The Police-Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)


 

Artist: The Police

Title: Zenyatta Mondatta

Label: A&M Records

Format: LP

Cat #: SP 4831

Year of Release: 1980

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1981

Listed Condition: VG+/G  water stained, peel off center of cover

Sell Date: 4/4/25

Sell Price: $5.69

Discogs Last Sold: 4/4/25 NM/VG+ $19.45

Low: $2.99

Median: $9.50

Average: $11.11

High: $25.00

Current low price: $1.00

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 67

Have/Want: 3198/399

Where Sold: Springvale, ME

Time it took to sell: 10 years

Where and When Bought:  Worcester, MA used $3.99 at Al Bums

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

Zenyatta Mondatta was a band invented phrase.  The meaning was a hybrid of "Zen," "Jomo Kenyatta" and the French word for world, "Le Monde."  There seems to be an element of fun here before Sting got a little too serious.    Is it any wonder that a top ten hit from the album was "De Doo Doo Doo De Da Da Da?"  The video on the snowy hill makes them seem downright liberated from anything ponderous.

Considering how hit heavy this album was in terms of singles and AOR airplay, and also considering their biggest, Synchronicity, has been certified Platinum 8 times over, it is a bit of a surprise this one is only double platinum.  The other top 10 hit was "Don't Stand So Close To Me" featuring a video where Sting cavorts around in a The Beat t-shirt.  "Driven To Tears," "Canary In A Coalmine," "When The World Is Running Down, You'll Make The Best of What's Still Around," "Bombs Away," "Voices Inside My Head" and "Man In A Suitcase" all made the cut on early 80's rock radio.  So much so, I never felt the need to listen to it start to finish once I bought my copy used and played it once for posterity in the early 80's.  They were all such dominant tracks they made the second sides tracks seem like atmospheric filler regardless of whether they are actually good or not.

In my mind Zenyatta Mondatta is forever underrated, possibly their best.

FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

Roxanne b/w Can't Stand Losing You (1978)

Synchronicity (1983)


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