Ugly American Werewolf in London: The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

By 1980, The Police were really on a roll. Their first two albums, Outlandos d'Amour and Regatta de Blanc had introduced their punk/reggae stylings to the world and had earned platinum awards on both sides of the Atlantic. Their success meant they were in demand - as a live act around the world and in the studio by A&M records. Also due to their success, they had to record outside of the UK and chose Wisseloord Studio in the Netherlands to work on their third record, Zenyatta Mondatta.

However, they had to wrap up the Regatta de Blanc tour, retreat to The Netherlands with whatever they had been writing on the road, run off to Ireland and Milton Keynes for a couple of shows, record and mix the album all in one month before they disembarked for their next tour. Though they were working with Nigel Gray, producer of their first two albums, they didn't have time to explore the songs as much as they just needed to lay them down so they could release the record on time.

Still, under all that pressure, they managed to cobble together a fine album that would go double platinum in the US. Thanks in large part to the lead single Don't Stand So Close To Me, an ode to Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov based on Sting's experience as a teacher, which would be the boys first #1 in the UK and first Top 10 in the US. Though the lyrics may have been troubling, the song is an upbeat dance tune - something The Police would master while talking about famine (Driven To Tears), the importance of the words people say (De Doo Doo Doo, De Da Da Da) and the monotony of life on the road (Man In A Suitcase). Of course Sting did most of the writing but Andy Summers contributed the Grammy winning Behind My Camel (instrumental) and Stewart Copeland offered Bombs Away & The Other Way of Stopping.

The Police never liked the mix on the record and felt they could have done better. They rerecorded the two singles in an ill-fated reunion attempt in 1986 and Sting would rework Shadows In The Rain on Dream of The Blue Turtles. But for Police fans this does stand the test of time and we celebrate Zenyatta Mondatta as it turns 45.

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