Outlandos d'Amour
Encyclopedia
The LP initially flopped, due to low exposure and an unfavourable reaction from the BBC
to its first two singles, "Can't Stand Losing You
" and "Roxanne
" (about suicide and prostitution, respectively). As Sting describes:
The band's low-budget tour of America in support of the album made people across the country aware of the band, and especially "Roxanne". The song received more and more airplay from radio DJs in both the United States and the United Kingdom in April 1979. When A&M re-released "Roxanne", it went to #12 on the UK charts, and "Can't Stand Losing You" followed, eventually hitting #2. The album itself peaked at #6.
Contemporary reviews of the album were largely unfavorable. Rolling Stone
magazine had high praise for the technical abilities of all three band members, but was relentlessly disparaging of their attempt to tackle sophisticated rock and reggae while posturing as punks. They were even more critical of the perceived lack of emotional conviction in the band, especially in Sting's vocals, concluding that "Outlandos d'Amour isn't monotonous—it's far too jumpy and brittle for that—but its mechanically minded emptiness masquerading as feeling makes you feel cheated... worn out by all the supercilious, calculated pretense." In 2003, Rolling Stone reversed their position by ranking the album number 434 on their list of greatest albums of all time
.
Allmusic called Outlandos "by far [the Police's] most direct and straightforward release" and "unquestionably one of the finest debuts to come out of the '70s punk/new wave movement", saying that even many of the lesser-known cuts are outstanding. In his short review of the album, Robert Christgau
described it as "mindlessness", saying that only "Can't Stand Losing You" was completely satisfying even on a visceral level.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to its first two singles, "Can't Stand Losing You
Can't Stand Losing You
"Can't Stand Losing You" is a song by rock band The Police, first released as a single and on their album Outlandos d'Amour, both in 1978. The original single was banned by the BBC because of the controversial cover...
" and "Roxanne
Roxanne (song)
"Roxanne" is a hit song by the rock band The Police, first released in 1978 as a single and on their album Outlandos d'Amour. It was written from the point-of-view of a man who falls in love with a prostitute.- History :...
" (about suicide and prostitution, respectively). As Sting describes:
...We had [a] publicity campaign with posters about how the BBC banned 'Roxanne'. The reason they had a problem with 'Can't Stand Losing You' was because the photo on the cover of the single had StewartStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
standing on a block of ice with a noose around his neck, waiting for the ice to melt.
The band's low-budget tour of America in support of the album made people across the country aware of the band, and especially "Roxanne". The song received more and more airplay from radio DJs in both the United States and the United Kingdom in April 1979. When A&M re-released "Roxanne", it went to #12 on the UK charts, and "Can't Stand Losing You" followed, eventually hitting #2. The album itself peaked at #6.
Contemporary reviews of the album were largely unfavorable. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine had high praise for the technical abilities of all three band members, but was relentlessly disparaging of their attempt to tackle sophisticated rock and reggae while posturing as punks. They were even more critical of the perceived lack of emotional conviction in the band, especially in Sting's vocals, concluding that "Outlandos d'Amour isn't monotonous—it's far too jumpy and brittle for that—but its mechanically minded emptiness masquerading as feeling makes you feel cheated... worn out by all the supercilious, calculated pretense." In 2003, Rolling Stone reversed their position by ranking the album number 434 on their list of greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Allmusic called Outlandos "by far [the Police's] most direct and straightforward release" and "unquestionably one of the finest debuts to come out of the '70s punk/new wave movement", saying that even many of the lesser-known cuts are outstanding. In his short review of the album, Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
described it as "mindlessness", saying that only "Can't Stand Losing You" was completely satisfying even on a visceral level.
Side one
Side two
Personnel
- Sting – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on "So Lonely" - Andy SummersAndy SummersAndy Summers is an English guitarist born in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England. Best known as the guitarist for rock band The Police, he has also recorded twelve solo albums, collaborated with many other artists, toured extensively under his own name, published several books, and composed...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, spoken wordSpoken wordSpoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
and pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on "Sally" and "Dead End Job" - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocals - Joe Sinclair – piano on "Hole in My Life" and "Masoko Tanga"
- Nigel GrayNigel GrayNigel Gray is a British record producer. His album credits include "Outlandos d'Amour" , "Reggatta de Blanc" and "Zenyatta Mondatta" for The Police; "Juju" and "Kaleidoscope" for Siouxsie & The Banshees, as well as five albums for Godley & Creme.-Surrey Sound Studio:In 1974 Gray converted a...
& Chris Gray – engineers
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | UK Albums | 6 |
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
23 | |
| 1983 | The Billboard 200 | 138 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Can't Stand Losing You" | UK Singles | 42 |
| 1979 | "Roxanne" | UK Singles | 12 |
| Billboard Pop Singles | 32 | ||
| "Can't Stand Losing You" | UK Singles | 2 | |
| "So Lonely" | UK Singles | 6 | |
| 1982 | "Roxanne" | Billboard Mainstream Rock | 28 |