Synchronicity [Remaster] (CD - 1983)

Although the Police's fifth release, 1983's Synchronicity, would be their most commercially successful and lead to a sold-out tour of enormodomes (including New York's Shea Stadium), it would turn out to be the trio's final album and tour. Like all Police recordings, Synchronicity contains some obvious "filler" (such as the silly dinosaur tale of "Walking in Your Footsteps" and the almost unlistenable "Mother"), but for the most part, it's exceptional. One of 1983's biggest singles, the haunting "Every Breath You Take" is an obvious highlight, as well as other hits -- the cacophonous rocker "Synchronicity II," plus the far more temperate "Wrapped Around Your Finger" and "King of Pain." Also included are the oft-overlooked tracks "O My God," "Synchronicity I" (used as a concert opener on the ensuing tour), "Tea in the Sahara," "Murder by Numbers," and the Stewart Copeland original "Miss Gradenko." Few other albums from 1983 merged tasteful pop, sophistication, and expert songwriting as well as Synchronicity did, resulting in yet another all-time classic. ~ Greg Prato

Voted Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in the '83 Grammys, SYNCHRONICITY was the fifth in a string of successes for The Police. The single "Every Breath You Take," also earning a Grammy, was written by Sting in ten minutes in a middle-of-the-night inspiration, after which he went back to sleep.

Fancy knowing you were going to break up and yet be able to record and produce this masterpiece. The world domination of the Police was as calculated and planned as was their departure. Each of the intervening albums have something special but the power of tracks such as 'Synchronicity II', and the haunting quality of 'Every Breath You Take' (you really believe Sting when he says, 'I'll be watching you') give this record the edge. The only tracks less than brilliant are Summers' and Copeland's offerings, a fact of which they must all have been aware. They bowed out while they were still winning. minimize