‘Synchronicity’: The Police’s Perfect Connection On Last Studio Album
When the album was released in June 1983, little did their millions of fans know it would be their last studio LP.
The Police were old hands at the chart-topping game by the time they released their fifth album. They named the new one after a philosophical concept by the psychiatrist Carl Jung. Synchronicity, released on June 17, 1983, became their fourth UK No.1 LP in a row when it went straight to the top of the chart dated eight days later. Little did their millions of fans know it would be their final studio album.
After reaching No.6 in the UK with their debut release Outlandos D’Amour, the British trio had now hit No. 1 with each album since. Regatta de Blanc spent its first four weeks at the summit in 1979, Zenyatta Mondatta did the same in 1980 and Ghost In The Machine had a three-week reign in 1981. Now came Synchronicity, which, as if it needed a helping hand, arrived as its lead track “Every Breath You Take” was coming to the end of a four-week run as the UK’s favourite single.
The album had the considerable distinction of removing Thriller from the chart summit. The Michael Jackson classic had spent two weeks at No.1 in March and then, after eight consecutive weeks at No.2, returned for a five-week stint at the top in May and June. But it couldn’t withstand the demand for the new Police set. Synchronicity spent two weeks at the peak, and ten months in the Top 100.
Silver, gold, and platinum
Eight of the album’s 11 new songs were solo compositions by Sting, who shared one co-write, “Murder By Numbers,” with Andy Summers; the guitarist contributed “Mother” on his own and drummer Stewart Copeland wrote “Miss Gradenko.” By early July, Synchronicity was certified both silver and gold in the UK, and by August it was platinum.
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But that paled by comparison with the album’s performance in America. It reached No.1 there in late July to begin a remarkable run of 17 non-consecutive weeks. US sales alone of Synchronicity climbed to more than eight million, as no fewer than five hit singles came from it. At the 1984 Grammy Awards, it was nominated for five, and won three.
GILLIES Neil
December 7, 2019 at 10:44 pm
This is THE best The Police album and one of the greatest albums of all-time. Perhaps recording only 3 ‘Brimstone & Treacle’ songs for 1982 helped them reach this peak. There’s ‘Every Breath You Take’ and its unbeatability as a 10/10 song ; but also the quality of the other singles and tracks. Yes, they probably got releasing ‘Wrapped Around Your Finger’ wrong ; and should’ve opted for the excellent and faster title track ‘Synchronicity I’. But singles ‘King Of Pain’ and ‘Synchronicity II’ are also best-ever The Police ; and had the latter’s B side – Sting and Summers’ ‘Once Upon A Daydream’ – also been on the album it would’ve been even better. The crazy-fantastic ‘Mother’ – Summers’ best ever song – does the business. The quieter tracks’re high quality :’Tea In The Sahara’ makes you feel you’re in the desert ; ‘Murder By Numbers’ and ‘O My God’ typical The Police. Even the less strong tracks ‘Walking In Your Footsteps’ and ‘Miss Gradenko’ are knocking on the door with something to say. 8.36/10
CG
June 26, 2021 at 5:35 am
quite an exciting time to be a Police fan in 1983. tickets for that tour went on sale right about the time the album came out (10 tracks on vinyl, not 11 but no complaints). the show I saw was excellent and the album was everywhere. great memories but also great disappointment would be felt in March ’84.