The Police’s Synchronicity: A Reappraisal Through a New Lens

In his autobiography *One Train Later*, former Police guitarist Andy Summers reflects on the overwhelming success the band experienced by the time they recorded *Ghost In The Machine* in 1981 and *Synchronicity* in 1983. According to Summers, the band’s fame had reached a point where objectivity was lost, with people around them catering to their desires rather than offering honest feedback. He even suggests that by the time *Synchronicity* was released, the band could have recorded a nursery rhyme and still topped the charts.

While *Synchronicity* is undeniably a classic, Summers’ observations take on new relevance with the release of a six-CD expanded edition. This edition includes unreleased versions of tracks that may have been overlooked or undervalued during the original production process. These versions, in some cases, surpass the final album cuts, offering a fresh perspective on the band’s creative decisions. The new remastering of *Synchronicity* enhances its enduring strengths, bringing warmth and clarity to iconic tracks like “King Of Pain,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” and “Every Breath You Take.” These songs are prime examples of Sting’s songwriting prowess, Summers’s melodic contributions, and Stewart Copeland’s inventive drumming—elements that were central to the band’s appeal. The expanded edition also features an album’s worth of period B-sides and bonus tracks, including a brisk, electro-pop demo of “Murder By Numbers” and a horn-driven, funk-infused version of “O My God,” both of which offer a more dynamic listening experience than their original counterparts.

The set is rounded out with a scorching 19-song live performance, where Summers and Copeland’s post-studio arrangement modifications transform “Walking In Your Footsteps” from a lesser track into a standout. This live set, along with the expansive accompanying book, supports Sting’s assertion that The Police “finished at the top,” capturing the band’s raw energy and creativity at their peak.