The Very Best of Sting & the Police

by The Police, Sting

Overview

In the summer of 1997, Puff Daddy took "I'll Be Missing You," a sappy reworking of "Every Breath You Take," to the top of the charts across the world; it became the biggest rap single in history. The success of "I'll Be Missing You" also helped to make the Police hip again among both rock and rap artists. So, what better way to celebrate the occasion -- as well as the 20th anniversary of the Police's first album -- than to release another compilation, this time combining highlights from the Police and Sting's solo career? The Very Best of Sting & the Police does just that, compiling 14 songs in a seemingly random chronological order. The Police cuts are generally classics, but there are several big hits left off, which should probably be expected for an integrated collection like this. There's plenty of good music on Sting's solo records, but the selection here emphasizes his MOR side instead of some of his more ambitious material. Obviously, that selection is designed to snag a mature, 30-something audience, which makes the inclusion of Puff Daddy's remix of "Roxanne" (included in both its original and remixed incarnations) a little puzzling, since that strives to appeal to a younger audience. Then again, you don't really expect coherence from a collection that simply wants to cash in at the right moment. While it's hard to ignore the fact that this disc isn't necessary, the music itself is good, and certain casual fans may find this useful. But anyone following Sting or the Police for any length of time will find The Very Best Of... superfluous. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/01/2002
Label:	Utv / Universal Distribution
UPC:	0606949325220
Rank:	1679

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. Brand New Day
13. Desert Rose
14. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
15. When We Dance
16. Don't Stand So Close to Me
17. Roxanne
18. So Lonely

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sting   Primary Artist
The Police   Primary Artist
David Sancious   Guest Artist
Kenny Kirkland   Guest Artist
Omar Hakim   Guest Artist
Branford Marsalis   Guest Artist
Full Force   Vocals (Background)
Joe Maddern   Sequencing

Technical Credits

Sean Combs   Remixing,Producer
Peter Smith   Engineer,Producer
Jim Scott   Engineer
Nigel Gray   Engineer,Producer
The Police   Arranger,Producer,Performer
Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander   Mixing,Engineer
Sting   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Stevie J   Producer
Sergey Prokofiev   Composer
Full Force   Composer
Gene Redd, Jr.   Composer
Neil Dorfsman   Mixing,Producer
Herb Powers   Mastering
William Claxton   Photography
Dave Collins   Mastering,Remastering
Chris Gray   Engineer
J. Dub   Producer
Chuck Beeson   Design,Art Direction
Duane Michaels   Photography
Hugh Padgham   Producer,Engineer,Mixing
U.T.F.O.   Composer
Jimmy Crosby   Composer
Simon Osborne   Engineer