Outlandos D'Amor, The Police

The Police's First Album in unplayed condition. Incredible Copy

The Police – Outlandos d'Amour

Artist: The Police

Title: Outlandos d'Amour

Album Type: Debut Studio Album

Original Release Date: November 2, 1978

Label: A&M Records

Genre: New Wave / Punk Rock / Reggae Rock

Background & Production Outlandos d'Amour (a phonetic corruption of the French for "Outlaws of Love") is the high-energy debut that introduced The Police to the world. Recorded on a shoestring budget of roughly £1,500 at Surrey Sound Studios, the band worked during "off-peak" hours to save money. At the time of recording, the trio was still navigating the London punk scene, but their technical proficiency—honed in jazz and prog-rock circles—set them apart from their contemporaries. The album was initially ignored upon release, but after the single "Roxanne" found success in the United States, it was re-promoted globally, eventually reaching #6 on the UK Albums Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200.

Musical Composition & Style The album is a raw fusion of punk’s aggression and reggae’s rhythmic space. It is characterized by Stewart Copeland’s frantic but precise hi-hat work, Andy Summers’ jazz-inflected chord voicings, and Sting’s high-tenor vocals and driving basslines.

• The "Reggae-Rock" Blueprint: Tracks like "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You" utilized a "reggae verse, rock chorus" structure that became the band's trademark.

• Punk Energy: Songs like "Next to You" and "Peanuts" display the band's ability to play at high tempos with a jagged, post-punk edge.

• Experimental Moments: "Be My Girl - Sally" features a bizarre spoken-word poem by Andy Summers about a blow-up doll, highlighting the band's early quirky and irreverent humor.

Lyrical Themes The lyrics are a mix of youthful frustration, romantic obsession, and social commentary. "Roxanne," a song about a man falling in love with a sex worker, was famously banned by the BBC, which ironically helped fuel its "outlaw" status and eventual chart success. The album captures the band at their most visceral and unpolished, before the more synthesized production of their later career.

• Keywords: The Police, Sting, Outlandos d'Amour, Roxanne, Debut Album, A&M Records, 70s Punk, New Wave Vinyl, Reggae Rock, Stewart Copeland.

• Collection Ideas: Classic Debut Albums, New Wave Essentials, 1978 Rock, Essential 3-Piece Bands.

• Related Artists: The Jam, The Clash, Joe Jackson, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve