print, remastered for the ages, that summed up the "definitive" tracks for the iPod generation. The previous comps were severely lacking. The thing that gets me is that 2 tracks were left off this collection that would make it truly definitive, 2 tracks that most areas of the country still hear on rock radio and needed to be included to declare this collection the ultimate Police summation. I'm referring to "Peanuts", from Outlandos d'Amour and "When The World Is Winding Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" from Zenyatta Mondatta. These are essential Police cuts and are familiar to even the most casual Police fans. The frustrating part is that they could have been included without sacrificing any of the songs on the collection! Sure, it's a little heavy on the 1st and last disc (with good reason), but there is more than enough room to have 15 songs on each CD, even 16 or 17! "Rehumanize Yourself"! "Bed's Too Big.."! "Shadows In The Rain"! Also missing....not as essential, but why? To leave room for another collection down the line? Without a doubt, When the World... is not only one of their most famous songs but one of their best. I can't believe they didn't get it right with 2 CDs to work with! Thing is, I've made a 1 CD Police mix for the car and was able to usually fit AT THE MINIMUM 18 songs on it, even using different tracks! If that were done here, this would have been a 5 star review. Oh well, there's always next time, right? Dig deeper, people!!! 5 stars for the music, 1 star for the short length and exclusions. I'm sorry to give this collection any less than the 5 stars it deserves but it's a waste and a shame. Congratulations to the Police for the successful reformation!
So Close! June 20, 2007
Eric Morris (San Antonio, Texas United States)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
OK, what you get with this collection is far superior to any previous collection. I'll give you that. However, it is still incomplete. As has already been pointed out the most glaring omission is "When The World Is Running Down..." Yes, "Don't Stand So Close '86" should be here too. However, I can understand it's omission as making that record was a bone of contention with the band in '86. My biggest gripe is where the hell is "Secret Journey"? It was a hit on my planet!
Each disc has 14 tracks and could've easily fit 15. I would give this collection 5 stars if they would've just made it an even 30 songs and included:
"Secret Journey"
"When The World Is Running Down..."
 Can a Police Compilation be better than this? June 10, 2007
Da BrandoChipper
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I can think of only one track that belonged here but isnt and that would be "When The World Is Running Down." But the extra attention that is given to early Police over previous attempts at a compilation make this collection far superior. When I saw this collection included "Next to You", "So Lonely", "Regatta De Blanc", "Canary in a Coal Mine", and "Voices in My Head" , I had to have it. I never tire of hearing Stewert Copelands drumwork in the last 60 seconds of "Voices". The inclusion of "Tea in the Sahara" also bumps up the credibility. Listening to this collection gives you every side of the Police, not just the softer radio version of the band as was the complaint of their "Evvery Breath" greatest hits. Whoever compiled the songlist here did their homework.
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