Live!

1995 finally saw the release of the Police's long-rumored first official live album, the two-CD Live!. The first CD was recorded back in 1979 in Boston, for an FM broadcast during the tour for their second album, Reggatta de Blanc, while the second disc is from their final tour in 1983 during a tour stop in Atlanta. While the first disc is excellent -- it captures the Police at their most frantic and energetic -- the second disc is pretty darn uninspired (Sting's vocals in particular), as evidenced by the unnecessary and annoying backup singers that are detected throughout. Highlights abound on disc one, including early faves like "Next to You," "So Lonely," "Bring on the Night," "The Bed's Too Big Without You," "Roxanne," "Walking on the Moon," and "Can't Stand Losing You." And while disc two contains a few standouts ("Tea in the Sahara," "Every Breath You Take"), those dastardly backup singers make most of the songs sound like blah lounge versions ("King of Pain," "Synchronicity I," "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"). Still, the first disc of Live! makes it a recommended purchase to the serious Police fan. ~ Greg Prato