Sting and The Police - Very Best Of

Rating

Album: Sting and The Police - Very Best Of (import)
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Message In A Bottle	More Info...	4:52
2)	Can't Stand Losing You	More Info...	3:02
3)	Englishman In New York Album Version	More Info...	4:29
4)	Every Breath You Take	More Info...	4:13
5)	Seven Days Album Version	More Info...	4:40
6)	Walking On The Moon	More Info...	5:04
7)	Fields Of Gold Album Version	More Info...	3:40
8)	Fragile	More Info...	3:55
9)	Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic	More Info...	4:22
10)	De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da	More Info...	4:09
11)	If You Love Somebody Set Them Free Edit	More Info...	4:15
12)	Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot Edit	More Info...	4:30
13)	Russians Album Version	More Info...	4:00
14)	If I Ever Lose My Faith In You Album Version	More Info...	4:31
15)	When We Dance Edit	More Info...	4:19
16)	Don't Stand So Close To Me	More Info...	4:01
17)	Roxanne	More Info...	3:15
18)	Roxanne '97 Puff Daddy Remix / Album Version	More Info...	4:33

Album: Sting and The Police - Very Best Of (import)
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Message In A Bottle	More Info...	4:52
2)	Can't Stand Losing You	More Info...	3:02
3)	Englishman In New York Album Version	More Info...	4:29
4)	Every Breath You Take	More Info...	4:13
5)	Seven Days Album Version	More Info...	4:40
6)	Walking On The Moon	More Info...	5:04
7)	Fields Of Gold Album Version	More Info...	3:40
8)	Fragile	More Info...	3:55
9)	Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic	More Info...	4:22
10)	De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da	More Info...	4:09
11)	If You Love Somebody Set Them Free Edit	More Info...	4:15
12)	Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot Edit	More Info...	4:30
13)	Russians Album Version	More Info...	4:00
14)	If I Ever Lose My Faith In You Album Version	More Info...	4:31
15)	When We Dance Edit	More Info...	4:19
16)	Don't Stand So Close To Me	More Info...	4:01
17)	Roxanne	More Info...	3:15
18)	Roxanne '97 Puff Daddy Remix / Album Version	More Info...	4:33

Tracks

1. Message In A Bottle

2. Can't Stand Losing You

3. Englishman In New York

4. Every Breath You Take

5. Seven Days

6. Walking On The Moon

7. Fields Of Gold

8. Fragile

9. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

10. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

11. If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free

12. Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot

13. Russians

14. If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

15. When We Dance

16. Don't Stand So Close To Me

17. Roxanne

18. Roxanne '97 - Puff Daddy Remix

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Sting (vocals, guitar, bass); Cheb Mami (vocals);
Andy Summers (guitar); Branford Marsalis (saxophone); Kenny Kirkland,
David Sancious (keyboards); Darryl Jones (bass); Stewart Copeland, Vinnie Colaiuta, Omar Hakim (drums); Mino Cinelu (percussion).
Producers include: The Police, Nigel Gray, Hugh Padgham, Sting, Kipper.
Import pressing of 2002 compilation substitutes "So Lonely" with "Roxanne '97" (Puff Daddy Remix).
During two decades in the music business, Sting has always been about genre-busting. The Police imbued their reggae-influenced brand of rock music with a truly literary lyrical sensibility, distancing themselves from the Tolkien-tinged meandering which tended to pass for "thoughtful lyrics" in the seventies. The ill-advised sci-fi garb of SYNCHRONICITY notwithstanding, they brought vibrancy, imagination, and intelligence into the dumbed-down world of arena rock. THE VERY BEST OF STING & THE POLICE represents their work with unquestionably classic cuts such as "Message In A Bottle," "Can't Stand Losing You," and "Every Breath You Take."
On his own, Sting moved into the even headier realms, assembling a supergroup of young jazzers and further indulging the bookworm within. "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" and "Englishman In New York" display the mellower, calmer Sting. You want erudite? The album's only co-writing credit is "Russians," based on a little something by Prokofiev. Closing with the hugely successful Puff Daddy remix version of "Roxanne," THE VERY BEST OF STING & THE POLICE provides an overview of his progression from schoolmaster to rock icon and back again.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (11/14/02, p.93) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The songs are sturdy and companionable....With efficiency and literary verve intact on every note..."

Q (4/02, p.137) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...These 18 songs attest to Sting's strike rate of hit singles..."