"Regatta De Blanc" was the second album from the trio The Police and loosely translates as White Reggae, following how many critics had labelled them, rather than an empty yachting festival.........
I didn't rush out and buy it on release, and only acquired several years later when I spotted it going cheap in a sale. I didn't play the album very often, as like their first album, I thought it was mix of some great tracks, and a lot of fairly ordinary songs.
The album was a rush job to cash in on success of "Outlandos d'Amour, on which Sting had a writing credit on all ten tracks, with just two being co-written. However on "Regatta De Blanc", drummer Stewart Copeland received writing credits on 6 of the tracks, although I thought the 5 best were solo Sting compositions, and the only ones I could remember when looking at the track listing.
As has repeatedly been said by many bands, you have your whole lives to make your first record, and then six months to do the follow-up. Regatta contained reworkings of some old songs, a couple of hasty fillers, together with some outstanding new songs. "No Time This Time" had been the B-side of the "So Lonely" single.
The album contained two number one hits in the UK, the brilliant "Message In A Bottle" and "Walking On The Moon". I was surprised to discover that "The Bed's Too Big Without You" wasn't a single, although it was a hit for Sheila Hylton in 1981.
I saw an interview with guitarist Andy Summers when the song was topping the charts on how the main riff for "Message In A Bottle" was derived, based on classical arpeggiated chord sequences. Since then I have since read in several places that it was Sting who came up with the chord sequences !
The album opens with "Message In A Bottle" with its Robinson Crusoe style "Just a castaway" lyrics. I only now noticed how good the bass playing on this is, having previously been mesmerized by the guitar riff . I like the clever "Seems I'm not alone in being alone" lyric.
"Regatta De Blanc" is mostly an instrumental, with some scat/yodelling vocals. It's based on the extended breaks played during live versions of "Can't Stand Losing You". The drumming and bass are pretty good.
"It's Alright For You" is a hi-energy song but is pretty forgettable but "Bring On The Night" is one of the highlights on the album. A classical style guitar accompanies the verse before a glorious ska chorus. In the middle is a psychedelic guitar solo.
Side one closes with "Deathwish" which has funky beat and almost the Bo Diddley riff, but is basically a filler.
The reggae influenced "Walking On The Moon" has a minimal structure based around a simple bass line, a slow verse, but comes alive with the chorus. It is dominated by Copeland's inventive drumming. A flatmate at college used to sing "giant steps are what you take, when you've got VD".
"On Any Other Day" is written, sung and played by Copeland and is a reasonably witty take on dull suburban life. It has a fast ska beat and the chorus reminds me of another song that I can't remember. "My wife has burned the scrambled eggs, my dog has just bit my leg".
"The Bed's Too Big Without You" is essentially dub reggae but still sounds excellent. whilst the vocal in chorus of "Contact" reminded me of Jon Anderson from Yes "Have we got contact, can we be"
"Does Everyone Stare" has a jaunty jazz piano intro and vocal by Copeland, before Sting sings the rest of the song. It could be a Supertramp song !
The album closes with the punkish "No Time This Time". The drumming is manic but the guitar and bass line in the chorus is derivative of the style of the time, but still good ! It has a great finish though.
Listening again to "Regatta De Blanc" I still think it is an uneven album, but the fillers didn't sound so bad now !
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Message In A Bottle
2. Regatta De Blanc
3. It's Alright For You
4. Bring On The Night
5. Deathwish
1. Walking On The Moon
2. On Any Other Day
3. The Bed's Too Big Without You
4. Contact
5. Does Everyone Stare
6. No Time This Time
Released 1979
UK Chart Position : 1
Message In A Bottle ( No 1 - 1979 )
Walking On The Moon ( No 1 - 1979 )
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