The Secret Policeman's Other Ball - Compilation - Promo

Various Artists include - Sting, Jeff Beck, Eric Clpaton, Bob Geldof, Phil Collins, Donovan, The Secret Police.

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (The Music)

Artist: Various Artists (Compilation)

Title: The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

Album Type: Live Compilation / Benefit Album

Original Release Date: 1982

Label: Island Records / Springtime

Genre: Rock / New Wave / Acoustic Rock

Background & Production This iconic live album documents the musical highlights from the fourth benefit show for Amnesty International, held at London’s Theatre Royal in September 1981. Following the success of the 1979 show, the "Other Ball" expanded its musical reach significantly. Produced by Martin Lewis, the album is famous for capturing world-class performers in intimate, often stripped-back settings. It played a pivotal role in the "benefit concert" movement of the 1980s, setting the stage for future events like Live Aid by proving that major rock stars could draw massive attention to human rights issues through unique, collaborative performances.

Musical Composition & Key Performances The album is renowned for its high-fidelity capture of raw, spontaneous musical moments, many of which became definitive versions of these songs.

• The Guitar Duo: A major highlight is the acoustic pairing of Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. Their performance of "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" and the blues classic "Further on Up the Road" represents a rare recorded moment of these two guitar legends sharing the stage.

• Sting & The Police: Sting delivers a haunting, solo acoustic version of "Roxanne" and "Message in a Bottle," performances that showcased his songwriting strength outside of the full band context and became radio staples in their own right.

• Phil Collins & Bob Geldof: Phil Collins performs a powerful version of "In the Air Tonight" on piano, while Bob Geldof (with The Boomtown Rats) contributes an acoustic rendition of "I Don't Like Mondays," leaning into the dark, narrative weight of the lyrics.

• New Wave Presence: The album also features strong contributions from Donovan and The Secret Police (a supergroup assembled for the night).

Legacy & Collector Notes The Secret Policeman's Other Ball reached the Top 10 in the UK Albums Chart and was a significant hit internationally. For vinyl collectors, the album is a "must-have" for the unique tracklist that cannot be found on the artists' own studio LPs. The original Island Records pressings are noted for their excellent live engineering, capturing the natural acoustics of the theatre. It remains a cornerstone for collectors of 80s rock history and those interested in the intersection of music and activism.

• Keywords: The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, Amnesty International, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Island Records, 1982 Vinyl, Live Benefit Concert.

• Collection Ideas: Classic Live Compilations, Guitar Legends on Stage, 80s Benefit Albums, Acoustic Rock Essentials.

• Related Artists: The Police, Genesis, The Boomtown Rats, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck.

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