Today in rock history: on this date in 1983, million-selling pop trio The Police released its fifth and final album, Synchronicity. The record was an enormous success for the band and held on to the No. 1 spot on American album sales charts for a total of 17 weeks. Selling over 8 million copies in the U.S., Synchronicity was one of the most successful albums of 1983 although it had stiff competition in Michael Jackson’s blockbuster album, Thriller. Synchronicity spawned several hit singles including “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “King of Pain,” “Synchronicity II” and the band’s biggest and most popular single of its career, “Every Breath You Take.” The unique album cover, consisting of rows of photos of each of the three band members, was available in 36 variations containing different photos of singer and bassist Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. The album earned The Police a Grammy award and topped album charts in several countries around the world.
SEXY STING
Concert Review: Sting and The Florida Orchestra rock the Mahaffey
Today in rock history: on this date in 1982, The Rolling Stones released Still Life, a live concert album that commemorated the band’s huge 1981 world tour in support of its Tattoo You album. The album featured a cover of “Going to a Go-Go,” a song originally recorded by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1965. Songs from the effort came from all eras of the band’s career and charted well in many countries around the world. Although it was harshly criticized for sounding too tame by Stones standards, Still Life was popular enough to spawn a live concert film from the same tour entitled Let’s Spend the Night Together which was released as a major theatrical release.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1972, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin showed off her endless talent and her gospel roots with the release of her 2-LP set, Amazing Grace. Recorded live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, the album consisted of gospel standards like “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and the well-known title track. The album went on to sell 2 million copies and became the best-selling gospel music album of all time. Additionally, Amazing Grace won Aretha a Grammy award in 1973 in the category of Best Gospel Performance.
Today in rock history: on this date in 1985, Prince’s seventh album, Around the World In A Day, began a three-week run at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s pop albums chart. Released as the follow up to the artist’s multi-platinum, worldwide success Purple Rain, the album received mixed reviews upon its release but went on to sell over 2 million copies in the U.S. alone. Several singles were released from the album and, two of them, “Raspberry Beret” and “Pop Life” were both Top 10 hits. Delving into different genres and styles, including a foray into psychedelia, Around the World In A Day was Prince’s most ambitious and varied album of his career to that point and is still considered an underrated piece of work from his illustrious catalog.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 7, 2018.