Reggatta de Blanc in Bloomington, MN

By 1979's
Reggatta de Blanc
(translation: White Reggae), nonstop touring had sharpened
the Police
's original blend of
reggae
-
rock
to perfection, resulting in breakthrough success. Containing a pair of massive hit singles -- the inspirational anthem
"Message in a Bottle"
and the spacious
"Walking on the Moon"
-- the album also signaled a change in the band's sound. Whereas their debut got its point across with raw, energetic performances,
was much more polished production-wise and fully developed from a songwriting standpoint. 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 --
"Bring on the Night,"
"The Bed's Too Big Without You,"
and
"Does Everyone Stare."
Also included was one of
Stewart Copeland
's two lead vocal appearances on a
Police
album, the witty
"On Any Other Day,"
as well as one of the band's most eerie tracks,
"Contact."
With
, many picked
Sting
and company to be the superstar band of the '80s, and
would prove them correct on the band's next release. ~ Greg Prato