30. Synchronicity by The Police
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si5CSpUCDGY&list=OLAK5uy_nhJjsyfDKdb9Yeacs52DRCuIvKJ2eVC_I
If the album cover image below doesn't match the one in your memory, it's because they made 36 different covers with different combinations of images and different color sequences.
The main reason I bought the album was because of all the monster hits from it that I heard on the radio, including "Murder by the Numbers," "Tea in the Sahara," "Walking in Your Footsteps," "O My God," and, most of all, "Mother." Once Casey played those warm, soft sounds of "Mother" on American Top 40, I knew it was destined to become my favorite senior year slow dance song, and possibly my favorite song of all time.
I wasn't wrong.
The many memories I have of hearing "Mother" play while I danced in a close, tender embrace with Piney Votzel--well, that's why I look back on my senior year of high school with such fondness.
But my many good memories of the album extend to my mission, where this was one of the albums that the mission president said we could listen to without guilt during those long summer days of relaxing by the lake in our swimsuits.
And when I got home off my mission, I selected one of the 36 copies of this record that my brother-in-law had in his record collection and made another tape of it to listen to while I drove around Arimo all summer long in the new white Buick Regal. And then, of course, there was the time that summer when Piney and I drove up into the mountains and we both lost our virginity to the dulcet tones of "Miss Gredenko."
Ah, yes. Those were the days! With so many good memories, is it any wonder why this album made my Top 60 list?
Nardo
#30: Police—Synchronicity. Before I get into the album, let me just say this: the interwebs are forever, and at some point you’ll probably find yourself apologizing to Piney. (For what, I’m not sure. She’ll probably have a variety of charges for you.)
ReplyDeleteI’ve mentioned before that I used to think Sting was a pretentious snit. I didn’t buy or listen to this album when it came out and was at the height of its popularity. That said, I did listen to all of the hits when they played them on the radio, and I kind of liked them all. (Except, at the time, “Synchronicity II.”) I mean, “King of Pain” is such a damn weird song to have as a radio hit, I couldn’t help but sing along.
I finally started to come around on Sting when a) I actually listened to the words from “Synchronicity II,” and 2) when he was the musical guest on an October, 1987 episode of “Saturday Night Live,” hosted by Steve Martin. After watching his performance as Goldsting in the James Bond spoof “Bullets Aren’t Cheap,” I couldn’t help but admire him a bit. (The skit can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No_SbOz0060) (“The pretzels are no longer complimentary” is one of my favorite lines ever.)
And speaking of SNL, the use of the song “Every Breath You Take” as the theme song for the faux television program “Stalk Talk,” featuring bravura performances by Christopher Walken and Jan Hooks, among others, is outstanding. (I tried to find that skit on the interwebs, but was unsuccessful.)
Listening to the album anew, I’m still impressed by the hits, especially “Synchronicity II” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” plus fast-paced titular track. (You’re right, “titular” is fun to say.) Most of the other songs don’t do much for me, though, except for “Mother.” I can’t decide if it’s the worst song ever recorded, or as funny as hell. Probably a little from Column A, and a little from Column B. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyhii0W6LAo)