Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings

Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings is a four-CD box set by The Police, containing all of their studio albums in chronological order, as well as singles, B-sides, and tracks from various compilation albums and the Brimstone & Treacle soundtrack. Disc 1 includes live renditions of "Landlord" and "Next to You," which were recorded at the Bottom Line, New York on 4 April 1979 and originally broadcast on WNEW-FM, New York. Disc 3 has a live version of "Driven to Tears" which was recorded live at Les Arenes, Frejus, France, 28 August 1980 and featured in Urgh! A Music War. Contrary to its title, these are not the complete recordings to 1986. "Truth Hits Everybody '83" appeared on a limited edition gatefold single of "Every Breath You Take." Two new versions of "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" were released in 1980 as a double A-side 7", one with Sting singing Japanese lyrics, the other with Spanish lyrics (AM-25000). A third version of "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" was also re-recorded in 1986. This version of De Do Do Do De Da Da Da is not present on the box set, but is available on the DTS-CD and SACD releases of Every Breath You Take: The Classics. Another official release was a 12" single for "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86," which featured both an additional remix and live version of the song. Live recordings of "Can't Stand Losing You" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" had also been released but not included on the boxed set. Yet another rarity missing from the box set is the extended video mix for Invisible Sun, which featured an additional verse not present on the LP version. The b-side "Shambelle" written by Andy Summers was presented incorrectly, missing the hi-hat introduction played by Stewart Copeland on the original 45. This error has never been corrected, and the original 45 is the only place to get the full-length version of "Shambelle." The U.S. version also features the version of "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" that was originally released on the album Every Breath You Take: The Singles. This version is shorter than the extended dance mix of Don't Stand So Close to Me '86 included on some international versions of the set and includes a different guitar solo from Andy Summers. There is no edition of the boxed set that includes both versions of "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86." There was also speculation by a number of music fans that "Can't Stand Losing You" was remastered from a needle drop of the original vinyl. "Roxanne" also had pitch issues due to tape drag and possible damage to the master tape used.