The Police – Live! (1995) [SACD 2003] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

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.

Tracklist:

01. Next To You
02. So Lonely
03. Truth Hits Everybody
04. Walking On The Moon
05. Hole In My Life
06. Fall Out
07. Bring On The Night
08. Message In A Bottle
09. The Bed’s Too Big Without You
10. Peanuts
11. Roxanne
12. Can’t Stand Losing You
13. Landlord
14. Born In The 50’s
15. Be My Girl Sally
16. Synchronicity I
17. Synchronicity II
18. Walking In Your Footsteps
19. Message In A Bottle
20. O My God
21. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
22. Wrapped Around Your Finger
23. Tea In The Sahara
24. Spirits In The Material World
25. King Of Pain
26. Don’t Stand So Close To Me
27. Every Breath You Take
28. Roxanne
29. Can’t Stand Losing You
30. So Lonely