The Police Essentials

In the '80s, there was one group New Wave kids and older classic rock fans could see eye to eye on: The Police. Emerging from the London punk scene, the trio were gifted with energetic tunes, intelligent hooks and the kind of dexterous musicianship associated with jazz combos. Many of their most cherished songs showcase spiky, swinging rhythms equally rooted in rock and reggae (including “Roxanne” and “Don't Stand So Close to Me”), while Sting's vocals cover a wide range of emotions—cheeky, cryptic, angry and, as the 1983 ballad “Every Breath You Take” proves, profoundly tortured.