In 1978, Sting felt “completely destroyed” by a hit song. By the end of 1979, The Police had three number ones
While living in a modest bedsit in Bayswater after moving to London, Sting heard Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street” on the radio and was overwhelmed by its saxophone solo. The song’s success made him long for a hit of his own, a feeling that highlights the uncertainty of The Police’s early days before their rapid rise.
Within two years, The Police had reached the top of the UK charts: “Message in a Bottle” became a number one in late 1979, followed weeks later by the album *Reggatta de Blanc*, which stayed there for four weeks. The band closed the year with “Walking on the Moon” also topping the singles chart. The article also notes that saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft said he was paid only with a £27 cheque that bounced.
In short
- “Baker Street” made Sting yearn for a chart hit.
- The Police scored three UK number ones by the end of 1979.
- Raphael Ravenscroft’s £27 cheque for the sax solo bounced.
Explained simply
Sting, born Gordon Sumner, moved to London in the late 1970s and formed The Police with drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. The band mixed rock with reggae influences and were still trying to establish themselves.
Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street”, released in 1978, became a major hit, known in part for its saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft. Its success offered a measure of how far an aspiring band might be from a breakthrough, while The Police’s early career showed how quickly that could change.