Digisko

The Police

Reggatta de Blanc

First released (1979)

Reggatta de Blanc was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, England, during 1979, with the band largely self-producing the album alongside Nigel Gray, who also served as engineer. The sessions were notably efficient and economical, with the trio working quickly to capture their tight, stripped-down sound that blended punk energy with reggae-influenced rhythms and new wave sensibility. Nigel Gray's production approach at his relatively modest studio contributed to the album's clean yet punchy sonic character, making effective use of Andy Summers' chorus-drenched guitar textures and Stewart Copeland's distinctive reggae-inflected drumming. The album was completed rapidly, reflecting the band's prolific creative period between extensive touring, and was released in October 1979 on A&M Records, just months after their debut Outlandos d'Amour had broken through. Reggatta de Blanc became a massive commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and yielding the hit singles "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon," both of which topped the UK charts.

Releases