Good 4 Casual Listeners, Not Mandatory 4 Police/Sting Fans
Neal C. Reynolds | 12/31/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
""The Very Best of Sting & The Police" isn't a CD that will satisfy everyone, but it's a good primer for the more casual listener. This is obvious in the '97 Puff Daddy remix of "Roxanne," which will probably appeal to younger R&B fans who aren't familiar with The Police or Sting. But for the discerning fan, this isn't a necessary CD. Not all of the hits are on here (there's not enough room anyway), though I would have gladly traded a few songs (like the misplaced "Roxanne" remix) for tracks like "Murder By Numbers," "Driven to Tears," "So Lonely," "King of Pain" or "Wrapped Around Your Finger." I'm relieved that at least "Every Breath You Take" and "Don't Stand So Close To Me" are on here. (Yes, I'm obviously a Police fan. :) There's nothing visually remarkable about the booklet either (no photos, lyrics, etc.), only the brooding shot of Sting on the front cover, which isn't bad, but I would have expected more from a hits collection. So, unless you're an avid Sting/Police fan and will collect anything by him/them, I'd skip this CD and try the 4-disc box set "Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings" (for Police fans) or "Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994" (for Sting fans)."
A great introduction to The Police
Scott Baret | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 08/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had heard a few tracks from The Police--notably Message in a Bottle, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, and Every Breath You Take--and decided to check out the rest of their stuff. Even though most of these songs are 20-25 years old, they are still works of art.
Most of the major songs are on this album. Some are Sting after he disbanded The Police, and others are of the band itself.
The majority of Americans have probably heard several of these songs. In case you haven't or if you weren't alive in the 1980s, they are well written and are great for easy listening. The only one on this album that I don't care for is the Puff Daddy remix of Roxanne, as I thought it ruined the song. All the others are awesome. I would list my favorites, but I realized that I liked almost all of them. If I had to choose my top three, it would be nine, ten, and eleven.
People of all ages should be exposed to this music. The Police, hands down, is one of the greatest bands of all time."