Posted on 12/13/2024 4:37:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
After an uncertain start, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were getting to be UK chart regulars by the time of their late 1979 single.
Ten weeks. That’s all it took for The Police to progress from their first UK No.1 single to their second. “Message In A Bottle” had achieved the feat at the end of September 1979 and held on to the prize for fully three weeks. Then on December 8, that year, “Walking On The Moon” soared like a space rocket from its No.6 entry the week before to repeat the achievement.
After an uncertain start, Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were getting to be UK chart regulars by now, and the new single unseated Dr. Hook’s MOR-pop hit “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” to claim the top spot. The other hot singles in the UK Top 20 that week included the Gibson Brothers’ club crossover “Que Sera Mi Vida” and the song widely credited with being the first mainstream rap hit, the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”
The bestsellers also included the first major chart appearance by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart in their days with the Tourists, on their cover of Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You”; and a rare singles chart appearance by Pink Floyd with “Another Brick In The Wall,” which would make The Police’s reign a short one by replacing it at the top seven days later.
Walking around the room
Both of the Sting compositions that hit the UK summit came from their hugely popular second album Reggatta de Blanc. The frontman had come up with the idea behind the new hit when visiting German avant-garde composer Eberhard Schoener. The story goes that one morning, after a measure or two too many of schnapps, he started humming a melody that had landed in his head and singing “I hope my legs don’t break, walking round the room.”
Listen to the best of The Police on Apple Music and Spotify.
The Police went on to film the video for “Walking On The Moon,” as it became, at the Kennedy Space Center, where Copeland drummed on the fuselage of a rocket. The song went on to be a Top 10 success in the Netherlands, France, and Australia.
“Might as well be walking on the Sun...” ;)
I LOVE The Police and Sting. Always. :)
Wasn’t that Smash Mouth?
It was. :)
Stewart Copeland changed drumming.
Remember 'Contact'? Cheesy lyrics but showcased Stewart's cool fills and accents:
I thought Michael Jackson was the first moonwalker.
All the metal drummers want to be Stew Copeland.
Even Neil Peart started to sound like Stewart.
Wife and I saw Sting about 6 weeks ago, the Sting 3.0 tour. I never thought of Police or Sting music as something to get that excited about, although I liked the songs for sure.
There was several thousand 70 year olds who did get excited, dancing and singing along to every song. The coolest guy had on an original CBGB Police T-shirt from 1978 that was grubby and just about falling apart.
The sound system in that particular venue is very good, but Sting just didn’t sing clearly, couldn’t understand what he was singing much of the time. Also, it sounded like there was no pre-show sound check. Every song varied in volume and balance until about half way through the song. I will say the guitar player was great.
Overall, just an ok show. Glad I got to see Sting and always enjoy live rock of course.
Didn’t sting have some charity where a whopping 27% went to the beneficiaries?
Walking on the Moon - my first acid trip.
I completely disagree. He has a Masters in Music and is an amazing guitarist.
Have you ever listened to any of Sting's Demos? He really should have gotten songwriting credit. Those song were so boring without him.
He knew all the chords Sting liked, but didn't know. Like this song, Walking on the Moon, where he started using Add 9 chords. They have two songs in Phrygian Mode.
But when you get down to it, those were not the same without him. And Sting has never been the same without both of his sideman.
Saw them back in '83, (REM opened for them).
Both bands were still fresh enough to work really hard on stage.
Eeeeee Yyyyo Yo!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.