"Outlandos d'Amour" (Outlaws of Love) is the debut studio album by British rock band The Police, released on November 17, 1978, by A&M Records. The album gained traction from its lead single, "Roxanne," reaching No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 23 on the Billboard 200. It also produced two more hit singles, "Can't Stand Losing You" and "So Lonely." Although the album received mixed reviews at the time of release, it is now considered one of the strongest debut albums, with Rolling Stone ranking it as the 38th best debut album and the 428th greatest album of all time.
Recorded on a budget of £1,500 borrowed from their manager Miles Copeland, the band recorded the album at Surrey Sound Studios over six months, working around the studio's availability. Initially, Miles was skeptical about the band’s music but was convinced by "Roxanne," leading him to take it to A&M Records, where it was released as a single. Although it initially failed to chart, the band received another chance with "Can't Stand Losing You," which became their first hit after the label accepted the original mix of the song. The album's title, proposed by Miles, is a loose French translation of "Outlaws of Love," reflecting a shift towards a more romantic image for the band.
Musically, Outlandos d'Amour incorporates reggae and pop elements while being dominated by punk influences. The opening track "Next to You" is a love song that the band members initially felt was not aggressive enough, but Sting insisted on keeping it as is. The second track, "So Lonely," was inspired by Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" and includes lyrics recycled from an earlier song by Sting. "Roxanne" was written after Sting's visit to a red-light district in Paris, and its title was inspired by a character from Cyrano de Bergerac. The song underwent a transformation into its final form, which included an accidental atonal chord from Sting sitting on a piano keyboard during recording.
The album features additional tracks like "Hole in My Life," another reggae-influenced song, and "Peanuts," which expresses Sting's disappointment with his former idol Rod Stewart. "Can't Stand Losing You" explores themes of teenage heartbreak and was described by Sting as having "juvenile" lyrics. The album closes with "Masoko Tanga," a semi-instrumental track that has not been a staple of the band's live performances.
Upon its release, Outlandos d'Amour initially performed poorly due to low exposure and the BBC's unfavorable reaction to its first singles, resulting in a ban on "Can't Stand Losing You." However, the controversy garnered attention for the band, leading to increased promotion. Over time, "Roxanne" gained popularity, especially in the US, where it peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album eventually peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and reached No. 23 in the US, earning gold certification by the RIAA in 1981 and platinum in 1984 for sales over a million units. Although it is the only Police album not to reach the top position in the UK, it has been reissued multiple times and has maintained a lasting legacy in rock music.
