The Police: Outlandos D'Amour (UK import) [POLYGRAM UK]

Why you'll love it

This import pressing brings back the A&M debut that made Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers stars. It reached No. 6 in the UK, and Rolling Stone ranks it the 38th best debut album of all time.

This edition

• UK import
• A&M original artwork and running order

About the album

Few multi-platinum careers have started on quite so tight a budget. The Police made their debut for £1,500 borrowed from manager Miles Copeland, Stewart's brother, recording at Surrey Sound whenever the studio had a free hour or another band cancelled. Miles wasn't keen on much of what he heard, until "Roxanne" came on and he marched it straight over to A&M the next day.

The record is punk at its core, but you can already hear the reggae bounce and pop smarts that would define them. "Next to You" opens with a slide-guitar solo from Summers, "So Lonely" borrows its musical frame from Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," and "Can't Stand Losing You" became their first hit after A&M tried five times to improve the band's own mix and gave up. "Truth Hits Everybody," "Hole in My Life" and "Born in the 50's" round out a lean, wiry set.

Miles originally wanted to call it Police Brutality. Outlandos d'Amour, a mash-up of "outlaws" and "commandos" with a dash of French romance, was the gentler suggestion, and on balance the shop's window display is grateful.

Also at Kops: more The Police on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On A&M (cat# 394 753-1), a reissue of the 1978 album.