"Zenyatta Mondatta" (stylised as Zenyattà Mondatta on the cover) is the third studio album by British rock band The Police, released on October 3, 1980, by A&M Records. Co-produced by the band and Nigel Gray, it marked a significant moment in their career.
Zenyatta Mondatta topped the UK Albums Chart for four weeks and reached number five on the US Billboard 200. It produced hit singles including "Don't Stand So Close to Me," which won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," which also gained critical acclaim. The album itself won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Behind My Camel."
The album was written during the band’s second tour and recorded in just four weeks, interrupted by concerts in Ireland and at the Milton Keynes festival. Drummer Stewart Copeland expressed the band's frustrations over time pressures, noting they completed the album just hours before embarking on a world tour. The original plan was to record at Surrey Sound, but due to tax issues, they moved to Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands while retaining Nigel Gray as co-producer.
Zenyatta Mondatta represents the Police's early sound, blending elements of reggae and punk with a core setup of guitar, bass, and drums. The album includes two instrumental tracks: "The Other Way of Stopping" and "Behind My Camel," the latter being guitarist Andy Summers' first solo composition. Sting famously refused to play on "Behind My Camel," leading Summers to record the bass himself.
The album's lyrics also began to touch on political themes, with tracks like "Driven to Tears" reflecting on poverty and "Bombs Away" addressing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. These themes would continue to evolve in their next album, Ghost in the Machine.
The album's title, Zenyatta Mondatta, was chosen for its catchy phonetics, with both words being invented. They hint at various inspirations, including Zen philosophy and references to Jomo Kenyatta and the French word for "world." Copeland described the title as purposefully vague, allowing for multiple interpretations.
Upon its release, Zenyatta Mondatta was a commercial success, debuting at number one in the UK and charting well internationally, including a significant presence in the US market. The singles "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" solidified the band’s popularity, each reaching the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The album has been remastered for various formats, including a CD release in 1990. Notably, Sting revisited "Shadows in the Rain" in his solo career, and the band later re-recorded "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" in 1986.
Overall, Zenyatta Mondatta remains a pivotal release in The Police's discography, showcasing their unique sound and lyrical depth while solidifying their place in rock history.
