The Police Reggatta De Blanc released

Reggatta De Blanc The Police

Released: October 5, 1979 Peak: 25 US, 14 UK, 3 CN, 12 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.3 UK, 8.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: new wave

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Message in a Bottle [4:51] (9/21/79, 74 US, 62 CB, 80 HR, 2 CL, 3 CO, 1 UK, 2 CN, 5 AU) Regatta de Blanc (Copeland/Sting/Summers) [3:06] It’s Alright for You (Copeland/Sting) [3:13] Bring on the Night [4:16] (11/22/79, 22 CL, 30 CO) Deathwish (Copeland/Sting/Summers) [4:13] Walking on the Moon [5:02] (11/4/79, 6 CL 6 CO, 1 UK) On Any Other Day (Copeland) [2:57] (18 CO) The Bed’s Too Big Without You [4:26] (6/8/80, 21 CL, 11 CO, 17 UK) Contact (Copeland) [2:38] Does Everybody Stare (Copeland) [3:52] No Time This Time [3:17] Songs written by Sting unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 41:52 The Players: Sting (vocals, bass) Andy Summers (guitar) Steward Copeland (drums)

Rating: 4.088 out of 5.00 (average of 24 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “By 1979’s Reggatta de Blanc…nonstop touring had sharpened the Police’s original blend of reggae-rock to perfection, resulting in breakthrough success.” AMG The album “features the Police’s distinctive appropriation of reggae and frontman Sting’s Caribbean vocal inflections.” WK The title loosely translates in French to “White Reggae.” WK “The inspirational anthem Message in a Bottle and the spacious Walking on the Moon” AMG both topped the UK charts, pushing the album to #1 as well. Like its predecessor, the album was a top-25 platinum-seller in the United States. “The album also signaled a change in the band’s sound. Whereas their debut got its point across with raw, energetic performances, Reggatta de Blanc was much more polished production-wise and fully developed from a songwriting standpoint.” AMG Music journalist Tim Peacock said the album transformed the group “into one of the post-punk era’s defining bands.” WK The songwriting was much quicker for the second album. “Whereas Outlandos D’Amour had benefitted from one of the most prolific songwriting periods of Sting’s life,” WK the sessions for Reggatta De Blanc were marked by recycling old songs. Bring on the Night and The Bed’s Too Big Without You both started out as tunes for Last Exit, Sting’s band prior to the Police. WK No Time This Time was originally a B-side to “So Lonely” from the previous album. “While vigorous rockers did crop up from time to time (It’s Alright for You, Deathwish, ‘No Time This Time,’ and the Grammy-winning instrumental title track), the material was overall much more sedate than the debut…Also included was Stewart Copeland’s one and only lead vocal appearance on a Police album, the witty On Any Other Day, as well as one of the band’s most eerie tracks, Contact.” AMG With Reggatta de Blanc, many picked Sting and Co. to be the superstar band of the ‘80s, and the Police would prove them correct on the band’s next release.” AMG The band’s drummer, Stewart Copeland, said it was his favorite Police album. WK

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Police AMG All Music Guide review by Greg Prato WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/22/2008; last updated 8/25/2021.