One of my most favorite Police songs that is included on the new Police CD is 1978’s Roxanne. It was also the first song that I can remember hearing by them. During a time when I was listening to Rush and other pretty heavy bands, The Police blew a breath of fresh air into music for me. It was very different. Not quite New Wave, not quite Punk, but still not Pop.
Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live.
Even though The Police marketed themselves as a Rock band with New Wave and Punk influences, they are at heart a trio of Jazz influenced musicians, and it shows even in the very popular tunes. The songs that are included on the Police CD are all really good examples of excellent musicianship and song writing which is one of the reasons that they became so popular in the ’80s.
It took awhile, but Rolling Stone Magazine finally recognized The Police in 2004 by naming them #70 on the list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. It’s hard to say how many musicians that The Police have influenced over the years, but I know of at least eight or nine tribute albums that have been released over the years.
Something really cool they are doing right now is promoting a contest to win a trip to see the Police live at Madison Square Garden by visiting the page linked by that picture above. That’s the Grand Prize of course. 10 other winners are also going to get a signed copy of The Police, the brand new CD that was just released in the U.S. today!