Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings
click the image to get it in cd-cover size
| Release Date: |
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| Label: |
A&M Records |
| Rating: |
5.0 |
Description: "This is it: Everything the Police released," boasts the notes in the 66-page booklet included with this box set. Obsessive fans have already written to rock magazines indignantly pointing out the omission of this or that obscurity. But everyone else will find that these four discs include all the Police they'd ever want to own. The first two discs include all of
Outlandos d'Amour,
Reggatta de Blanc, and
Zenyatta Mondatta in their original order, interspersed with live rarities and singles B-sides. Discs 3 and 4 are more satisfying, including the band's well-crafted studio high points,
Ghost in the Machine and
Synchronicity, plus more outtakes and live tunes. The set ends with "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86," a dismal remake of the early favorite. By this point, the musician's egos were running rampant and they were barely speaking. If anyone wonders why the group called it quits so abruptly, this tune makes it clear that the split was smart and timely.
--Jim DeRogatis
Tracklist of Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings
Reviews:
Excellent Box Set!
Buying this box set should be automatic for anyone who grew up in the 70's or 80's. There's very few songs on this album that would get a 2 star rating or lower. Few as in I can count on 1 hand.
The Police have so many huge hits, such as Roxanne, Walking On The Moon, Message In A Bottle, etc. Also, many of the other tracks are classics, such as The Bed's Too Big Without You, Bring On The Night, Invisible Sun, etc. You cannot do without having this set. 4 CD's and you have EVERYTHING The Police did. Including b-sides and songs from other sources (such as I Burn For You from the Brimstone & Treacle soundtrack)
Bottom line is this. If you like any of The Police big songs, it's very likely that you will also like all of their other songs. Why not get them all in one bang instead of getting the 4 individual albums and having to deal with trying to find all of the other B-Sides? It's totally worth it.
GREAT!!
Now if only all box sets were this good! A MUST HAVE for Police fans! Not only does it have their best material but you can hear the evolution of Sting's incredible songwriting and Stewart's unbelievable drumming skills. They basically started off as punkish band ripping off reggae but the band slowly evolved into their own sound! It's a shame when they found their sound they broke up. But as you can tell by Sting's incredible songwriting on Disc 4, it was time for him to leave.
It was time for him to see the Blue Turtles! Just to have the haunting tunes "Burn For You" and "Once Upon A Daydream" is worth the price of the box set alone
Man! What could have been.....
A great collection. Goood musicianship and a great look into the functioning of a band - these guys were broken up by success,
This set covers the gamut of music that was the Police. Pop, New Wave, Reggae. It's a bit of everything. Buy it if you are interested in the Police.