Notveryskilled

I am a very big fan of The Police, and this is probably there biggest album. It was the album released after the highly praised and often thought of album Outlandos d'Amour which had Next to You, So Lonely, and of course Roxanne. Reggatta de Blanc (1978) is my second album by the group. The Police also possess my favorite drummer Stewart Copeland.

1. Message in a Bottle- This song is very difficult to play on guitar and has a very cool sound. Andy Summer's guitar and Sting's voice work well while the up-beat drumming of Copeland plays in the back. One of the best songs on the album.

2. Raggatta de Blanc- I don't really understand what this song is trying to achieve... It's simply guitar, drums, bass, and a voice making annoying sounds of nothing. I'd say very weak song, and definitely not worthy of the album name.

3. It's Alright for You- It's up-beat and fun. Stewart has the biggest part in this song. He pieces it together and then some. Not a great song but good enough for a listen to.

4. Bring on the Night- This song isn't thought of as "great," but it does have some of the coolest guitar I've ever heard. It shows of all the skills of band. High speed drumming with crazy guitar and Sting being Sting. One of my personal favorites off the album.

5. Deathwish- This song is kind of messy. Fun when your in the mood. It's kind of ska like, which is what I think they were aiming for. It would be better with a better lyrics. As I hope you know Sting's writing isn't his strong suit.

6.Walking on the Moon- The often cover song is probably the best song on the album, though it's hard to say. They use a slow guitar and bass line while the drum sticks fly in back of it all. The best chorus on the album. Best writing by sting on the album. Fun to listen to, fun to play.

7.On any Other Day- One of the few songs written by Stewart Copeland. It's funny like him and enjoyable to listen to. The lyrics are great. A fun song to listen to during a bad day. Be sure to listen to this song if you get/listen to the album.

8. Bed's Too Big Without You- Another bad Sting song. The only reason this song is listenable is because of Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland who picked up the slack. The lryics are awful, it's about his ex-wife or girlfriend. Not good.

9. Contact- another Stewart Copeland Original, it's less funny but still humorous in some spots. A very weird sound. It's still The Police and you can tell that but not their usual fun upbeat songs that we are so used to.

10. Does Everyone Stare- The last Copeland song a=on the album. It's Funny and somehow my favorite Police song ever. the piano, bass, guitar, and vocals go great together. It's so true as well. I think of this song every time I stare at somebody. I'm always surprised at how low-stream this song is.

11.No Time This Time- The last on the album is very fast paced and exciting. A different sound to Sting (done with an effect of some sort.) The writing is better than most of Sting's stuff. I enjoy the chorus, and the solo. There are these voices after Sting yells "No time at all" that make me remember why The Police made it so main-stream with their creativity.

Overall. 7/10.

NVS

proto-punk

Good review i love the police, especially stewart copeland

The purpose of the song Regetta De Blanc means "White Man Reggae" So its sort of their interpretation of Jamaican reggae music

Gavin B.

Reggatta De Blanc has always been my favorite Police album. The band was doing a lot of club gigging and a lot of the on the album has a wonderful ragged edge to it. At the time Reggatta was released, I saw the Police in Boston's most notorious punk rock cellar the Rat and they blew me away. Their sound wasn't exactly punk but it wasn't "new wave" either... it was more like reggae music on steriods. A lot of punk oriented bands were experimenting with reggae and dub at the time including Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello, Public Image and the Members.

I disagree with you on the instrumental song Reggatta de Blanc. Stewart's drumming is awesome on that song especially the opening which he plays entirely on a drum rim. It's reggae raveup and most of the chanting is the word "Jah." This song is one of the earliest experiments in dub effects by a rock group. It was the most exciting song I heard them play live and it was their finale number and they jammed on it for about 15 or 20 minutes.

All three members of the band were and still are great musicians. Stewart Copeland is a drummer's drummer and you can hear reggae one drop influences, African tribal drumming and jazz influences in his style. He's definitely my favorite rock n' roll drummer.

There are three songs on Regatta that I've played over and over for the last 30 years and never gotten tired of: Message in a Bottle, Walking on the Moon and Bring on the Night. The Police never sounded as raw and energentic after Regatta. Their next album Zenyatta Mondatta was the album that broke the Police in the United States but I found it to be a major disappointment and MOR pop sellout. Nothing on Zenyatta is up to par with the material on Regatta.

Notveryskilled

I agree completely. I love all three of those songs, I Attempt to play them but my smallish hands can't manage the long stretches Summers takes.

luckyrayenz

Every time I hear this CD, or any other album of Police, I think what if .... What if Sting did not want to go and pursue other interests? What if the police still today? The police could be one of the rock greatist and roll bands of all time, and that's saying a lot, since they only released 5 albums (containing original material) This happens to be my favorite of the group, although all they are equally good. As I imagine most people reading this are fans of the Police, who do not or are only familar with the songs you hear on the radio are, then you are losing, because this CD is a bad song isn't. If you want to listen to one of the best bands of 3 men, then this is right up your alley. I think fans of all music is this treasure, and even if you can not stand Sting, pick this one up just to listen to Stewart Copeland, drummer one of the best and most under rated of all time .. ENJOY

rabbirayenz

I loved this album. Although many people call my two favorite tracks, but could be any other day and everyone does Stare, shy and I think at best it shows Stewart Copeland writing. Through this album without skipping a single song can go.

boo boo

I love The Police, though I prefer their 80s work, this is the best of their two 70s albums. It's excellent.

Don't get the hate for Bed's Too Big Without You, the lyrics are indeed corny but the actual music is great, Sting and Copeland's bass and drum work is especially great on that one.

I do think Sting's early lyrics were overly simplistic (Love Me Do level) but once he got a little pretentious in the 80s I actually think he transformed into a pretty good lyricist. Still lyrics are not the main attraction of The Police, more than any other new wave group they were a musician's band.

I don't dislike any track here in particular but I'd say the worst is On Any Other Day, but hey it's a gag song and an amusing one.

I always considered Sting the true genius songwriter of the group but this album is different in that it features a very strong songwriting contribution from Copeland who is responsible for the more rocking tracks here.

Anyway can't say I liked this review, it's not descriptive at all, doesn't seem you put a lot of effort into it, and you just have a habit of simply stating weither you like or song or not without really describing the contents other than using simple adjectives like "funny" or "cool".

I rate the album an A and the review a D.

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quiqueguitar

Very interesting reviews. Keep it up

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