The Police Live [Remaster] by Police (The) (CD, Mar-2003, 2 Discs, A&M Records USA)

Perhaps this is not the best album you'll ever hear, especially the first time you listen to it. However, once you get over the indifferent sound quality and start imagining what it might have been like to be there in the south of France on a hot night in August in the late 70s, the album starts to open up. Recorded (sort of) live at the Arles Arena, which is a Roman coliseum still used today for occasional bull fights, both the passion of this British threesome and that of the French crowd comes across loudly. Sting is obviously enjoying himself and lets it rip on several tunes like "So Lonely" and "Truth Hits Everybody." These French tours were extremely popular (the French have long had love affairs with a number of British bands, particularly the Police and Supertramp) and helped hone the band's early muscle. When the touring became international later on and the pressure was really on, it may have been because of these French sessions that Police lasted as long as they did. Like I say, it's not great, but there's a story behind it and in a way, it's very good archival material. Of course, if you turn it up really loud, you'll get another effect altogether and it might not be so bad at that. It's not quite worth four stars, but I simply couldn't give it three. There's just too much talent involved here.

Nice cross-section of their hey-day, with the first disc from their Regatta de Blanc tour, and the second disc from their Synchonicity tour. Two of the tracks are repeated so you can listsen to the difference in the performances through the years. Very cool experience and high quality recordings that capture the power and excitement of their live performances.

Sound quality here could be a little bit better, but this'll do. Disc one is from a 1979 radio broadcast - direct from the Orpheum Theater in Boston. I do remember hearing this show on a special late night FM radio show. Better tunes include "So Lonely", the well-written "Walking On The Moon", "Message In A Bottle", their very first smash hit "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You" and "Born In The 50's". Disc two comes from a major gig in Atlanta in 1983 off their 'Synchronicity' tour. Most memorable tracks here are the awesome "Synchronicity II", "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", "Wrapped Around Your Finger", Sting's signature song "King Of Pain", "Don't Stand So Close To Me" and "Every Breath You Take". A must-have for most Police fans. I was fortunate enough to catch the Police on the second leg of their previously mentioned "Synchronicity' tour. A great pick.

I had a Police Greatest Hits album and lost it. Thus I decided to buy this double disc in the hope the live tracks would have most of the hits with an in-concert feel. Disc 1 had most of the hits and Disc 2 had more tracks of which I had never heard. I enjoyed them both and would recommend the album.

i can't believe this music wasn't in my collection years ago. i saw the police live 3 times in the last year and they still got it! we need more...please!!!!!!!!!!

I bought this because i'm going to see the reunited Police this summer(I can hardly wait)and I wanted to hear what they sounded like onstage.The first CD is a radio station recording that was made early in their career and shows how raw and hungry they were.Some people will prefer this disc to the polished,more modern sound of the second disc.That disc features concert recordings made on their last tour and therefore contains the bulk of their hits performed in a live setting.For some,the presence of the female back-up vocalists on this disc will be annoying,but I found that,overall,they enhanced the performances rather than detracted from them.I'm not sure if the band are using back-up vocalists on this tour or not,but if they are it shouldn't bother me any.This package works mainly to show the musical contrasts of the band's career and I would recommend it to any fan of their music.

This CD was a good value, it plays with no problems. This live recording of the Police is interesting, because it shows them in their most raw form. Personally, I prefer the precision of their studio work, but I was glad to find this for a reasonable price so I could give it a spin!