This is a DTS CD, which features DTS 5.1 Surround Sound technology and is playable on a DTS-capable 5.1 Surround Sound system.
The Police: Sting (vocals, bass); Andy Summers (guitar); Stewart Copeland (drums).
Additional personnel: Jean Roussel (keyboards).
Producers: The Police, Nigel Gray, Hugh Padgham, Laurie Latham.
This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
By deleting the 1986 hits collection Every Breath You Take: The Singles and replacing it nearly ten years later with Every Breath You Take: The Classics, A&M improved the original set -- but only slightly. Instead of finally adding the missing hits that were mysteriously absent the first time around ("Synchronicity II," "Demolition Man," "So Lonely," etc.), there are only two additional tracks -- the original version of "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and a "New Classic Rock Mix" of "Message in a Bottle." Again, the included hits speak for themselves -- "Roxanne," "Walking on the Moon," "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," -- but ultimately, The Classics misses the mark. Why would a Police fan who already owns The Singles want to replace it with a modestly different repackaging? A&M should have added some of the missing classics instead of just rehashing what many fans already own. ~ Greg Prato
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE: THE CLASSICS is an updated version of the 1986 collection EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE: THE SINGLES. The only differences in this collection are the addition of the "New Classic Rock Mix" of "Message In A Bottle," different artwork and a slightly reworded title. Cosmetic changes aside, this remains a solid representation of a unique pop trio whose studio output was a too-short five albums.
Although frontman/bassist Sting wrote practically all the material, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland's contributions leave no doubt that this was a three-man effort. "Walking On The Moon" features Summers' reggae shadings and Copeland's precise percussive nuances, and their instrumental prowess turns a nonsensical title such as "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" into a quirky pop nugget. As for Sting's songwriting, most of it revolved around relationships and the different turns they take. Phases such as rapture ("Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"), manipulation ("Wrapped Around Your Finger," "Every Breath You Take") and desperation ("Can't Stand Losing You") are all deftly touched on by Gordon Sumner. minimize