Synchronicity (The Police album) by The Police

Synchronicity (The Police album)

by The Police

Released: June 17, 1983

New wave, post-punk, pop

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

01

The Album

"Synchronicity" is the fifth and final studio album by the British rock band The Police, released on June 17, 1983, through A&M Records. It marked the peak of the band's success, featuring hit singles like "Every Breath You Take," "King of Pain," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," and "Synchronicity II." The album draws inspiration from Arthur Koestler's book "The Roots of Coincidence" (1972). The album's impact was such that The Police were considered the "biggest band in the world" during this period, as noted by BBC and The Guardian.

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Essential Tracks

01

Synchronicity I

It marked the peak of the band's success, featuring hit singles like "Every Breath You Take," "King of Pain," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," and "Synchronicity II." The album draws inspiration from Arthur Koestler's book "The Roots of Coincidence" (1972).

Then

Reception

Upon its release, "Synchronicity" reached number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, selling over eight million copies in the US alone. It garnered critical acclaim for its innovative blend of genres and sonic experimentation. Rolling Stone hailed each track as a "miniature, discrete soundtrack," and the album has since been recognized on their lists of the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties" and the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." At the 1984 Grammy Awards, "Synchronicity" received five nominations and won three, including prestigious awards like Album of the Year.

Now

Legacy

In 2009, "Synchronicity" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2023, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Synchronicity" is the fifth and final studio album by the British rock band The Police, released on June 17, 1983, through A&M Records. It marked the peak of the band's success, featuring hit singles like "Every Breath You Take," "King of Pain," "Wrapped Around Your Finger," and "Synchronicity II." The album draws inspiration from Arthur Koestler's book "The Roots of Coincidence" (1972).

Upon its release, "Synchronicity" reached number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, selling over eight million copies in the US alone. It garnered critical acclaim for its innovative blend of genres and sonic experimentation. Rolling Stone hailed each track as a "miniature, discrete soundtrack," and the album has since been recognized on their lists of the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties" and the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time."

At the 1984 Grammy Awards, "Synchronicity" received five nominations and won three, including prestigious awards like Album of the Year. The album's impact was such that The Police were considered the "biggest band in the world" during this period, as noted by BBC and The Guardian. In 2009, "Synchronicity" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2023, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

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