Review: The Police ‘Synchronicity – Super Deluxe Edition’ – At 6 Discs, My Cup Runneth Over…Too Much Of A Good Thing?

The Police have just put out Synchronicity (Super Deluxe Edition) in honor of the 40th anniversary of the original release of their landmark album. If many of you were surprised, like I was when I learned about this a couple of months ago, don’t feel bad. The 40th anniversary was actually last year. The album originally came out in 1983. But apparently like Def Leppard who released a 40th anniversary edition of their 1983 album Pyromania this year, anniversaries are more elastic than they used to be. As long time readers may remember, I’ve already posted about Synchronicity, last year… because as mentioned, uh, that was the actual anniversary. However, with this mother lode of bonus material – everything from demos to alternate takes to outtakes to a live 1983 concert – I felt it merited further comment. And I am not exaggerating about a mother lode of bonus material – beyond the original LP, there are 5 additional discs of material (six total discs).

Since I’ve already written about Synchronicity, I won’t comment in depth about the original album (link above). The Police were certainly a big band in the late 70s/early 80s. They had more hits than the Eagles, but it wasn’t until this 1983 album that they catapulted to the top of the rock n roll universe. I was in my car the first time I heard “Every Breath You Take” and it not only bored into my brain, it hit me in the heart… I was going through some things. I knew immediately that it was no love song… but I digress. Needless to say, Synchronicity is the ultimate Police album and I love their debut (but I’ve always been fond of debut albums). I was surprised to see so much bonus material. It’s a bit overwhelming, almost too much. They’ve also included a superb full concert from Oakland in September of 1983. Wading through the three discs of alternate versions and outtakes, I almost gave up… and then that concert hit and I was glad I stuck it through.

While Synchronicity was the album where the Police conquered the universe, it was also their last album. Tensions were running so high during the recording of this album they eventually tanked the band. One of the things I’ve heard drummer Stewart Copeland complain about over the years in terms of the sessions for this album was that Sting showed up with “fully realized demos,” and there was no room for Stewart to interpret or influence the final project. When I saw all this bonus material, the demos were what I was really interested in. And yes, I’ve always felt listening to demos is a great glimpse into a band or artist’s creative process. For the most part, I’d say Stewart was right. But when I listen to the demo for “Every Breath You Take,” it’s a gauzy synth thing that wouldn’t have been out of place on Springsteen’s Tunnel Of Love, not the drums and atmospheric guitar/piano we’ve all memorized. For me, and yes, I’m a weird, the demos are kind of the gold here and I’m confused as to why they didn’t separate them out for their own disc. I’d have liked a disc of just the demos, but with so much stuff here, the rest probably wouldn’t have fit on the 2 other discs.

The sequencing on the bonus stuff is also tough to get through. They bunch each version of each track together. So you have to wade through three or four version of each track from demo to alternate version to alternate mix to instrumental. I will say the instrumental versions of the tracks are an almost “automatic fast forward” for me. And do we really need these early versions of “Mother”? There are a few live versions of older tracks and tracks from the albums that they used for B-sides. Nothing that I heard that was “essential.” Some of the outtakes were interesting. “Once Upon A Daydream” was interesting but I’d heard it before. Why the backing track for “Roxanne” is here is anybody’s guess? “Every Bomb You Make” is a novelty version of “Every Breath…” that you might listen to it once.

There are alternative versions of “Tea In The Sahara” and “Walking In Your Footsteps” labeled “Derangement” that you might listen to once as well. Although I did find that version of “Tea In The Sahara” to be somewhat interesting. The demo for “O My God” is completely different than the final version. It sounds like a Stevie Wonder song as does the “Out-Take” version. I think they missed an opportunity there. Conversely they improved on the demo for “Murder By Numbers” exponentially by slowing it down. I thought the unreleased demo “I’m Blind” was something they should have developed. I felt the same about “Three Steps To Heaven,” its something that might have been a great song. I liked “Goodbye Tomorrow,” it may be the best outtake here. And yes, I enjoyed the Police’s take on Chuck Berry’s “Rock N Roll Music.” Who’d have thought that song would translate to a reggae-ish version.

I have to admit, wading through all this bonus material left me slightly cold. I was surprised. I love the Police and this album. Again, in my opinion, the sequencing doesn’t help much. There are a few gems to seek out but at six discs and a $200 tag I was beginning to have my doubts. And then I got to disc 5 & 6, the full live show from Oakland in 1983. Much like the Guns N Roses Use Your Illusions box set, the money is in the live stuff. This was a sensational show. They rock almost the entire Synchronicity album (except for “Miss Gradenko” and “Mother” the tracks written by guys not named Sting) and run through the other “greatest hits” from their previous albums. I have to say Stewart Copeland is a titanic drummer. I feel like he doesn’t get enough credit in discussions about great drummers. While I’ve never mistaken Andy Summers for Jeff Beck, his atmospheric guitar playing suited the band. I was surprised to hear Sting break into some Ray Charles during “Hole In My Life,” but I dug it. The band is augmented with two back up singers who, as I recall from video of that tour were dressed as majorettes from a marching band. Sting introduces them as his “sisters” and says his father was “adventurous,” which I thought was very funny. He also introduced Stewart Copeland as his sister. Ah, band dynamics.

I have to say, despite my confessed love of Synchronicity, with an over abundance of bonus material and a $125 price tag, this one is a pass for me. But by all means everyone should crank the live discs (5 & 6), it’s a great concert, perfect for a summer day by the pool. I don’t think the Police ever released a “definitive” live album, and this could certainly be it, but then I love live albums. There are a few gems on the outtakes and demos, but it took some hunting through disc 2 to disc 4. Sometimes too much material is really too much. Even I have limits folks.

Cheers!