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APOLOGIES FOR ANY TECHNICAL ISSUES (We tried a new recording software for this episode.) Episode 60 covers the second Police studio album, 1979’s “Reggatta de Blanc.” It was the band’s first release to top the UK Albums Chart and features their first two UK number-one singles: “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon“. The music features the Police’s distinctive appropriation of reggae and frontman Sting‘s Caribbean vocal inflections. The album’s title loosely translates in French to “White Reggae”.[1] It was the band’s second album to bear a Franglais title, after their 1978 debut album Outlandos d’Amour. Reggatta de Blanc proved more popular and successful than its predecessor. The title track earned the band their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In 2003, Reggatta de Blanc was ranked at number 369 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Mark, Kevin, Alex, and Chris take you on a historical journey surrounding the album as well as share our favorites and not-so favorites from the record. We go on a deep dive track-by-track listen of this rock album as well as share personal stories of discovering The Police’s “Reggatta de Blanc.”
Subscribe, Rate, and Review:
Quick Reviews
Mark Half of this is throwaway filler and half of this is the future of rock.
Chris Didn’t get the initial “wow” factor like the first album, but grew on me eventually. The momentum just didn’t continue completely.
Alex Maybe more polished/focused than LP1 but less variety and more filler especially on side 2 IMO.
Kevin Two steps forward, two steps back. So much feels like the future of rock, and a few songs here feel a bit too stuck in the past.
Love It or Flush It
| M | C | A | K | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Message in a Bottle" | 4:51 | L | B | L | L | |
| 2 | "Reggatta de Blanc" | 3:06 | B | L | L | L | |
| 3 | "It's Alright for You" | 3:13 | L | L | L | L | |
| 4 | "Bring on the Night" | 4:15 | L | L | B | L | |
| 5 | "Deathwish" | 4:13 | F | L | L | F | |
| 6 | "Walking on the Moon" | 5:02 | L | L | B | B | |
| 7 | "On Any Other Day" | 2:57 | T | L | L | L | |
| 8 | "The Bed's Too Big Without You" | 4:26 | F | L | F | F | |
| 9 | "Contact" | 2:38 | L | F | L | L | |
| 10 | "Does Everyone Stare" | 3:52 | L | L | T | T | |
| 11 | "No Time This Time" | 3:17 | L | T | F | F |
Love It or Flush It Legend
L = Love. As many as you like.
F = Flush. Must flush at least one track per album.
B = Buy. Purchased for the ultimate LTS “Best Of” playlist for each of us. One per album.
T = Terminate. Should have never even existed. One per album.
The Rules
Each of us must Love, Flush, Buy, and Terminate AT LEAST ONE track on an album, no matter how great or terrible the album is. Whoever wins the “7 for the Buy” section gets an extra Buy or Terminate to use on the album. Because Chris hosts this section and thus cannot win, he gets an extra Buy or Terminate every 4 albums.
Album Information
Reggatta de Blanc is the second studio album by English rock band the Police, released on 2 October 1979 by A&M Records. It was the band’s first release to top the UK Albums Chart and features their first two UK number-one singles: “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon“. In early 1980, the album was reissued in the United States on two 10” discs, one album side per disc, and as a collector’s edition with a poster of the band.
The music features the Police’s distinctive appropriation of reggae and frontman Sting‘s Caribbean vocal inflections. The album’s title loosely translates in French to “White Reggae”.[1] It was the band’s second album to bear a Franglais title, after their 1978 debut album Outlandos d’Amour. Reggatta de Blanc proved more popular and successful than its predecessor. The title track earned the band their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
In 2003, Reggatta de Blanc was ranked at number 369 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
