"MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" ● The Police
The Police / Promotional Photo / A&M Records
"MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" ● The Police
Song● Message in a Bottle
Writer● Sting
Producer● The Police and Nigel Gray
Recorded● Early 1979 at Surrey Sound in Surrey, England
Released● September 1979
Players●
:: Sting -- vocals, bass
:: Andy Summers -- guitar
:: Stewart Copeland -- drums, percussion
Album● Reggatta De Blanc (A&M, 1979)
Also On●
:: Every Breath You Take -- The Singles (A&M, 1986)
:: Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings (A&M, 1993)
:: Live! (A&M, 1995)
:: Every Breath You Take: The Classics (A&M, 1995)
"Message In A Bottle" was one of the first songs Sting had written for the Police's second album, Reggatta De Blanc, but the trio had a difficult time coming up with enough songs to fill out the album.
The album at least found the group working in somewhat better studios, with a bit more money to spend after the modest success of their debut, Outlandos D'Amour, and the singles "So Lonely," "Roxanne," and "I Can't Stand Losing You."
In the midst of recording Reggatta De Blanc, the Police had to interrupt the sessions to return to America for a tour to take advantage of the success of "Roxanne."
"Message In A Bottle" topped the singles chart in the U.K. Reggatta De Blanc also topped the British album chart. In the U.S., however, "Message In A Bottle" only hit Number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album reached Number 25.
The video for "Message In A Bottle" was embraced by MTV, however, which gave the song additional shelf life.
Reggatta de Blanc ● The Police
Reggatta de Blanc (White Reggae) is the second studio album by the Police, released October 5, 1979 by A&M Records. It was the band's first release to top the UK Albums Chart and features their UK number-one single "Message in a Bottle"
The Police split up in 1984 following the very successful Synchronicity album and tour. The group did reunite briefly in 1986 for an Amnesty International tour.
All three members have maintained solo careers, with Sting's the most successful. The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
Sting was named a CBE, or Commander Of The British Empire, by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The honorary title ranks just below knight.
Copeland made a documentary about his time in the band called Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out.
Summers published an autobiography in 2006 under the title One Train Later, and he's also got a Police photo history book in the works.
The Police reunited, with a tour in 2023, where they opened their shows with "Message In A Bottle."
KWXY plays the music of The Police and the album Reggatta de Blanc is in the station's music library and playlists. Listen to the Sound of the Desert for More than 50 years, bringing independent, and iconic music to Palm Springs, the Desert Cities, and the Coachella Valley.
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