Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
 Quite simply the best Police compilation out there March 12, 2002
33 out of 36 found this review helpful
There are quite a few Police/Police-Sting compilations doing the rounds at the moment. Avoid all of them and buy this ! Greatest Hits is just that, a sixteen-track, chronologically correct retropsective which provides us with all the big hit singles, plus a couple of classic album cuts such as Beds To Big Without You, Tea In The Sahara and the utterly brilliant power-pop of Synchronicity II (a US single). With Sting's ever-thoughtful lyrics, Andy Summers' sublime muscianship (he was the real cornerstone of the band) and Stuart Copeland's brilliantly tight percussion, there is something here for everyone. From the reggae-esque Roxanne (1978), the gorgeous simplicity of the bass-line on Walking On The Moon (1979), the pure pop joy of Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981) to their all time classic single Every Breath You Take (1983), you can really begin to appreciate the musical evolution of the band over the years, with the quality control never letting-up throughout. pThey probably had another classic album or two in them after 1983 but by then they were all fist-fighting in the studio, couldn't stand the sight of each other and Sting was being rapidly lulled by the AM money men into his solid if not a little dull solo career. They briefly reformed in 1986, and as a prequel to a new album, cut a poor remake of their 1980 single Don't Stand So Close To Me, which the compilists have thankfully not tagged onto the end of this collection. Once again the punch-ups and musical differences prevailed and The Police were finally and lamentably laid to rest.pBetween 1981 and 1983, The Police were deservedly the biggest band in the world and much of their best material was produced during this period (especially on their Synchroncity album), but this is not to criticize their first three albums from 1978-1980 which were also brilliant in their own right. All of their key material between 1978 and 1983 is present and correct.pThus, The Police Greatest Hits is by far the best compilation out there and will probably not be bettered, so go out and get it now before the record company deletes it from their catalogue.
A fantastic collection February 8, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Police are, in my opinion, a very underrated band. OK, its not as if they weren't successful in their time, but nowadays, everyone seems to have forgotten how good they were. Sting is an excellent vocalist and a songwriter of tremendous imagination and variety- just look at the contrast between the earlier slick reggae sounds of Roxanne and I Can't Stand Losing You and the later darkly storming effort of Syncronicity II. If you are not a fan, or would never have really considered purchasing this album, why not give it a try? Here's a little carrot: Every Breath You Take is not the best song on this album.
100% Consistency October 15, 2001
Christopher Steele
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Incredible. I love every track on this album; pure listening pleasure. This is the only album I have that is truly consistent - I adore every track. I would never press skip to hear the next track because they are all equally superb!! Now how many of you reading this can say the same about any other album in your possession?? Every track is pure gold on this CD.
One of the few bands that anyone can like February 6, 2002
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
The Police were an excellent band in their time. Between 1978 and 1983 they put out some excellent songs, the singles among here some of the best of the time. I like the late 70s jazzy stuff here, Roxanne, Can't Stand Losing You, So Lonely, Message..., Walking On The Moon and The Bed..., all excellent tunes from 1978 and 1979. After that I think they get a bit poppy and the 80s sound affects the quality of the songs for this band, I think. The choppy guitars are lost beneath the big echoing drums that are associated with 80s music. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic from 1981, and 1983's sinister Every Breath You Take are still two excellent pop songs here.brThe Police's music have clearly been enjoyed by a diverse number of artists, obviously Puff Daddy's lame cover of Every Breath... in 1997, whilst metal gods Machine Head and Fear Factory have made no secret of their admiration for this band. At your local pub the covers band are more than likely to play at least one Police tune in their set. So don't feel embarassed about buying this excellent collection of songs by an excellent band.
Arresting Stuff! December 28, 2001
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Bad puns aside, I really recommend this CD, it's packed with simple, true rock songs. I can't believe I'm the first person to write a review of this-The Police were the biggest band in the entire world at one point, undoubtedly one of the best singles bands ever a la The Kinks, Slade et al. Sting is pretty boring as an artist today, and not to everyone's tastes as a person either, but he was a god at this point, especially on hits such as Every Breath You Take and Roxanne. Even the titles you might not recognise straight away become part of you after a while. They really were that good, and a such a value price here you'd be mad to not get it. Top CD.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
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