You are the king of the boxset unboxings. I always enjoy the detailed information about what each set contains and differences of other versions. Synchronicity may be my favorite Police record.
Many Thanks Randy. Glad you liked the run through. I was a bit afraid I’d made this one a bit long, but with two boxsets I couldn’t help it. Synchronicity is certainly a classic album. Mike
Hello Sir Mike! Another fantastic unboxing from the king of the vinyl boxsets. This looks amazing. While this is my least favorite Police album, I still love it. It’s The Police for God’s sake. I think I’ll probably get the two cd or vinyl set mostly because I want those live recordings. Well done as always!!
Thanks King Gary, as you say ‘it’s The Police’ what’s not to like. It’s not my favourite either, but they are superb quality boxsets. The two coloured vinyl option looks great but check how many live tracks there are on those because I don’t know, same with the two cd’s. Live tracks do tend to be mixed in with various studio takes. Thanks Gary! Mike
Hi Mike. I personally think the first three Police albums are brilliant, the other two, not so much. I'd have to say that Reggatta De Blanc is my favorite one. I do love Outlandos De Amour too. Who doesn't love Be My Girl-Sally? I got to see them before they became huge on the Zenyatta Mondatta tour. I'm pretty sure that Ben Rankins is a closet Police fan. He's just jealous of Sting's haircut. Keep up the good work Mike. All the best............
I think you’re right! That Ben Rankins chap tries to throw us off the scent all the time. I think he is also a closet Reg Dwight fan as well. If Elton played a Lute, @benrankins would be in seventh heaven! Brilliant you saw them early, must have been great. Mike
wow, that is some comprehensive documentation of the album and the recording process. Such detail! I think a good idea (too late now) would have been for them to include a poster of the 36 original album cover variations. I recently got a picture disc of Grateful Dead's "From the Mars Hotel" and the sound is much like what you described - it actually sounds great, but between songs you can hear a low roar. Truth Hits Everybody! lol That's always been one of my favorite quotations. Thanks for showing the boxes!
A poster with all the 36 variants would have been a fantastic idea Randy. It’s makes you wonder why the record labels don’t come up with more innovative ideas. That really is a good idea Randy. Yes, the low rumble on picture discs is such a shame, and you would think technically they would have improved that more by now. Glad you liked the run through Randy. Mike
Hi Mike. Synchronicity is my favorite Police record. I knew there were color variations but not 36. Picture discs I love just for the look. I love the title track I think the best. (Synchronicity and not Synchronicity 2) I agree not a fan of mother. This looks like a great box with the unreleased tracks book and photos. Great video!
Thanks a lot Shawn, most kind. Great album, and the quality of the boxsets is superb. Mother is the only weakness I agree. It would be brutal on the pocket to chase down all those variants though 😁 Mike
That would have been a nice touch to see all the variants. Although it may then of led me down a dark expensive path of trying to collect them all!! 😂😂 Mike
Hi Lloyd, to be honest I think you need to really love it to justify buying the boxset. There are multiple takes of the same songs, so you really need to love these songs to justify. Good call. Btw, unless I’m going mad, I haven’t got my winnings from your last contest. Can you check for me please. Thanks Lloyd. Mike
Great review. It would have been great to see the original handwritten lyrics along with those from nearly ten year’s earlier to show the genesis and evolution of Oh My God which was adapted by the police from the original version written and recorded by Last Exit. There’s a real irony that Sting was looking for creative control expecting all of his songs to be used whilst at the same time he was still reliant on having to use material nearly ten years old written for a different band. Had Sting’s wish to be the exclusive song writer been secured we would never have had two of the most beautiful police songs ever recorded: Darkness and Omegaman from Ghost in the Machine.
Thanks for some really interesting comments. Very late last you had me pulling out and playing Ghost in the Machine, and I played Darkness and Omegaman several times each! You are absolutely right they are fantastic songs, in many respects hidden treasures. I love boxsets because I love seeing the development of songs from their demo state. Great comments, thank you! Mike
I'm going to stick with my one copy of the original album, but thanks for showing all the possibilities again! It does inspire me to listen to this album - I haven't played it for a long while. I agree that Mother is the standout (not in a good way) track on Synchronicity. It's terrible but it had great entertainment value in one way: for a few years after the album came out it was common to hear a phone ringing and immediately someone would scream "The telephone is ringing!! Is that my mother on the phone??!" Great fun! You've probably read Andy Summers' book One Train Later, but if you haven't I recommend it. Thanks!
I think it’s a good call K to stick with original. These boxsets are superb, but unless it’s one of your favourites you can be overwhelmed with multiple takes of the same song. I’m definitely a saddo who likes this sort of thing, but you need to be selective. Mother…..shocking track that brings the album down imho. I haven’t read Andy’s book but I will now, thanks for the heads up. Mike
I'm going to give Mother some much needed love. I think it is necessary album addition, as this and the Copeland Miss Grendeko provide much needed relief from the other songs' serious nature. It was, in my opinion, a lesson they learnt from an over-weighty Ghost in the machine, which may have benefitted from some injections of humour. For me, I think the Synchronicity album does have filler, but it is two Sting songs that bring it down for me, 'Oh my god' and 'Walking in your footsteps'. I have the original vinyl, so it omits the bonus CD track 'Murder by numbers', which I would have gladly had in place of either of the previous two tracks.
The Doyen in his element! As a drummer I wish gated drums were not invented. This box is certainly fancier than the cassette version I bought at the time. I might be on an island but I love "Well the telephone is ringing, Is that my mother on the phone?" You sure there's no lutes buried deep in the mix of an outtake that didn't make it on the album which also sowed the seeds of the Police's demise. Cheers...The Bish 🥁
Boxsets……lovely stuff. Did you enjoy my tech bluff about drumming production techniques, did I sound as if I knew what I was talking about Bish?🥁😂😂 Yes, last decent album before we descent into several layers of satanic Lute Hell 😂😂 D🎸
Wooparooooo hey hey Mike mm mm glad I happened to be here at this moment, this time, this hour...and aaa waaaa?? Ok I’ll stop watching and I already know I’m gonna dig this unboxing you are THE best at it .... cheers brother✊🏻👋🏻🎶🎶🎸🎶🎶🙏🏻✨😎🌈
I think I'm the only one that gets why sting loved mother..great album with no filler..infact I don't think there's any filler on the police albums..Zanyatta mondatta is my favourite..great unboxing
Many thanks Colin, that’s kind of you. Why did Sting like Mother?? Maybe because it made all his tracks seem perfect? 😂😂 But seriously, do you know why?? Mike
No lutes! Oh well. I always wished they had added Murder By Numbers to the original LP and eliminated Mother. My friend bought the cassette when it came out and I bought the album and I was left feeling shortchanged with the lack of Murder By Numbers. Interesting box. I probably will pass on it, even though I love the record. Well, I suppose it depends on the price. Very professional unboxing, again!
Thanks Brian for kind words. I totally agree with you, Murder for Mother would have made this a really great album without a weak track. The price I’ve noticed is already dropping in UK, but there is a lot of repetition of songs, although variants, so not for everybody. Mike
Wow, I’m hoping they come out with all 39 variations in the box set for those who really like to collect. A picture disc was kind of an odd item. You must have a separate house for all your box sets wanna be Steve
😂😂 I like to call it my Boxset Warehouse……or Boxset Heaven 😂😂 I’m applying for a bank loan just in case they reissue all of the variants 😂😂 You know you love a boxset wannabe Mike! Wannabe Steve
Ha ha, ehr… sorry? They did worse in Sweden 😄 Guess what artists kept them from the top spot (btw they were number 4 until august 22nd when they reached number 3): Bobbie Tyler, David Bowie, Agnetha Fältskog and the week they reached number 3? 2: Mike Oldfield • Crises 1: Flashdance (Soundtrack). So now you know 😊 🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴
😂😂 Flashdance!?! wow…..lots of great info there Morten. So you admit that you didn’t buy it when it came out, when you were 12 years old 😂😂 I can understand Bowie and the lovely Agnetha keeping them off top spot. Mike
@@pc31thevinylpoliceman Mike Oldfield was also very popular, not least because of his relationship with Norwegian artist Anita Hegerland. At 12 I think I was still a member of the record of the month club? So blame them! They did send me Ghost in the machine, so I actually had one of their albums. But I don’t think records from those clubs counted towards sales anyhow.
The Police get a lot of stick. Especially in punk circles, but their first singles were as punk as you could be at that time. I think it was snobbery because they could play. Despite Stings short comings l like them and him. Great bunch of Police box sets and pic disc. Interesting that they just bothered George Martin like that.
I completely agree with everything you said Mike. I love Outlandos and consider it a great punk album. I think you’re right about the snobbery. I’m up and down on Sting’s solo stuff. I think he goes from brilliant to self indulgent jazzy nonsense. But very clever as were the Police. Mike
Nice one Mike 👍
You are the king of the boxset unboxings. I always enjoy the detailed information about what each set contains and differences of other versions. Synchronicity may be my favorite Police record.
Many Thanks Randy. Glad you liked the run through. I was a bit afraid I’d made this one a bit long, but with two boxsets I couldn’t help it. Synchronicity is certainly a classic album. Mike
Hello Sir Mike! Another fantastic unboxing from the king of the vinyl boxsets. This looks amazing. While this is my least favorite Police album, I still love it. It’s The Police for God’s sake. I think I’ll probably get the two cd or vinyl set mostly because I want those live recordings. Well done as always!!
Thanks King Gary, as you say ‘it’s The Police’ what’s not to like. It’s not my favourite either, but they are superb quality boxsets. The two coloured vinyl option looks great but check how many live tracks there are on those because I don’t know, same with the two cd’s. Live tracks do tend to be mixed in with various studio takes. Thanks Gary! Mike
Well well Mike , I too was that Police gig in Brighton (lived at Saltdean at the time) Sting swinging on a large trapeze.Excellent gig
Amazing you were at same gig Charlie! Those were the days and just before Christmas! Mike
Hi Mike. I personally think the first three Police albums are brilliant, the other two, not so much. I'd have to say that Reggatta De Blanc is my favorite one. I do love Outlandos De Amour too. Who doesn't love Be My Girl-Sally? I got to see them before they became huge on the Zenyatta Mondatta tour. I'm pretty sure that Ben Rankins is a closet Police fan. He's just jealous of Sting's haircut. Keep up the good work Mike. All the best............
I think you’re right! That Ben Rankins chap tries to throw us off the scent all the time. I think he is also a closet Reg Dwight fan as well. If Elton played a Lute, @benrankins would be in seventh heaven! Brilliant you saw them early, must have been great. Mike
wow, that is some comprehensive documentation of the album and the recording process. Such detail! I think a good idea (too late now) would have been for them to include a poster of the 36 original album cover variations. I recently got a picture disc of Grateful Dead's "From the Mars Hotel" and the sound is much like what you described - it actually sounds great, but between songs you can hear a low roar. Truth Hits Everybody! lol That's always been one of my favorite quotations. Thanks for showing the boxes!
A poster with all the 36 variants would have been a fantastic idea Randy. It’s makes you wonder why the record labels don’t come up with more innovative ideas. That really is a good idea Randy. Yes, the low rumble on picture discs is such a shame, and you would think technically they would have improved that more by now. Glad you liked the run through Randy. Mike
Hi Mike. Synchronicity is my favorite Police record. I knew there were color variations but not 36. Picture discs I love just for the look. I love the title track I think the best. (Synchronicity and not Synchronicity 2) I agree not a fan of mother. This looks like a great box with the unreleased tracks book and photos. Great video!
Thanks a lot Shawn, most kind. Great album, and the quality of the boxsets is superb. Mother is the only weakness I agree. It would be brutal on the pocket to chase down all those variants though 😁 Mike
great stuff Mike👍🏼concur it would have been great to get all the cover variants. has that same mystique quality of in through the out door.
That would have been a nice touch to see all the variants. Although it may then of led me down a dark expensive path of trying to collect them all!! 😂😂 Mike
@@pc31thevinylpoliceman precisely🤣
Hi Mike, great looking box set mate. i dont think i will bother with it though, a great album but im not sure i really need it. - Lloyd
Hi Lloyd, to be honest I think you need to really love it to justify buying the boxset. There are multiple takes of the same songs, so you really need to love these songs to justify. Good call. Btw, unless I’m going mad, I haven’t got my winnings from your last contest. Can you check for me please. Thanks Lloyd. Mike
Great review. It would have been great to see the original handwritten lyrics along with those from nearly ten year’s earlier to show the genesis and evolution of Oh My God which was adapted by the police from the original version written and recorded by Last Exit. There’s a real irony that Sting was looking for creative control expecting all of his songs to be used whilst at the same time he was still reliant on having to use material nearly ten years old written for a different band. Had Sting’s wish to be the exclusive song writer been secured we would never have had two of the most beautiful police songs ever recorded: Darkness and Omegaman from Ghost in the Machine.
Thanks for some really interesting comments. Very late last you had me pulling out and playing Ghost in the Machine, and I played Darkness and Omegaman several times each! You are absolutely right they are fantastic songs, in many respects hidden treasures. I love boxsets because I love seeing the development of songs from their demo state. Great comments, thank you! Mike
I'm going to stick with my one copy of the original album, but thanks for showing all the possibilities again! It does inspire me to listen to this album - I haven't played it for a long while.
I agree that Mother is the standout (not in a good way) track on Synchronicity. It's terrible but it had great entertainment value in one way: for a few years after the album came out it was common to hear a phone ringing and immediately someone would scream "The telephone is ringing!! Is that my mother on the phone??!" Great fun!
You've probably read Andy Summers' book One Train Later, but if you haven't I recommend it. Thanks!
I think it’s a good call K to stick with original. These boxsets are superb, but unless it’s one of your favourites you can be overwhelmed with multiple takes of the same song. I’m definitely a saddo who likes this sort of thing, but you need to be selective. Mother…..shocking track that brings the album down imho. I haven’t read Andy’s book but I will now, thanks for the heads up. Mike
I'm going to give Mother some much needed love. I think it is necessary album addition, as this and the Copeland Miss Grendeko provide much needed relief from the other songs' serious nature. It was, in my opinion, a lesson they learnt from an over-weighty Ghost in the machine, which may have benefitted from some injections of humour. For me, I think the Synchronicity album does have filler, but it is two Sting songs that bring it down for me, 'Oh my god' and 'Walking in your footsteps'. I have the original vinyl, so it omits the bonus CD track 'Murder by numbers', which I would have gladly had in place of either of the previous two tracks.
Hi Mike they also did that different sequencing thing with the reissue picture disc of Ghost In The Machine lp
That’s interesting, thanks for that info I didn’t know that. So that’s now on the growing wants list! 😂 Mike
The Doyen in his element! As a drummer I wish gated drums were not invented. This box is certainly fancier than the cassette version I bought at the time. I might be on an island but I love "Well the telephone is ringing, Is that my mother on the phone?"
You sure there's no lutes buried deep in the mix of an outtake that didn't make it on the album which also sowed the seeds of the Police's demise. Cheers...The Bish 🥁
Boxsets……lovely stuff. Did you enjoy my tech bluff about drumming production techniques, did I sound as if I knew what I was talking about Bish?🥁😂😂 Yes, last decent album before we descent into several layers of satanic Lute Hell 😂😂 D🎸
@@pc31thevinylpoliceman It was like Hugh Padgham took over your channel for a moment Doyen 😂
Wooparooooo hey hey Mike mm mm glad I happened to be here at this moment, this time, this hour...and aaa waaaa?? Ok I’ll stop watching and I already know I’m gonna dig this unboxing you are THE best at it .... cheers brother✊🏻👋🏻🎶🎶🎸🎶🎶🙏🏻✨😎🌈
Thank you Lis, you are most kind my friend! This unboxing was a little longer than I wanted, but there was a lot to show and tell. Mike 🎸
@@pc31thevinylpoliceman didn’t notice the time at all....at all 🙏🏻✨
I think I'm the only one that gets why sting loved mother..great album with no filler..infact I don't think there's any filler on the police albums..Zanyatta mondatta is my favourite..great unboxing
Many thanks Colin, that’s kind of you. Why did Sting like Mother?? Maybe because it made all his tracks seem perfect? 😂😂 But seriously, do you know why?? Mike
@pc31thevinylpoliceman I don't mate but honestly I like it..the music has an eastern feel to it..Will subscribe to your channel 👍👍
@@CWAdventures1968thanks Colin. Mike
No lutes! Oh well. I always wished they had added Murder By Numbers to the original LP and eliminated Mother. My friend bought the cassette when it came out and I bought the album and I was left feeling shortchanged with the lack of Murder By Numbers. Interesting box. I probably will pass on it, even though I love the record. Well, I suppose it depends on the price. Very professional unboxing, again!
The cassette in Australia had Murder By Numbers as well HP. Mother's awesome!
Thanks Brian for kind words. I totally agree with you, Murder for Mother would have made this a really great album without a weak track. The price I’ve noticed is already dropping in UK, but there is a lot of repetition of songs, although variants, so not for everybody. Mike
Wow, I’m hoping they come out with all 39 variations in the box set for those who really like to collect. A picture disc was kind of an odd item. You must have a separate house for all your box sets wanna be Steve
😂😂 I like to call it my Boxset Warehouse……or Boxset Heaven 😂😂 I’m applying for a bank loan just in case they reissue all of the variants 😂😂 You know you love a boxset wannabe Mike! Wannabe Steve
Invisible Sun was a single
Hi Jerry, yes it was a single but from ‘Ghost in the Machine’. But a brilliant track nonetheless. Thanks. Mike
Ha ha, ehr… sorry? They did worse in Sweden 😄
Guess what artists kept them from the top spot (btw they were number 4 until august 22nd when they reached number 3): Bobbie Tyler, David Bowie, Agnetha Fältskog and the week they reached number 3?
2: Mike Oldfield • Crises
1: Flashdance (Soundtrack).
So now you know 😊
🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴
😂😂 Flashdance!?! wow…..lots of great info there Morten. So you admit that you didn’t buy it when it came out, when you were 12 years old 😂😂 I can understand Bowie and the lovely Agnetha keeping them off top spot. Mike
@@pc31thevinylpoliceman Mike Oldfield was also very popular, not least because of his relationship with Norwegian artist Anita Hegerland.
At 12 I think I was still a member of the record of the month club? So blame them! They did send me Ghost in the machine, so I actually had one of their albums. But I don’t think records from those clubs counted towards sales anyhow.
The Police get a lot of stick. Especially in punk circles, but their first singles were as punk as you could be at that time. I think it was snobbery because they could play. Despite Stings short comings l like them and him. Great bunch of Police box sets and pic disc. Interesting that they just bothered George Martin like that.
I completely agree with everything you said Mike. I love Outlandos and consider it a great punk album. I think you’re right about the snobbery. I’m up and down on Sting’s solo stuff. I think he goes from brilliant to self indulgent jazzy nonsense. But very clever as were the Police. Mike