This is actually a police cover version of an old Last Exit song from 1974. Nearly all of the Police albums relied upon cover versions of earlier LX songs from a decade earlier
Same song, same title, pretty much the same lyrics but a shockingly poor arrangement in 75. I was good friends with sting’s drummer in LX so I know exactly what the deal was back in the 70s in Newcastle
highschool flashbacks. remember spending my summer playing the crap out of this LP. I bought it right before my annual 4-week trip to Georgia to spend with my father... interesting times in my life for sure. they seem like distant memories now...
This is the first album I ever bought, and it's personal favorite. O My God felt somewhat straightforward for a long time, but as Ive gotten older, the double meaning of the title as an exclamatory comment and also as a plea to divinity resonates in a way which makes the closing moments feel existentially terrifying. It's fascinating to me! This seemed like one of the lighter songs on the album, and now it comes off like one of the heaviest thematically in the whole Police catalogue
And this is just one of the deep cuts. Wait till you hear the rest. Definitely my favorite deep cut in their catalog. I grew up to this album. This song also marked the first time Sting quoted lyrics from a song from a previous album (every little thing she does is magic). He did that gimmick throughout his solo career.
The final lyrics are taken from the track Every Little Thing She Does is Magic from Ghost In the Machine. Throughout his career, Sting has made references to other songs of his within a song. Does that make sense? It adds a fun twist to the listening experience.
Great song, this whole album is really good. Stewart Copeland is amazing, one of the reasons I became a fan of The Police. He also did all the music for a TV show called 'Dead Like Me'. It only ran for 2 seasons but it was a good show and the music was outstanding, I friggin' loved it. Thanks Justin ✌
Sting felt that the band had reached it’s apex and he didn’t want to stagnate, or even worse, regress. I think he was right, although Don’t Stand So Close to Me ‘86 would have been a pretty interesting direction had Stewart not broken his foot.
Such a great album. Good analysis, as always. Notice how at the end, Sting recalls the lyrics of his previous great big hit -- "Don't Stand So Close to Me". This was a habit of his that lasted into his solo career. Each hit single ended with a small quote of his previous hit single.
He used that same lyric used here (although its Every Little Thing, not Dont Stand) in the end of Seven Days and another one or two I cant remember right now.
Oh hai! It's been ages since I've heard this song, I had this record back in the day. It's a damn good song, then again, it IS The Police, what do I expect. Andy Summers has tons of chorus, Sting is singing like Sting, although the bassline sounds like something else I've heard during the one bit where he is repeating "Fill it up". Stuart sounds kinda restrained for Stuart, anyway, until the outro, and then the sax is off the chain. I guess to me, having heard Red Rain, his hi-hat was tasty but not that flashy here hah. Also, the song comes in weird. (I can hear the hat a little better with my headphones on, and I hear the fills better too, I was listening through smaller powered PC speakers because I rarely get to listen without headphones these days, so I was taking advantage of that while the spouse wasn't home, haha)
The Police always benefit greatly from headphones or excellent speakers. For a stretch in the 90s I lived in Seattle and my girlfriend (now wife) lived in Vancouver BC. I went back and forth in a little red Mazda 323, usually late at night to make a fast border crossing. I ruined the speakers in that car with the Police, trying to keep myself awake at 1 am.
My favorite "snack" (only two minutes long) on this album is "Miss Gradenko". A little song about love. In a totalitarian regime. A hint of "1984" to it. Great guitar solo by Andy Summers, who, by the way, did two albums with Robert Fripp, just the two of them.
Great song, great album and as usuall great reaction/review! Just waiting for next song on Supertramps crisis what crisis now, cant understand the loooong wait between each song since its a supurb album! The Police is great too however! 😃
The “keyboard” that you hear is a Roland guitar synthesizer. Basically a guitar (played by Andy) that makes digital sound. Sting is playing a fretless bass. Playing a fretless instrument is hard enough to play in tune let alone singing in tune with it as well. Stewart is Stewart; amazing! This track is my least favorite on the album. I love The Police, though, so it’s still good to me!
The thing that stands out about the Police... the drums hit you with unexpected sounds because of the innovations Stewart Copeland was making to his kit and playing style, and then the brilliance of lines like "oh my god you take the biscuit". Perhaps contrast this with Peter Gabriel's "Lay Your Hands On Me", which also contrasts a garden with a religious experience. Also, the National's "Humiliation", which describes being at a party in someone's garden and waiting for a drone strike.
Keyboard effects - actually Andy Summers playing a Roland Guitar synth. He actually did two albums with Robert Fripp where they both play guitar synth. They are "I Advanced Masked" and "Bewitched". Check them out. Peace from SF
Love the Police. Love Sting. Great live too. I'll have to dig out my old CDs and get re-acquainted.. Synchronicity is a cool album. Got to love the 70s and 80s music.
Stewart Copeland was hooked up with the Female lead singer of prog rock band Curved Air . well married infact.. Think that's when the band started to form when Stewart met Sting on tour around the Newcastle area UK..
Musically "O My God" is quite close to some tracks from Ghost in the Machine, as much for the saxophone, the synths or the guitar-synth (all three used extensively on the previous album). I don't find this song exceptional, just pleasant but nothing more. Justin, get ready for a drastic change on the next track "Mother" (sung by Andy Summers). This one has a bit of a disturbing 80s Crimsonian flavor to it !
I am still flabbergasted that they put Mother on rather than Someone to talk to (if they had to put a Summers song on at all). I mean, I like it sometimes, but it wouldn't be farfetched to say that it doesn't really flow with the rest of Synchronicity.
@@jasperdevries1726 Meh. The Police took some chances and they knew they had the Midas touch. Not everything is going to be a pop gem or a rocker. But in this case, it might have been an "eff you" from Summers to Sting. They were all not getting along by this point, though most accounts have the main friction between Copeland and Sting.
One of the best songs on Sychronicity - Sting really carries this with his soaring vocals. Lots of great Sting vocals on Police's Outlandos d'Amour album, too - "Peanuts" has a similar rocking feel to it, with the tense sax solo. I had both of these two albums on cassette, and would constantly play them in my car.
A groove that won't let go. What a great band. This track is a bit of a throwback to Ghost in the Machine (a slightly better album, IMO.) You can tell it's something that came out of a jam that they didn't take too far, but the Police were great at not over-working songs like this. The keyboard effects you mentioned are guitar synth from Andy Summers (who was on friendly terms with Robert Fripp back then.)
Yeah. I totally remember that band. They were good. They really helped define that era of about 1978~1983. Classic rock stations continue to play their music til this day.
Thanks Justin. How many know that the drummer Stewart Copeland composed the music for a favorite 1980's TV show of mine called "The Equalizer?" The Police, yes, a great band. Not many comments on the lyrics. Justin said the song expresses the desire for divine "intervention." Another mentioned it being an "appeal to divinity;" an irked filled appeal seemed to me. So much can be said on the matter. If there's curiosity, Google, The Silence of God by Sir Robert Anderson. I just did to make sure the book comes up and it does, a Google read book. One page. It's the first page of chapter 13. Anderson hits the nail on the head on the matter of demanding intervention. The book is great too.
Stewart also composed the music for the original pilot for the 90s TV show Babylon 5 "The Gathering." When TNT took over in the 5th season, the pilot was remastered and Stewart's music was replaced with a Christopher Franke score since he did the series.
Great song. The sax at the end reminds me vaguely of Too Many Zooz but not as raw. If you listen to TMZ then "Bedford" is probably as a good a place as any to start.
I haven't listened to this album for many, many years and I'd forgotten this song. One of the weaker tracks, in my opinion. If I listen to them these days it would be the first two albums, which have more raw energy.
This is actually a police cover version of an old Last Exit song from 1974. Nearly all of the Police albums relied upon cover versions of earlier LX songs from a decade earlier
"Repurposed" might be a better word, since Sting still wrote, re-wrote and re-titled the couple of songs The Police "covered".
Same song, same title, pretty much the same lyrics but a shockingly poor arrangement in 75. I was good friends with sting’s drummer in LX so I know exactly what the deal was back in the 70s in Newcastle
Love it!!! This whole album is incredible. Please continue.
highschool flashbacks. remember spending my summer playing the crap out of this LP. I bought it right before my annual 4-week trip to Georgia to spend with my father... interesting times in my life for sure. they seem like distant memories now...
"King Of Pain" Justin, fantastic! and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" best song of the album
This is the first album I ever bought, and it's personal favorite. O My God felt somewhat straightforward for a long time, but as Ive gotten older, the double meaning of the title as an exclamatory comment and also as a plea to divinity resonates in a way which makes the closing moments feel existentially terrifying. It's fascinating to me! This seemed like one of the lighter songs on the album, and now it comes off like one of the heaviest thematically in the whole Police catalogue
And this is just one of the deep cuts. Wait till you hear the rest. Definitely my favorite deep cut in their catalog. I grew up to this album. This song also marked the first time Sting quoted lyrics from a song from a previous album (every little thing she does is magic). He did that gimmick throughout his solo career.
The final lyrics are taken from the track Every Little Thing She Does is Magic from Ghost In the Machine. Throughout his career, Sting has made references to other songs of his within a song. Does that make sense? It adds a fun twist to the listening experience.
Makes sense to me; a bit of fourth wall breaking is always fun :)
Great song, this whole album is really good. Stewart Copeland is amazing, one of the reasons I became a fan of The Police. He also did all the music for a TV show called 'Dead Like Me'. It only ran for 2 seasons but it was a good show and the music was outstanding, I friggin' loved it. Thanks Justin ✌
Ah i've seen a few episodes of that show. I bought the DVD's many years ago because I thought the cover/premise was interesting
Always dug this one! That bass and Andy's atmospheric sounds! Just an awesome groove
If only they’d gone to therapy and done,say, five more albums.
Bittersweet.
Sting felt that the band had reached it’s apex and he didn’t want to stagnate, or even worse, regress. I think he was right, although Don’t Stand So Close to Me ‘86 would have been a pretty interesting direction had Stewart not broken his foot.
OMG! I forgot about this gem. Thanks for the reaction and the reminder. 😀
Such a great album. Good analysis, as always.
Notice how at the end, Sting recalls the lyrics of his previous great big hit -- "Don't Stand So Close to Me". This was a habit of his that lasted into his solo career. Each hit single ended with a small quote of his previous hit single.
He used that same lyric used here (although its Every Little Thing, not Dont Stand) in the end of Seven Days and another one or two I cant remember right now.
Great song, great album. My favorite, "King of Pain".
my fav police song
Oh hai! It's been ages since I've heard this song, I had this record back in the day. It's a damn good song, then again, it IS The Police, what do I expect.
Andy Summers has tons of chorus, Sting is singing like Sting, although the bassline sounds like something else I've heard during the one bit where he is repeating "Fill it up". Stuart sounds kinda restrained for Stuart, anyway, until the outro, and then the sax is off the chain.
I guess to me, having heard Red Rain, his hi-hat was tasty but not that flashy here hah. Also, the song comes in weird.
(I can hear the hat a little better with my headphones on, and I hear the fills better too, I was listening through smaller powered PC speakers because I rarely get to listen without headphones these days, so I was taking advantage of that while the spouse wasn't home, haha)
The Police always benefit greatly from headphones or excellent speakers. For a stretch in the 90s I lived in Seattle and my girlfriend (now wife) lived in Vancouver BC. I went back and forth in a little red Mazda 323, usually late at night to make a fast border crossing. I ruined the speakers in that car with the Police, trying to keep myself awake at 1 am.
I always loved this track. Such a jam!
My favorite "snack" (only two minutes long) on this album is "Miss Gradenko". A little song about love. In a totalitarian regime. A hint of "1984" to it. Great guitar solo by Andy Summers, who, by the way, did two albums with Robert Fripp, just the two of them.
Great song, great album and as usuall great reaction/review! Just waiting for next song on Supertramps crisis what crisis now, cant understand the loooong wait between each song since its a supurb album! The Police is great too however! 😃
I'll say it a thousand times over and over and over. Goddamn that Stewart!!!!
The “keyboard” that you hear is a Roland guitar synthesizer. Basically a guitar (played by Andy) that makes digital sound. Sting is playing a fretless bass. Playing a fretless instrument is hard enough to play in tune let alone singing in tune with it as well. Stewart is Stewart; amazing! This track is my least favorite on the album. I love The Police, though, so it’s still good to me!
A great, great overlooked track.
Gotta love the nod to Day Tripper in the bassline.
THAT'S what it was. I couldn't bring it to mind, for some reason. Duh.
@@eboethrasher First time I heard it I couldn't quite put my finger on it either! Makes the song bounce along nicely for sure.
It’s so subtle…
The thing that stands out about the Police... the drums hit you with unexpected sounds because of the innovations Stewart Copeland was making to his kit and playing style, and then the brilliance of lines like "oh my god you take the biscuit". Perhaps contrast this with Peter Gabriel's "Lay Your Hands On Me", which also contrasts a garden with a religious experience. Also, the National's "Humiliation", which describes being at a party in someone's garden and waiting for a drone strike.
Keyboard effects - actually Andy Summers playing a Roland Guitar synth. He actually did two albums with Robert Fripp where they both play guitar synth. They are "I Advanced Masked" and "Bewitched". Check them out.
Peace from SF
Love the Police. Love Sting. Great live too. I'll have to dig out my old CDs and get re-acquainted.. Synchronicity is a cool album. Got to love the 70s and 80s music.
Stewart Copeland was hooked up with the Female lead singer of prog rock band Curved Air . well married infact.. Think that's when the band started to form when Stewart met Sting on tour around the Newcastle area UK..
Summer sun growing up in Cornwall, with this spilling out of the open window. What an album!
Love Stewart Copeland drums!!! ❤️
Copeland is in my top 5 fav drummers, unquestionably
Musically "O My God" is quite close to some tracks from Ghost in the Machine, as much for the saxophone, the synths or the guitar-synth (all three used extensively on the previous album).
I don't find this song exceptional, just pleasant but nothing more.
Justin, get ready for a drastic change on the next track "Mother" (sung by Andy Summers). This one has a bit of a disturbing 80s Crimsonian flavor to it !
Looking forward to it:)
I agree. It sounds a lot like Ghost in The Machine
Yeah Andy Summers' chord soundscapes very similar to Ghost. Other than that, just a jam. A lot of their earlier songs are built like that.
I am still flabbergasted that they put Mother on rather than Someone to talk to (if they had to put a Summers song on at all). I mean, I like it sometimes, but it wouldn't be farfetched to say that it doesn't really flow with the rest of Synchronicity.
@@jasperdevries1726 Meh. The Police took some chances and they knew they had the Midas touch. Not everything is going to be a pop gem or a rocker. But in this case, it might have been an "eff you" from Summers to Sting. They were all not getting along by this point, though most accounts have the main friction between Copeland and Sting.
One of the best songs on Sychronicity - Sting really carries this with his soaring vocals. Lots of great Sting vocals on Police's Outlandos d'Amour album, too - "Peanuts" has a similar rocking feel to it, with the tense sax solo. I had both of these two albums on cassette, and would constantly play them in my car.
A groove that won't let go. What a great band. This track is a bit of a throwback to Ghost in the Machine (a slightly better album, IMO.) You can tell it's something that came out of a jam that they didn't take too far, but the Police were great at not over-working songs like this. The keyboard effects you mentioned are guitar synth from Andy Summers (who was on friendly terms with Robert Fripp back then.)
The Police were awesome. All five albums were incredible.
Yeah. I totally remember that band. They were good. They really helped define that era of about 1978~1983. Classic rock stations continue to play their music til this day.
PPPPPPure last period POLICE with the sound that made them soooo cool then!
The is song live is incredible
Great reggae style album. Back to my childhood with this one. Thanks J.P.
“Do I have to tell a story, of a thousand rainy days since we first met?
It’s a big enough umbrella, but it’s always me that ends up…….”
I like your style👌❤️policefan
Some pretty good stuff on this album, stands up still.
Thanks Justin. How many know that the drummer Stewart Copeland composed the music for a favorite 1980's TV show of mine called "The Equalizer?" The Police, yes, a great band. Not many comments on the lyrics. Justin said the song expresses the desire for divine "intervention." Another mentioned it being an "appeal to divinity;" an irked filled appeal seemed to me. So much can be said on the matter. If there's curiosity, Google, The Silence of God by Sir Robert Anderson. I just did to make sure the book comes up and it does, a Google read book. One page. It's the first page of chapter 13. Anderson hits the nail on the head on the matter of demanding intervention. The book is great too.
Stewart also composed the music for the original pilot for the 90s TV show Babylon 5 "The Gathering." When TNT took over in the 5th season, the pilot was remastered and Stewart's music was replaced with a Christopher Franke score since he did the series.
I love this whole album.
Another tasty track from Synch. Is it almost time for Tea in the Sahara?
The best Drummer STEWARD COPELAND
A decent tune... I hardly remember it, and haven't heard it in about 30 yrs, but not bad.
Great song. The sax at the end reminds me vaguely of Too Many Zooz but not as raw. If you listen to TMZ then "Bedford" is probably as a good a place as any to start.
This is a great album.
Around the same time were those 2 instrumental albums by Andy Summers and Robert Fripp.
Good track.
You should try reacting to live songs by japanese band called fishmans.
Here are some songs I recommend:
Hikouki
Long Season
Walking in the rhythm
The best guitarist ANDY SUMMERS
Don't think you've done 'Mother ' from this album yet....er..I'll just say...it's different!!!!
Other album the police
The Live version is more up tempo. Some people say the riff is a rip-off of a Beatles tune?
Definitely a bit of “Day Tripper” in there.
I haven't listened to this album for many, many years and I'd forgotten this song. One of the weaker tracks, in my opinion.
If I listen to them these days it would be the first two albums, which have more raw energy.