Released on October 5, 1979, Reggatta de Blanc was the Police’s second studio album and their first to top the UK Albums Chart. It delivered two UK number-one singles, “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon,” and won the band their first Grammy. Blending reggae rhythms with new wave urgency, the album quickly established the Police as one of the defining acts of the era. Here are five facts about its creation and impact.
Five Facts
1. A Low-Budget Recording
The album was recorded at Surrey Sound with Nigel Gray for just £6,000–£9,000, a modest sum compared to major-label productions of the time. The choice gave the band full control, free from record company interference.
2. Songs Built From Earlier Ideas
Several tracks were adapted from Sting’s earlier band, Last Exit, including “Bring on the Night” and “The Bed’s Too Big Without You.” Stewart Copeland also reshaped a college piano piece into “Does Everyone Stare.”
3. A Title With Franglais Flair
Like their debut Outlandos d’Amour, the album carried a Franglais title. “Reggatta de Blanc” loosely translates as “White Reggae,” reflecting the band’s unique fusion of rock, pop, and Jamaican rhythms.
4. The Police’s First Grammy Win
The instrumental title track earned the Police their first Grammy Award, winning Best Rock Instrumental Performance. It began as an extended live jam based on “Can’t Stand Losing You.”
5. “Message in a Bottle” As A Breakthrough
Written by Sting, the lead single became the band’s first UK number-one. Its universal theme of loneliness and connection, paired with Andy Summers’ layered guitar textures, made it a career-defining song.
Reggatta de Blanc captured the Police at a moment of explosive creativity, turning spare resources into worldwide acclaim. With its blend of inventive songwriting, reggae-infused grooves, and chart-topping singles, the album solidified their place on the global stage and remains a landmark of late-1970s rock.