Conference mr1pst::music

    Sting is a very talented guy, though a little too in love with himself.
    His last two records didn't do much for me, though I did like the
    first solo album. He is an excellent tunesmith, IMO, though the second
    solo album of his that I bought had an air of sameness about the songs;
    they were so heavily mixed down that they turned very bland, to me. 
    
    I like the simplicity and austerity of the early Police recordings the
    best. And, I like a stronger beat.
    
    -roger
    

    I liked Blue Turtles (great band). Didn't like the second solo album. I
    thought much of the performances and material of Soul Cages was as
    strong as the Blue Turtles but with a few gaps in the songwriting (i.e.
    not quite a whole LP's worth of material). Generally, I think his
    songwriting has gotten less and less inspired as time and stardom wore
    on. Nonetheless occassional moments of brilliance still seem to occur.

    I hope he stayed on the bass for this one.

    --Ron

    
    My favorite Sting album is _Bring on the Night_ ( his live one ),
    mostly because of 'Low Life' and 'Consider Me Gone'.
    
    I also rather liked his first two solo efforts, but _Soul Cages_ just
    didn't do much for me - too mellow . . .
    
    					-Jimbo
    

    
    
    I dont know why I like him but I like him. I like 2-3 songs in each
    album and I find the rest boring. Still a Sting fan. I have all his
    albums (I think) and I just bought a greatest hits of Police.
    
    Here is a tiny bit of information: Sting narrates Prokofyef's
    Peter and the Wolf, if you are interested in exposing your kids
    to classical music. (and he does a great job)
    
    I think they could have found a better name than Roxanne. I hate the
    name, I can't enjoy the song.
    
    Lale
    

    I must admit to liking the chap as well, although at times he does 
    come across as an overbearing pompus git. Great songwriter mind and
    he reaches near perfection in one o' me all time favourites "I Burn
    For You." Love that song. 
    
    barry.  

	Yeah, I like Sting, especially his 2nd solo and all Police albums
but this guy oughta lighten up and have a little fun...

/ml

    
    I think his cover of Hendrix' "Little Wing" rules.
    
    -Ed
    

    One of the few guys on the radio writing lyrics of genuine "literary"
    quality.
    
    I don't insist on literary quality: I enjoy the lyrics of other
    songwriters, but I certainly do appreciate what Sting does.
    
    Another band with a decidedly more temporal orientation in the lyric
    department is (IMHO) Kansas.  Their main writers are/were Steve Walsh
    and Kerry Livgren.
    
    Kerry Livgren's auto-biography was very interesting reading.

    I've never really been into his music, but I've always considered him
    to be an exceptionally attractive and interesting man.
    
    Lorna
    

I never liked The Police much but I like Sting's solo albums. I've seen
him in concert twice and he was excellent both times.

Barry

    
    
    ref. .9
    Yes, I agree, he is attractive. I am glad he uses the name Sting,
    Gordon Sumner wouldn't suit a sexy guy like him.
    
    Have you seen his movie with Meryl Streep ? 
    
    Lale
    

    I was just reading thru the "Sting sucks" topic.
    
    Had anyone noticed that without exception, every "hate" note
    includes a more than casual reference to some negative aspect of
    his personality ("pretentious", "narcissitic", etc.)?
    
    Hmmm....

    
>>    Had anyone noticed that without exception, every "hate" note
>>    includes a more than casual reference to some negative aspect of
>>    his personality ("pretentious", "narcissitic", etc.)?

	Not true.  Mine didn't.  I just said I didn't like him without
	The Police.  I mean it strictly from the musical standpoint.

	Di

    He has a way cool version of "Someone to Watch Over Me" on a CD
    single... love that song, and he does it just fine!
    
    Suegene

    
    The flip side of that single has a killer cover of "Up From The Skies"
    another Hendrix' cover with Gil Evans' band.
    
    Listening to Sting turned me on to Gil Evans so he can't be all bad.
    
    -Ed
    

    re: Dave way back when on "hate" notes . . .
    
    Didn't say I hated the guy or his music -- in fact I like his music
    although I prefer his work with the Police. "Narcissistic" was just
    descriptive ;-)
    
    But at the risk of being too serious, he's out there selling records
    because he's the British liberal intellectual guy -- just like  
    Joe Strummer, who's the working class Cockney guy, or Robert Smith
    who's the alienated Bohemian guy -- it's part of the package. He's
    a pretty good bass player and writes some good pop tunes -- and some
    of them (used to ) use some interesting rhythms, and some of them (used
    to) refer to heady topics that you don't get with other pop bands.
    But what makes this Gordon Sumner guy Sting? It's those other
    qualities -- pretentious, narcissistic, pompous. Gotta love him!
    
    
    

>>    Had anyone noticed that without exception, every "hate" note
>>    includes a more than casual reference to some negative aspect of
>>    his personality ("pretentious", "narcissitic", etc.)?
    
    re:.16 Franzosa
    
    My point was that you (and others) all had something negative to
    say about his personality (such as how much he loves himself).
    
    re: .13
    
    > Not true.  Mine didn't.  I just said I didn't like him without The
    > Police.  I mean it strictly from the musical standpoint.
    
    Having just looked at your note, I would not say that it falls into
    the category of "hate note".
    
    I think my point stands. 
    
    And even if it isn't universally true, it can hardly be argued that a
    VERY large number of people who don't like his music, are very quick to
    tell you that they don't like him.

    I'd venture that "narcissism" and "pretension" are characteristics 
    that can easily be attributed to the music produced by a given
    writer/performer regardless of whether the writer/performer themselves 
    are known or unknown by the person citing the characteristics.
    The characteristics of the music may or may not reflect the personality
    of the writer/performer in fact.
    
    In any case, I can understand how the terms might apply to Sting's
    music.  Then again, his music/lyrics just might be more literate than 
    those of many of his contemporaries.  Then again, he himself just might 
    be "narcissistic" and "pretentious".
    
    - Dave

    Narcissism is't unique to Sting... it's a common "perceived" notion
    of the public that applies to many artists.  Some people just don't 
    interview well, and some are hanged by there words...
    
    With the latter in mind, remember what happened to John Lennon?  Many
    Christian groups won't listen to The Beatles or John's music. (period)
    
    If there's one, ahem..., artist, who should be labeled narcissitic
    it's Stevie Nicks.  yuk phooie.
    
    Tim

    >I'd venture that "narcissism" and "pretension" are characteristics that
    >can easily be attributed to the music produced by a given
    >writer/performer regardless of whether the writer/performer themselves
    >are known or unknown by the person citing the characteristics. 
    
    After reading your note, it occurs to me that those labels get attached
    to lots of artists who strive to go beyond the the normal temporal
    boundaries of music.
    
    "Pretentious" is the label given to them by those who think they fail.
    "Genius", etc. is the label given to them by those who think they
    succeed.
    
    Whether they fail or succeed, I appreciate and recognize the ambition
    involved in trying to do that.
    
    I'd like to think that even the most vehement of Sting-bashers (and
    although that would seem to all but name one particular noter, I use
    the expression generally) would agree that he tries to be a bit more
    literary than most.
    
    	db
    
    p.s.  ELP, one of my all-time favorites has been called "pretenious"
          so often, it's amazing they don't appear in the dictionary
     	  definition of the word. ;-)

    Everything worth doing is hard.  Being literary is hard.  Being simple is 
    also hard.

    	a news flash..........
    
    
    	Sting will be opening for the Grateful Dead this summer.....Sting
    wants to see what this Deadhead thing is all about.....
    
    
    	Chris_who_might_just_checkout_the_opener_this_summer_tour

I like Sting's music.  I could care less about personal characteristics of
any artist.  The music is all that I care about and I find Sting very pleasant
on my ears.

So there!

ccb

    re: .23
    
    I feel the same way.
    
    I remember how much I dissapointed my grandmother when I told her I
    actually liked Wagner's  music.  She was unable to look past his 
    supposed anti-semitism to appreciate his music.  I don't blame her
    (my life was never threatened by Nazi's), but I don't think I'm wrong
    in my appreciation of his music.
    
    In fact, I (try to) go beyond merely the "personal characteristics".  I
    could care less whether it was "played by a machine", or "written to
    make money", or "written according to a formula", or all the other
    things that prevent people from just going by what their ears tell
    them.
    
    	db

    
    I go by what my ears tell me too but I also think that the personal
    characteristics and social attitude plays a role in liking or disliking
    a performer. They influence millions, their beliefs and behaviours
    are important. 
    
    For one artist I might say "I like his music, but I don't care for his
    personality". In some cases, the things an artist do or say might
    keep me from buying his/her album, regardless of the music. A way
    to protest. There is a restaurant I like, the food is good but the
    owner is a "bad" person, I wouldn't step into that restaurant ever
    again no matter how good the food is. 
    
    (I am often told that even when I had a good argument I always lost
    because of a lousy example, so, I wouldn't be surprized if you proved
    the irrelevancy of my example)
    
    I like Cat Stevens' music very very much. I listen to all his albums
    all the time. When he became a religion fanatic it was a mild annoyance
    for me. But when he declared that Salman Rushdi deserved to die and he
    had to be killed in compliance with the rules of his religion, I hated the
    man. I don't think I would go and buy his cd if he came up with a new
    one. I think it is wrong for a celebrity to promote violance, the
    statements they make are heard by millions.
    
    I like Sting. I like his music (with the exception of some stuff that
    is boring to me), I like his ideology, I like what he says and does.
    I like the song "If Russians loved their children too". I appreciate and
    admire him for doing the song "dancing with their husbands". I have
    that song in my own native language too. I think his philosophy has an
    effect on how much I like his music. The other face of an artist
    has an effect on how much I like his art. 
    
    I was a bit upset when I read that he was acting like a jerk when he
    was asked for an autograph. 
    
    Keep Smiling
    
    Lale
     

First off: I liked The Police and still do. I'm glad 
Sting put the Blue Turtles band together. I like his
tunes and I'm grateful that he gets people thinking.


Now:

So, who is this Sting?

I think what .24 and .25 are skirting around a little
is the idea of the artist's persona. And Sting's persona
is all over his music -- "Roxanne" wasn't written by a 
computer or by Wagner or Bob Marley, and we're reminded 
every time he opens his mouth to expound on one topic
or another. He's always got an opinion on something or
other and he's always explaining his music.

That's not to say it's his personality. I mean it's 
"STING," not Gordon Sumner. It's a character
just like "Madonna" or "Morrissey" or <lots_of_others>.
But THIS character is a middle-class liberal Englishman
who has that curious international yet elitist quality
that's not at all uncommon to the PBS Masterpiece
Theatre crowd. Therefore, the highbrow literary
allusions and the exotic rhythms. It's the esthete who
so longs to get in touch with the funky material world.
So, of COURSE you get "Roxanne" and "Message in a 
Bottle" and "So Lonely." You also get "Demolition Man" 
and "One World" and "Spirits in the Material World" and 
what's that one that reminds me of Yeats's "The Second 
Coming" -- " . . . many miles away, something crawls to 
the surface of a dark Scottish Lach . . ." A GREAT song, 
IMHO. And and and. (And I LOVE those songs. Really!) 

Now the other side of that is that the persona can 
sometimes be a little uncomfortable: He seemed pretty
testy for example in "Birth of a Band" when explaining 
why he was fronting an entirely Black band and he denied
that he was "Massa." (Well, who cared, but HE called 
attention to it. And, though I hate to agree with Gene
Siskel, I wish he'd given more time to the band and less
the hype about putting the band together, and the 
juxtaposition of opening night and the birth of his
baby -- puh-LEEZE. It wasn't about the birth of a band
at all, it was about "Sting's" perception of himself and
his role as musician and father and whatever.)

So, folks, it's been a great lunch time and just wanted
to say, THAT's what I mean when I say "narcissistic."

    re: .25 OTOOA::ESKICIOGLU
    
    By the way, I *LOVE* your personal name.  Best I've seen in a long
    time.
    
    Regarding Cat Stevens, note that you haven't said anything about how
    his recent actions has affected your appreciation of his music.
    You've only said that because of that, you wouldn't buy it.
    
    I think that's entirely different from what we've been talking about
    which is letting things affect your appreciation of the music itself.
    
    I have always loved tunafish, but the fact that I stopped buying it
    because of the boycott regarding dolphin-free nets, didn't mean that
    I stopped liking tunafish.
    
    Actually, we're sorta branching off the topic of "Sting" here.  I
    wasn't expecting this to take off the way it has.

    
    
    You are right, Dave. I still appreciate the music. 
    
    I may choose not to contribute to the wealth and fame of performers I
    protest due to their attitudes/philosophies, i.e. not purchasing their CDs, 
    not going to the concerts, but appreciation of the music is not
    something I can control. 
    
    If I have a very strong opinion of the artist's non-musical side, then
    I probably wouldn't praise their music without adding a little note on
    how I feel about their other properties. I might say "He is a jerk but
    he is darn good at this".
    
    Your "tuna" analogy applies.
    
    Anyway, to relate this note back to Sting, anybody has any comments on
    the new album ? First of all, do we know whether or not there is a new
    album ? I only heard one song.
    
    Lale
    
    

    I bought the new album, although I waited almost a year until after it
    came out.  As my tastes run, he's gone downhill since "Turtles" but 
    started high enough that he's still in the black where I'm concerned.
    
    "Turtles" I just loved period.  The new album, it's more that I
    appreciate what went into it, but it sorta fails me on the musical
    level (but there are some songs I do like - it's just not as
    consistent).
    
    I should mention that I'm sorta an iconoclast in that with the sole
    exception of "Synchronicity", I greatly prefer Sting alone to his
    prior efforts with the Police.
    
    Prior to Synchronicity, I just felt the reggae influence was just
    too thick and unartistically applied.   On Synchronicity, it sorta
    seemed like they just let the reggae thing go.
    
    I'd go so far as to say that "Synchronicity" is my favorite album with
    Sting (Police or solo).   It was one of the first albums I bought on
    CD and had I not, I would've been thru about 3 vinyl copies by now.
    I've probably played that album more than any other album except
    one (Phil Keaggy's "Wind and the Wheat" which I wouldn't expect too
    many people to know about).

    Dave,
    
    If the album you call "the new album" is the one with "mad about you",
    then that is the "old album". I have that one too. It is at least 
    (let me see, I was resident at fisheries and oceans at the time,
    2 summers ago) two years old. There is a brand new one now, I think.
    I heard part of a song on the radio. Couldn't catch the name or
    anything.
    
    Please somebody confirm that I am not making this all up.
    
    Lale
    
    

    Last album was Soul Cages. There is a brand new release coming out now.

    Sychronicity was a monstrously good piece of work (except for "Mother").
    I bought the vinyl, copied it to cassette and then played the cassette
    about 8000 times.

    --Ron

    
    
    I believe that the new album is called "Ten Sommersby Tales" and is
    kind of a play on words and Sting's last name...I think it is supposed
    to be in stores around the beginning of march.  The new single is on
    the radio, called "If I ever lose my faith in you"
    
    Brenda

    
    
    re:  last
    
    That should be "Ten Summoner's Tales"....sorry, Mr. Sumner..

    Driving in today I heard the Police's "Message in a Bottle" followed by
    the new Sting tune. It made for an interesting comparison, somewhat like
    listening to a Beatles McCartney tune and a Wings McCartney tune. That
    is to say, if you're going to listen to current Sting, best not do it
    after listening to The Police. "Message" sure did sound good. Made the
    new tune sound awfully conservative.

    And so that I could comment here on Stewart Copeland's astounding drum
    work, I've retitled this topic. Is there anyone in popular (or
    unpopular) music that plays drums that well? This guy is lightyears
    ahead of anyone I can think of. I remember watching him on the
    Synchonicity concert on tape and thinking "HOLY $*%#"!

    --Ron

    Stewart Copeland is one of my favorite drummers.  I love his work with
    the Police.

    Yes, I'm a big Stewart Copeland fan too.
    
    But did you know that the drums on Synchronicity were pretty much
    recorded one drum at a time to maximize sound quality?
    
    It's amazing because you'd think something done that way would
    end up having places where it doesn't really sound like a
    "performance".   I know from my own experience that it's often
    difficult just to make a punch not sound obvious.

    It was Copeland's break at the end of "Everything She Does is Magic" --
    just simple 16th-note staccato figures, but CLEAN -- that got me
    listening to the Police. He gave the band the crackle that seems
    missing in Sting's solo work. But (Lord help us) that's another topic.
    
    Also liked the score for Rumblefish -- showed that he has a lot to
    offer.
    
    Interesting note about the recording of Synchronicity -- kind of gives
    new meaning to the title, eh?

    re: -.1  I thought I was the only one who knew about that fill at
    end of Magic...
    
    Peter

    Regarding this amazing break at the end of "Magic", could you guys
    specify the time (mins:secs) that it occurs at (easy to do if you have
    a CD player).

    Well, I don't know about the drum recording techniques on Synchronicty
    album but I do know that there isn't anything on the record that he
    (Copeland) wasn't doing live on the Synchonicity concert video from the
    Omni in Atlanta. I watched in awe.

    re: .40
    
    Yes, I certainly didn't mean to imply that Copeland did it BECAUSE he
    couldn't play it.   As I said, the reason was to get the best possible
    sound quality.
    
    This is something I can really appreciate because I'm in the middle
    of recording drums for one of my bands and it is EXTREMELY difficult.
    
    One of the biggest problems is "leakage" - i.e. we have one track for
    snare, one track for toms, one track for bass drums, but because all
    these things are mic'ed, the snare drum gets picked up by the bass
    drum's mic, etc.
    
    It causes all kinds of problems and limitations.
    
    In fact, the drummer, who was so dissatisfied with the sound we were
    getting, dropped major bucks into a technical solution to the problem
    (a solution different than Copelands).  He went out and bought drum
    triggers/brains that convert each hit of each drum to a MIDI signal
    which can be used to trigger the playback of a drum sample.  Each
    sample (obviously) is recorded in complete isolation.
    
    Actually, recording the drums individually and making it sound like
    a performance is an AMAZING feat!   I ADMIRE Copeland for pulling
    that off.

>    Regarding this amazing break at the end of "Magic", could you guys
>    specify the time (mins:secs) that it occurs at (easy to do if you have
>    a CD player).

Well, it's just before they start singing "e-o". :-)

-Lance-

    re: .41.........besides that Dave....Rob's just bananas (read:
    retentive) enough to "shoot the wad"  in search of the right sound....
    ........;'))............................/k

    I've always regretted not being able to see the Police in concert.  And
    I've always been sad that they disbanded, pretty much assuring me I'll
    *never* see them in concert.
    
    As I've said elsewhere, I prefer Sting's work with the Police than
    without them.  I prefer the musical style of that band vs. the jazz
    influence of his solo work, find the Police songs easier on the ear (at
    least, the later albums), and hell, even the videos were more pleasant.
    :)
    
    I have all the Police albums, save for their Greatest hits collection
    (didn't much care for the rehash of Don't Stand So Close to Me) -- and
    I've found that overall, I like Zenyatta Mondatta.  That is to say,
    that album has the most songs on it that I like.  Ghost in the Machine
    is very nice, but I really only enjoy a couple songs off of it, and
    I must be the only Police-fan who didn't really care for Synchronicity
    (the song, part II).  I *did* very much like the over-played trio on
    the backside -- the lyrics were very interesting, the sound was far
    less harsh than the flip side of the album, and I suppose some of the
    liking comes from nostalgic value (1983 was the year I graduated high
    school, on my own for the first time, etc.  Egad, it's been 10 years
    almost already.  Sigh.  ::wax, wax::)
    
    At any rate, the Police were my first 'absolute favorite' band, and
    certainly one of the few that I religiously sought out albums by.  They
    have in recent times been somewhat supplanted by U2, but I still have a
    soft spot for 'em.
    
    kim

    My wife bought the new album and I'm happy to report that I think it's
    Sting's best solo work yet. (David Sancious on keyboards, BTW) I think
    Sting's found the pocket on this one. I'm truly impressed with both his
    songwriting and the performance on these tracks for the first time since
    Dream of the Blue Turtles. The single "If I Ever Lose My Faith" is the
    weak track of the lot. The other tracks are by and large probably too
    complex for single release but very listenable. My only complaint: the
    liner notes are difficult to read. I can live with that.

    --Ron

    
    My unseen count has hit 3 digits while I was busy collecting airmiles.
    
    I bought Ten Summoner's Tales the day it hit the stands (coincidence,
    I was there to buy some other stuff). I like all the songs a lot.
    Especially "stillknowzipaboutme" (check my records, check my facts,
    check if I paid my income tax).
    
    Ron,
    
    >complex for single release but very listenable. My only complaint: the
    >liner notes are difficult to read. I can live with that.

    I know what you mean. I did not even attempt reading. Painful.
    
    Lale

    Hi Lale,

    It was about 3 days before I figured out Vinnie Colaiuto was the
    drummer. I'm not going to even bother to look to see if I spelled his
    name correctly. Did somebody think that was cute?! On a dark background,
    no less. Sheesh.

    --Ron

    
    
    I heard that "Seven Days" is coming out as a single and the B side
    (what is the definition of B side these days ?) is "January" something.
    
    Lale
    

    Lale,

    A waze back, I bought a Police single (Every Breath?) just to get the B
    side, Murder By Numbers. It's one way to sell a lot of extra copies of
    the single. I really detest that "bonus track" marketing tactic.

    --Ron

    Re -.1
    
    Ron - isn't Murder by Numbers on Synchronicity?  or is my mind going?
    
    					- Jim

    Maybe the CD, but not the vinyl. That's another way the record companies
    promoted CD sales over LPs. They gave the shopper an extra push to buy
    the new CD even though they already had the LP. "Bonus Track". The
    rascals.

    --Ron

    you mean they released that song on the CD, and the cassette, but not
    the vinyl???  Sounds like an overall album length issue.
    
    -jesse

    RE: .49
     
    I agree with the "bonus" track. Very uncool, BUT I think "Murder By
    Numbers" is also a very cool tune. Kinda reminds me of those 1940
    murder/mystery movies. Not that I was alive then, but the reruns of
    those old movies. Yeah...  that's what I meant!  
    
    
    ;^)

    I had played Murder By Numbers on a juke box during break on a gig back
    when the single was out. I think I played it about 5 times before I left
    that night. Ran out and bought the single before it disappeared from the
    racks so I could own the track. Great tune. Great lyric.

    --Ron

    Saw Sting perform at Red Rocks in Denver a couple of weeks ago.  What a
    show!  The man and his band (David Sanctious-keyboards, Dominic
    Miller-guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta-drums) can play some serious music.  He
    played the entire new album save for one song...didn't play much off
    Soul Cages though...the obligatory Police tunes (Roxanne, Every
    Breath).

    What surprised everyone was his version of the Beatles' "A Day in the
    Life".  What a show-stopper.

    Of all his solo bands, this has got to be his best (of course, how do
    you measure "the best").  The new album has some excellent odd-time
    songs that are not the typical "this is odd time; ain't it cool"
    approach that so many others have.  I believe this is a "happier" album
    also...Sting was still dealing with his Father's death during Soul
    Cages (and the music/lyrics show).  There's also a video out of the
    making of "Ten Summoner's Tales" that shows Sting and the band actually
    having some fun making the new album.  Excelllent video also.

    Dale

re .53, .54

There's a good live performance of Sting guesting to a Frank Zappa show (on "Broadway
The Hard Way") of 'Murder By Numbers'. Heard it yet?

Dirk

... and another question:

I've always wondered about Sting's real name: is it something like
"John Sting", or "Sting Johnson" or "Sting Sting" or even "John Johnson"???

Who knows?

    Re: .57
    
    Gordon Sumner

    ref. .58 (no wonder he changed his name)
    
    I agree ;-) 
    I hope there aren't any noters with the name Gordon but that's
    the name that looks good only on Flash.
    
    ref. .57
    
    According to the story, when he was in grade school, he had a part in
    a school play and he was the bee. And hence the name.
    
    Lale

    RE: .56 -< Murder By Numbers with FZ >-

    No, Dirk. Sounds like it would be cool, though.

    --Ron

    
    I don't know how to apologize. As it turns out my "bee in a school
    play" story has got little to do with reality (!)
    
    ;-)
    
    The ultimate truth:
    
    "He was born Gordon Sumner, but the world knows him by the nickname he
    picked up in his early days singing in clubs when he wore a sweater
    with stripes like a bee."
    
    How can you ever forgive me ?
    
    Lale

    Lale,

    I forgive you. I even liked your story about the school play. But thanks
    for confessing and setting the record straight. Umm, this is the real
    story, right?

    --Ron

    
    Ron,
    
    I swear to God, this time I got it right.
    
    Thanks for your tolerance, won't happen again ;-)
    
    Lale
    

New box set of The Police, called "Message in a Box".  I picked it up 
last night; $45 on sale.  

Haven't listened to it yet, but the little book says it's everything 
ever released (including "B" sides), plus some unreleased stuff.  
Only 4 CDs, but they're packed.

The discs are in a notebook, not jewel cases, so they won't go on the 
rack :-(.  Why do record companies do this?

-Doug

    Re: .64
    
    All the B sides?  Sheesh, now all those 45s I bought in the 80s are
    worthless!!  8^)  8^)
    
    Actually, I had bought most of their 45s but only have two of their
    albums, this box would be cheaper than buying the individual CDs.
    
    							Brian

    
    ref. .64
    
    You can buy the jewel cases. They are about $3 each over here.
    Of course you won't have the spine or the insert.
    
    Lale

>     You can buy the jewel cases. They are about $3 each over here.
>     Of course you won't have the spine or the insert.

	true, but you can make your own from a piece of copier paper,
which is a great way to spend a rainy day...

    
    I like Sting's rendition of Elton John's "Come down in time",
    it speaks to the heart !
    
    It seems no one has yet mentioned his album "nothing like the sun"
    I think this is also one of his best. The song "fragile" has the
    same heart-felt effect to me as "Come down in time",
    
    what do Sting's fans think ? 
    
    do anyone know he also has a solo album in spanish language ?
    The song "fragile" is also in.
    
    sl
    
    
    
    
    

    Re -.1
    
    	I'd have to agree - 'Nothing Like the Sun' is my fave.  I alos
    liked his covers of 'Someone to Watch Over me' and Hendrix's 'Up From
    the Skies' - good tunes . . .
    
    
    							Jim
    

    Strange. I felt that, overall, 'Nothing Like the Sun' was his weakest
    solo effort, although it does have a couple of exceptional tracks.

    RE: Hendix covers
    He did 'Up From the Skies'?  I know about 'Little Wing', which I wished
    he'd skipped.

    I just heard part of his remake of 'Demolition Man'. Sounded pretty good
    but I need to hear it from the top.

    --Ron

>    RE: Hendix covers
>    He did 'Up From the Skies'?  I know about 'Little Wing', which I wished
>    he'd skipped.
 
    	Yup - both 'Someone to Watch Over me' and 'Up From the Skies' are
    on the CD single for Englishman in New York.
    
    	Just to give you an idea of my tastes, my favorite song on that
    album is 'Rock Steady' . . .
    
    						Jim

    'Rock Steady' is one of the tracks I enjoy, too.

    --Ron

Re. 68  >   do anyone know he also has a solo album in spanish language ?
        >   The song "fragile" is also in.
 
Yes, it's called Nada come el sol (sp?) and it contains both spanish and
portugese songs. At least, there is a spanish and portugese version of
fragile (fragilidad). The other song are jist spanish, if I remeber correctly.
It contains no new songs or different versions, though (except for the
language of course)

Willem

    
    Have anyone ever done a poll on police's best album ?
    
    My personal favorite is "Ghost in the machine", which is not mentioned 
    in this note yet (?), my 2nd is "Synchronicity" although it is more
    popular.
    
    sl.