Reggatta de Blanc

Reggatta de Blanc
source
Name	Reggatta de Blanc
Type	studio
Artist	The Police
Released	2 October 1979
Recorded	February–March 1979
Studio	Surrey Sound Studios, Leatherhead; Wessex Sound Studios, London
Genre	Rock, new wave, reggae rock
Length	38:08
Label	A&M
Producer	The Police, Nigel Gray
Prev title	Outlandos d'Amour
Prev year	1978
Next title	Six Pack
Next year	1980

Reggatta de Blanc is the second studio album by The Police, released in 1979. The record followed the breakthrough of their debut Outlandos d'Amour and consolidated the trio's presence on international charts, drawing attention from audiences across United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Backed by tours and television appearances, the album produced the hit singles "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon", helping propel the band toward major festival slots and award recognition.

Background and recording

After the success of Outlandos d'Amour, The Police entered the studio amid expanded interest from labels such as A&M Records and managers including Miles Copeland III. The band—comprising Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland—returned to work with producer Nigel Gray at Surrey Sound Studios and later at Wessex Sound Studios. Sessions took place during 1979 while the trio balanced touring dates with appearances on shows like Top of the Pops and festivals including Reading Festival. Influences cited by members ranged from Bob Marley's reggae innovations to the angular textures of Talking Heads and the rhythmic urgency of The Clash, with engineers using a stripped-down setup inspired by studios such as Olympic Studios and mixing desks modeled on designs used in Abbey Road Studios.

Composition and lyrics

Songs on the album blend reggae rhythms with rock and pop forms, reflecting the band's interest in artists like Jimmy Cliff, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Toots and the Maytals. Melodic bass lines by Sting interact with Andy Summers' layered guitars, drawing comparisons to work by The Edge of U2 in later analysis and the production aesthetics of Brian Eno. Stewart Copeland's percussion borrows from influences including Ginger Baker and contemporary drummers such as John Bonham, while studio techniques owe debts to engineers like Glyn Johns. Lyrically, tracks reference themes explored by Sting on songs reminiscent of storytelling found in works by Bruce Springsteen and narrative brevity associated with Raymond Chandler's noir fiction; "Message in a Bottle" frames isolation in nautical imagery, while "Walking on the Moon" uses lunar metaphor akin to cultural touchstones like Apollo 11. Instrumental interplay on tracks like "Reggatta de Blanc" showcases improvisational tendencies akin to Miles Davis's modal experiments and rhythm-focused pieces by Cream.

Release and promotion

A&M Records issued the album in October 1979, supported by singles released to radio formats in British Isles and North America. Promotional efforts included televised performances on Top of the Pops, interviews with music press such as NME (New Musical Express) and Rolling Stone, and festival appearances alongside acts like Elvis Costello and The Pretenders. The band embarked on tours that hit venues ranging from London's Hammersmith Odeon to clubs in New York City and arenas in Australia, leveraging management contacts at I.R.S. Records affiliates and booking agencies that serviced acts like Blondie and contemporary bands. Press kits highlighted chart achievements and included reviews from outlets such as Melody Maker.

Critical reception and legacy

Contemporary reviews were mixed to positive, with critics in publications like NME (New Musical Express), Melody Maker, and Rolling Stone praising songwriting and rhythmic innovation while some commentators compared the band unfavorably to pioneers like Bob Marley and The Clash. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the title track, increasing the band's profile ahead of later, commercially enormous releases such as Zenyatta Mondatta and Synchronicity. Over time music historians have situated the album within movements alongside new wave acts like The Cars, Blondie, and Talking Heads, and its songs have been covered by artists ranging from Eric Clapton-style session players to contemporary indie acts influenced by post-punk revival bands. The album's influence is noted in academic studies of popular music alongside analyses of labels such as A&M Records and producers like Nigel Gray.

Track listing and formats

- Original LP and cassette: standard 10-track sequence distributed by A&M Records in stereo. - Vinyl releases appeared in 12" LP format with catalog numbers issued per market in United Kingdom, United States, and Japan; promotional singles pressed for "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon" were distributed to radio stations including BBC Radio 1 and WNEW-FM. - Later reissues and remasters were released on CD and digital formats aligned with catalog campaigns similar to reissues by Island Records and Rhino Entertainment.

Typical track list (original LP): 1. "Message in a Bottle" 2. "Reggatta de Blanc" 3. "It's Alright for You" 4. "Bring On the Night" 5. "Walking on the Moon" 6. "On Any Other Day" 7. "The Bed's Too Big Without You" 8. "Contact" 9. "Does Everyone Stare" 10. "No Time This Time"

Personnel and production details

- The Police: Sting (musician), (bass, lead vocals); Andy Summers, (guitar); Stewart Copeland, (drums, percussion). - Production: The Police and Nigel Gray (producer/engineer), with assistance from studio engineers and tape operators who worked in facilities associated with Surrey Sound Studios and Wessex Sound Studios. - Mastering and mixing personnel included engineers experienced in projects by acts such as The Jam and Siouxsie and the Banshees, using consoles comparable to those at Abbey Road Studios and outboard gear influenced by designs from Neve Electronics.

Category:1979 albums Category:The Police albums