We probably all know the Police based around Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summer. In 1976 drummer Stewart Copeland was playing in the band Curved Air and met Gordon Summer (Sting) who was a school teacher willing to become a musician and already played in a jazz-fusion band called Last Exit. Together with guitarist Henry Padovani they formed The Police playing punk rock. The trio toured the UK as a supporting act and released their first single called “Fall Out” in 1977. Henry left the band in 1977.
Curved Air including Stewart Copeland
Later that year, Copeland and Sting merged with two members and the name of the band was changed to Strontium 90. They were Mike Howlett (lead vocalist who later became a famous producer) and guitarist Andy Summers. Mike soon left the band and the name was changed to The Police again. Mike would continue to produce many synthpop acts like China Crisis, OMD and A Flock Of Seagulls.
Miles and Stewart Copeland
Copeland’s older brother producer Miles Copeland helped finance the Police’s first album titled "Outlandos d’Amour" released in 1978. On the strength of the single ”Roxanne” Miles got the group signed with A&M Records, and the later hit “Can’t Stand Losing” resulted in the group’s first tour to the USA.
Henry Padovani with the Police in 1977
Their first album "Outlandos d'Amour" was an attempt to do punk rock which included the hit singles "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You" and "So Lonely" which were superior in accordance to the rest of that album. So they knew what to do and make the style of those singles their all round sound. It's their reggae flavoured new wave music.
The Police in 1979 (Sting, Stewart and Andy)
The second album was their first commercial album including only good songs and was titled "Reggatta de Blanc" which is a french translation of “White Reggae”. It was released in 1979. And it's hard to understand that such a good album was recorded in only 4 weeks.
Message In A Botlle - single cover
“Message In Bottle” is about a castaway on an island sending a message in a bottle to find love but the next day he found hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore of people sharing the same fate as him. Sting wrote a song called “Carrion Prince” about the execution of Pontius Pilate which resembles the story of criminal Gary Gilmore who was to be executed two years before the release of the album. The title was changed to “Bring On The Night” for the album. Sting said he wrote "Walking On The Moon" as “walking around the room” while he was under the influence of alcohol one night after a concert, remembering the tune the following morning but altering the title. “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” was a song that Sting penned when he was in the band Last Exit.
Walking On The Moon - single cover
In "On Any Other Day" Sting recounts how everything is going wrong and is a humorous take on mid-life crisis. "Does Everyone Stare" originates from a piano piece Copeland wrote in college. On the slow groove "This Bed's Too Big Without You" a former lover is complaining. The last track “No Time This Time” is the B-Side from “So Lonely” and is more of the punk sound of their previous album and doesn’t fit in very well with the rest of the material. "Reggatta De Blanc" was the breakthrough album reaching #1 in the UK, #1 in the Netherlands and #15 in the USA.
Original album cover
Reggatta De Blanc
Message In A Bottle / Reggatta De Blanc / It’s Alright For You / Bring On The Night / Deathwish / Walking On The Moon / On Any Other Day / The Bed’s Too Big Without You/ Contact / Does Everyone Stare / No Time This Time

Does Everyone Stare

Message In A Bottle - video

Walking On The Moon - video

Bring On The Night - live in Paris 1979