This remains the best introduction to the Police and perhaps the only disc a casual fan needs, rounding up the band’s biggest hits in chronological order. It’s the same as the prior comp The Singles, except this one features two re-recordings of “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” and “Message In A Bottle,” neither of which improve on the original. Pick up either collection you want.
The Police had a lot to offer on their individual albums, but this list of singles is among their best work, even if rock radio has played most of them to death. Personally, I hate “Roxanne,” but it kicks things off, followed by the much better “Can’t Stand Losing You.” The rollicking “Message in a Bottle,” the moody “Walking On the Moon” and the classic Lolita story of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” are all here too.
Actually, no hits are missing, but in the CD era it feels like a few more songs could have been added to fully flesh out the story, perhaps a couple of prime album tracks like “Synchronicity II” or “When the World Is Running Down…”. But you do get “Every Breath You Take,” “Invisible Sun,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” the annoying tracks “King of Pain” and “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da,” and of course “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”
If you like what you hear, it is advised to dig into the individual albums, starting with Zenyatta Mondatta. For a sampler and a roundup of the hits, this collection does what it needs to, no more, no less.
