The Police dig deeper beneath the surface of their greatest album

The release of an album often immediately subjects the work to either praise or criticism by both fans and critics alike. Along with listener’s analysis, an album’s success can additionally be measured through initial record sales and ratings. While these short-term measurements provide a demonstration of an artist’s grasp within the timeframe of their album’s rollout, the true weight of success can be depicted in the record’s ability to maintain relevance across generations and remain influential to future artists. 

These timeless and influential albums often reside within an unfortunately common narrative as a band’s greatest art is created while on the verge of implosion, calling to mind masterpieces such as Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours or Radiohead’s Ok Computer. On June 17, 1983, The Police released what would be their final, and most successful album – Synchronicity, in turn pushing their stardom to a level in which they were dubbed in a 2000 VH1 documentary as: “the biggest band in the world.” Despite birthing an unprecedented quality of music, relationships among The Police suffered as a result. Elevated tensions between vocalist/bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland were highlighted during the recording process of Synchronicity as reported by Ultimate Classic Rock, and resulted in frequent verbal and physical fighting between members of the band. Additionally, Synchronicity represented a shift in The Police’s sound, away from their reggae fusion of their first three records, to the employment of electronic instruments such as synthesizers and sound sequencers, leading to the creation of tracks such as the trippy “Synchronicity I,” hypnotic “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” and arena anthem “Every Breath You Take.”

Ultimately, the interpersonal and creative shifts occurring within The Police — for better or for worse — were worthwhile immediately upon and decades past its release. Synchronicity earned the London band five Grammy nominations and three wins, including song of the year for “Every Breath You Take.” In 2023 it was preserved in the U.S. National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical and aesthetic significance. 

July 2024’s 40th anniversary Super Deluxe reissue of Synchronicity allows a chance for greater reflection on the impact of The Police’s masterpiece, released in both a digital and physical format, the latest edition features nearly six hour’s worth of material including previously unreleased demos, outtakes, b-sides, live performances and instrumentals of various tracks. Rarely does the public get the opportunity to experience what goes into crafting an album and are only blessed with the masterfully polished finished product. The dozens of novel bonus tracks included in Synchronicity’s Super Deluxe Edition provide the listener an opportunity to familiarize themselves with some of the experiences of The Police and their cohort during the creation of the band’s greatest album. For tracks such as “Every Breath You Take,” the Super Deluxe allows one to construct a timeline of the Grammy winning song beginning from Sting’s original demo, to recorded out-takes and alternative mixes, to the final released form and subsequent September 1983 live performance. These three to five track runs provide a vital opportunity for the listener to form a greater connection and appreciation for an album that has already cemented an outstanding legacy within the music industry and allow for an understanding of why The Police’s final album has maintained relevance 40 years following its release. As the latest edition of The Police’s fifth album allows one to dig below the surface of the original eleven tracks, it is fair to believe Synchronicity will still be relevant another 40 years from now.