(MusicPortal.com) (07/29/05)

Edited By Michael Bennett

LONDON, UK - Universal Music has announced the September 5th DVD premiere release of "The Police - Synchronicity Concert," a stunning live-in-concert live extravaganza filmed during the Atlanta, Georgia leg of their Synchronicity World Tour in November of 1983.

Three additional songs are taken from their Montreal show in August of that same year: 'Demolition Man,' 'O My God' and 'Murder By Numbers.'

As an additional feature, the new release also includes a rare interview with THE POLICE from their final concert on the Synchronicity World Tour (and the last-ever Police concert), which was in Melbourne, Australia in 1984.

21 years later, this spectacular concert has never sounded better.

For the very first time on DVD, the audio has been remixed in 5.1 Surround Sound, and includes three different audio soundtracks including DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo.

Originally directed and edited by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, this energetic and power-packed live concert brilliantly captures The Police at the height of their success, when "Synchronicity" ruled the radio airwaves and the trio were one of the biggest bands in the world.

The songs performed during the concert include their most memorable hit singles, including 'So Lonely,' 'Roxanne,' 'Message In A Bottle,' 'De Do Do Do De Da Da Da,' and 'Every Breath You Take,' plus several songs taken from the "Synchronicity album," including 'King Of Pain,' 'Wrapped Around Your Finger,' 'Walking In Your Footsteps,' 'Tea In The Sahara,' 'Oh My God' and 'Murder By Numbers.'

"The Police - Synchronicity Concert" also boasts exclusive live performances filmed in multi-angle, including for the very first time 'Synchronicity II,' plus 'Don't Stand So Close To Me,' 'Invisible Sun,' and 'Roxanne.'

In addition to the Synchronicity Concert Multi-Angle Tracks, DVD extras include previously unreleased concert footage taken from the "Synchronicity" concert in Montreal, Canada where The Police perform 'Demolition Man' and 'Murder By Numbers.'

The promotional trailer for the original theatrical release of "The Police - Synchronicity Concert" is also included here.

Although "Synchronicity" would be The Police's most commercially successful album, and lead to a sold-out tour (including a stop at New York's Shea Stadium), it would turn out to be the trio's fifth and final studio album and world tour.

One of 1983's biggest singles, the haunting 'Every Breath You Take' is an obvious highlight, as well as the rare Stewart Copeland original, 'Miss Gradenko.'

Few other albums from 1983 merged tasteful pop, sophistication, and expert songwriting as well as "Synchronicity" did, resulting in another all-time classic album.

When the Police arrived on the UK music scene in 1977, they brought something unique to the table that set them apart from other bands.

The trio's infectious, Reggae-fueled Pop/Rock may have had a Punk attitude, but unlike other Punk groups, all three members were technically proficient musicians in their own right.

Andy Summers had a precise guitar attack that created dense, interlocking waves of sounds and effects.

Stewart Copeland could play polyrhythms effortlessly.

Sting, with his high, keening voice, was capable of constructing memorable, hook-laden Pop songs.

The Police proved that the spirit of Punk could still have a place and a future in Pop music.

As their career progressed, The Police grew considerably more adventurous, experimenting with Jazz and various World Music styles.

Throughout their career, the band's tight delivery and mastery of the pop single kept their audience increasing.

By 1983, they were the most popular Rock band in the world.

Though they were at the height of their fame, The Police disbanded in 1984, while Sting went on to release a string of internationally successful solo albums and hit singles.

Stewart Copeland and Sting (a.k.a. Gordon Sumner) originally formed The Police in 1977.

Prior to the band's formation, Copeland, the son of a CIA agent, had attended college in California, before he moved to the UK and joined the Progressive Rock band Curved Air.

Sting was a teacher and a ditch digger who played in Jazz/Rock bands, including Last Exit.

The two musicians originally met at a local jazz club and decided to form a Progressive Pop band with guitarist Henri Padovani.

After playing a series of local pubs in London, the group appeared as a bleached-blonde Punk band in a chewing gum TV commercial.

While the commercial provided exposure, diehard Punk despised it.

During late 1977, The Police released their debut single, 'Fall Out,' on IRS Records, an independent label Stewart Copeland founded with brother Miles, who also managed The Police.

That single faired well for an independent release, selling 70,000 copies.

Padovani was replaced by Andy Summers, a veteran of the British Invasion, following the release of 'Fall Out.'

Summers had previous played with Eric Burdon's second lineup of The Animals, Zoot Money's Big Roll Band, The Kevin Ayers Band and Neil Sedaka.

By 1978, The Police signed with A&M Records, who released 'Roxanne' in the Spring of 1978, but it failed to chart.

The Police set out on a tour of America that Summer without a full album to support, traveling across the country in a rented van and playing with rented equipment.

The tour was self-financed and on some nights the band played to small audiences of 50 people or less.

Released in the Fall of 1978, their "Outlandos D'Amour" debut began a gradual climb into the British Top Ten and American Top 30.

Following its release, they embarked on a UK tour supporting Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, and released the 'So Lonely' single.

By the Spring of 1979, the re-released 'Roxanne' had climbed to #12 on the UK charts, taking "Outlandos D'Amour" to #6.

During the Summer of '79, Sting starred in the film adaptation of The Who's "Quadrophenia."

Preceded by the number one UK single 'Message In A Bottle,' "Reggatta De Blanc" (released in the Fall of 1979) established the group as stars in UK and Europe, topping the UK Singles Chart for four weeks.

Following its release, the band toured several countries that rarely received concerts from foreign performers, including Thailand, India, Mexico, Greece, and Egypt.

"Zenyatta Mondatta," the group's third studio album (released in the Fall of 1980), became The Police's North American breakthrough, reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. and Canada.

In the UK, the album spent four weeks at number one. 'Don't Stand So Close to Me,' the album's first single, became the group's second number one single there.

In America, the single became their second Top Ten hit in the Spring of 1981, following the number ten placing of 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da' in the Winter.

By early 1981, The Police were actually able to sell out Madison Square Garden.

Capitalizing on their success, they returned to the studio during the Summer of 1981 to record their fourth album with producer Hugh Padgham.

The sessions, which were filmed for a BBC documentary hosted by Jools Holland, were completed within a few months, and the album, "Ghost In The Machine," was released later in 1981.

"Ghost In The Machine" became a big hit, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the U.S.

The single 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' went on to become their biggest hit to date.

Following their success from 1980-1981, The Police were named "Best British Group" at the first Brit Awards and and won three Grammy Awards, leading to a long-overdue break in 1982.

Though they played their first arena concerts and headlined the U.S. Festival, each member pursued side projects during the rest of the year. Sting acted in the film "Brimstone And Treacle," releasing a solo single, 'Spread A Little Happiness,' from the soundtrack - that song becoming a British hit.

Stewart Copeland scored Francis Ford Coppola's critically-acclaimed film, "Rumble Fish," as well as the San Francisco Ballet's "King Lear," and also released an album under the pseudonym "Klark Kent." He also played on several sessions for Peter Gabriel.

Andy Summers, meanwhile, recorded an instrumental album, "I Advance Masked," with King Crimson's Robert Fripp.

The Police returned in the Summer of 1983 with "Synchronicity," which entered the UK charts at No. 1, and quickly climbed to the same position in the U.S., where it stayed for an amazing 17 weeks.

"Synchronicity" became a huge success on the strength of the ballad 'Every Breath You Take.'

Spending eight weeks at the top of the U.S. charts, 'Every Breath You Take' became one of the biggest hits of all time in America. It also spent four weeks at the top of the UK charts.

'King Of Pain' and 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' became hits over the course of 1983, sending "Synchronicity" soaring to multi-platinum status in both America and Britain.

The Police supported the album with a record-breaking world tour from 1983 to 1984, which set a precedent for tours for the remainder of the '80s.

Once the "Synchronicity" tour was completed, the band announced they were going on "sabbatical" to pursue outside interests.

Sting immediately started recording the jazz-influenced 1985 solo album, "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles," which became a global hit and established him as a major superstar.

Copeland recorded the World Beat exploration "The Rhythmatist" in 1985, and continued to compose scores for film and television. He later formed the Progressive Rock band Animal Logic.

With his solo career -- which didn't officially begin until the release of 1987's "XYZ" -- Andy Summers continued his Art Rock and Jazz Fusion experiments. He also occasionally collaborated with Robert Fripp and John Etheridge.

During 1986, The Police reunited and played an Amnesty International concert and released a compilation album.

Featuring a new version of 'Don't Stand So Close To Me,' the compilation, "Every Breath You Take: The Singles," was released during Christmas of 1986 - becoming the group's fifth straight UK No. 1 album and fourth U.S. Top 10 release.

Following that, the group disbanded, but reunited one last time to play Sting's wedding in 1992.

That same year, a "Greatest Hits" album was released in the UK.

In 1993, the box set "Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings" was released, followed in 1995 by the double album, "Live."

"The Police - Synchronicity Concert" Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Synchronicity I
3. Walking In Your Footsteps
4. Message In A Bottle
5. Walking On The Moon
6. Wrapped Around Your Finger
7. Hole In My Life
8. King Of Pain
9. One World
10. Tea In The Sahara
11. Oh My God
12. De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
13. Every Breath You Take
14. Can't Stand Losing You
15. Spirits In The Material World
16. So Lonely
17. Credits

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