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The Very Best of Sting & The Police

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox album

| name = The Very Best of...
Sting & The Police

| type = greatest

| artist = Sting and the Police

| cover = Stingverybest1997.jpg

| alt =

| released = 3 November 1997 (original)
18 February 2002 (update)

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = New wave, rock

| length = 63:03

| label = A&M

| producer = Hugh Padgham, Sean "Puffy" Combs

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Sting

| type = greatest

| prev_title = Mercury Falling

| prev_year = 1996

| title = The Very Best of... Sting & The Police

| year = 1997

| next_title = Brand New Day

| next_year = 1999

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = The Police

| type = greatest

| prev_title = Live!

| prev_year = 1995

| title = The Very Best of... Sting & The Police

| year = 1997

| next_title = The Police

| next_year = 2007

}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = 2002 updated edition

| type = greatest

| cover = Stingbestof.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = The Very Best of.... Sting & The Police (2002)

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r609082}}

| rev2 = Rolling Stone

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-very-best-of-sting-the-police-2002-20021022|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police (2002)|last=Berger|first=Arion|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=22 October 2002|access-date=29 May 2012}}

| rev3 = Uncut

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Spencer |first=Neil |date=December 1997 |title=Arrested development |magazine=Uncut |page=98 |issue=7}}

}}

The Very Best of... Sting & The Police is a compilation album issued by A&M Records on 3 November 1997,{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/7456-2256-2|title=BPI}} containing a mix of Police songs and Sting's solo works.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r325665|pure_url=yes}} 1997/A&M version on AllMusic] It originally featured one new track, a remix of the 1978 song "Roxanne" by rap artist Sean "Puffy" Combs. The album was reissued in 1998 by PolyGram International[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1397864|pure_url=yes}} 1998/PolyGram International version on AllMusic] with "Russians" removed and three added tracks: "Seven Days", "Fragile", and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da". The original European version issued by A&M Records of this compilation instead included these tracks without removing "Russians".

In 2002, an updated edition was released by Universal[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r609082|pure_url=yes}} 2002/Universal version on AllMusic] with several track changes: the songs "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot", "Russians", and "Roxanne '97 (Puff Daddy Remix)" are omitted, with the songs "Brand New Day", "Desert Rose", and "So Lonely" in their place. "Brand New Day" and "Desert Rose" were recorded after the original 1997 Very Best Of, being from the 1999 album Brand New Day.

Track listing

=A&M (1997)=

  1. "Message in a Bottle" – 4:49 from Reggatta de Blanc
  2. "Can't Stand Losing You" – 2:58 from Outlandos d'Amour
  3. "Englishman in New York" – 4:25 from ...Nothing Like the Sun
  4. "Every Breath You Take" – 4:13 from Synchronicity
  5. "Walking on the Moon" – 4:59 from Reggatta de Blanc
  6. "Fields of Gold" – 3:40 from Ten Summoner's Tales
  7. "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – 4:20 from Ghost in the Machine
  8. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14 from The Dream of the Blue Turtles
  9. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" (Edit) 4:29 from Mercury Falling
  10. "Russians" – 3:57 from The Dream of the Blue Turtles
  11. "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" – 4:29 from Ten Summoner's Tales
  12. "When We Dance" (Edit) – 4:17 from Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994
  13. "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – 4:03 from Zenyatta Mondatta
  14. "Roxanne" – 3:12 from Outlandos d'Amour
  15. "Roxanne '97" (Puff Daddy Remix) – 4:33 Previously unreleased

=PolyGram International (1998)=

  1. "Message in a Bottle" – 4:49 from Reggatta de Blanc
  2. "Can't Stand Losing You" – 2:58 from Outlandos d'Amour
  3. "Englishman in New York" – 4:25 from ...Nothing Like the Sun
  4. "Every Breath You Take" – 4:13 from Synchronicity
  5. "Seven Days" – 4:39 from Ten Summoner's Tales
  6. "Walking on the Moon" – 4:59 from Reggatta de Blanc
  7. "Fields of Gold" – 3:40 from Ten Summoner's Tales
  8. "Fragile" – 3:54 from ...Nothing Like the Sun
  9. "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – 4:20 from Ghost in the Machine
  10. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" – 4:09 from Zenyatta Mondatta
  11. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14 from The Dream of the Blue Turtles
  12. "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (Edit)" – 4:29 from Mercury Falling
  13. "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" – 4:29 from Ten Summoner's Tales
  14. "When We Dance (Edit)" – 4:17 from Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994
  15. "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – 4:03 from Zenyatta Mondatta
  16. "Roxanne" – 3:12 from Outlandos d'Amour
  17. "Roxanne '97" (Puff Daddy Remix) – 4:33 Previously unreleased

Japanese version bonus single

  1. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (Japanese version)

=Universal (2002)=

  1. "Message in a Bottle" – 4:50
  2. "Can't Stand Losing You" – 3:00
  3. "Englishman in New York" – 4:28
  4. "Every Breath You Take" – 4:12
  5. "Seven Days" – 4:39
  6. "Walking on the Moon" – 5:03
  7. "Fields of Gold" – 3:40
  8. "Fragile" – 3:54
  9. "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – 4:21
  10. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" – 4:08
  11. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:15
  12. "Brand New Day" – 6:22
  13. "Desert Rose" featuring Cheb Mami – 4:47
  14. "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" – 4:30
  15. "When We Dance" – 4:18
  16. "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – 4:00
  17. "Roxanne" – 3:10
  18. "So Lonely" – 4:47

Additional personnel

"Roxanne '97" (Puff Daddy Remix)

=Production=

Charts

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border="1" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for The Very Best of Sting & The Police

!scope="col"|Chart (1997–98)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|22|artist=Sting & the Police|album=The Very Best Of|access-date=3 October 2012|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Austria|4|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Flanders|8|artist=Sting & the Police|album=The Very Best Of|access-date=3 October 2012|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|14|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|17|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true|refname="NLDchart"}}
{{album chart|Finland|8|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of...|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Germany4|18|artist=Sting & the Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|id=2651|rowheader=true|refname="GERchart"}}
scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI){{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/1/1997/48|title=Classifica settimanale WK 48 (dal 21.11.1997 al 27.11.1997)|language=it|publisher=FIMI|access-date=4 June 2022}}

| 9

{{album chart|New Zealand|5|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true|refname="NZcharts"}}
{{album chart|Sweden|26|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|17|artist=Sting & the Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-01-17.pdf#page=37|title=Top 100 Albums 1997 |magazine=Music Week |page=29 |date=17 January 1998|access-date=5 June 2022}}

| 11

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border="1" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for 2002 updated edition of The Very Best of Sting & The Police

!scope="col"|Chart (2002)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{album chart|Denmark2|4|week=38|year=2002|access-date=3 October 2012|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)

| 69

scope="row"|German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)

| 59

{{album chart|Ireland|4|year=2002|week=9|access-date=3 October 2012|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Italy|4|artist=Sting & The Police|album=The Very Best Of... Sting & The Police|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| Italian Albums (Musica e dischi){{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=Musica e dischi |language=it |access-date=4 June 2022}} Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Sting & The Police" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".

| 5

scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)

| 17

{{album chart|UK2|1|date=20020302|access-date=4 June 2022|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|46|artist=Sting|access-date=11 March 2023|rowheader=true}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border="1"

!scope="col"|Chart (2008)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{album chart|Spain|60|artist=Sting & the Police|album=The Very Best Of|access-date=3 October 2012|rowheader=true}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+1997 year-end chart performance for The Very Best of Sting & The Police

!scope="col"|Chart (1997)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1997/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1997|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=17 December 2020}}

|78

scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1997&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 1997|language=nl|website=Ultratop|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|51

scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1997&cat=a|title=Rapports Annuels 1997|language=fr|website=Ultratop|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|61

scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19970105/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1997|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|45

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+1998 year-end chart performance for The Very Best of Sting & The Police

!scope="col"|Chart (1998)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=a&id=1998|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 1998|language=de|website=Austriancharts.at|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|40

scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1998&cat=a|title=Rapports Annuels 1998|language=fr|website=Ultratop|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|70

scope="row"|Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1998&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998|language=nl|publisher=Dutch Charts|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|100

scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19980104/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 December 2020}}

|100

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+2002 year-end chart performance for The Very Best of Sting & The Police

!scope="col"|Chart (2002)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20020106/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2002|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=8 January 2021}}

|44

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for The Very Best of Sting & The Police}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=The Police|artist=The very Best Of|award=Platinum|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date= 6 July 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |access-date=13 December 2019 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |language=es |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=The Police & Sting|award=Gold|certyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|title=Very Best Of|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=The Police & Sting|award=Platinum|certyear=2002|relyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=compilation|title=Very Best|artist=Sting and the Police|award=Gold|number=2|certyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|access-date=2 October 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=2013|access-date=11 December 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997|certyear=1998|certmonth=1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting & The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|id=2005-05-06|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Sting and the Police|title=The very best of|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1999|certyear=2002|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/pd758fesp2w7i7f/Spanish+Certifications+for+1996-1999.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |page=964 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=30 September 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|title=Very Best of|artist=Sting & Police|award=Gold|relyear=1997}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting and The Police|artist=Sting & The Police|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1997|certyear=2013|id=7404-2256-2|accessdate=2 September 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=The Very Best of Sting and The Police|artist=Sting and The Police|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Sting}}

{{The Police}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Very Best Of... Sting and The Police, The}}

Category:1997 greatest hits albums

Category:Albums produced by Hugh Padgham

Category:Sting (musician) compilation albums

Category:The Police compilation albums

Category:Split albums

Category:A&M Records compilation albums

Category:Albums produced by Sean Combs