Sumner's Tales: Sting talks...

"This was one of the first songs Stewart played me. What they [the songs] lacked in sophistication they made up for in energy. I just went along with them and sang them as hard as I could. No, it wasn't false punk. I mean what's a real punk Our first record was entirely a tribute to Stewart's energy and focus. The band wouldn't have happened without him. The record was even quite successful in its time. There weren't many others out and we had a coup when Mick Jagger reviewed it in a music weekly called Sounds."
'Message In A Box' Liner Notes, '93

"It sold purely on the strength of the cover, because of the fashion at the time. Punk was in and it was one of the first punk records - and there weren't very many to choose from. The average punk had every punk record that was available and when the next one came out which was the Police record, he bought that, too. But still I think it was a good record, so it did more than the average punk single."
Stewart Copeland: Melody Maker, 9/79

"Actually, I played the guitar on that. When we first got into the studio, Henri was nervous and couldn't get it together. He put it down anyway, but the guitar track wasn't happening, so I just said screw it, and played it. I'd spent hours teaching him the song anyway, so I just played it."
Stewart Copeland: Musician, 12/81

"It was a heartfelt lyric, all about a personal disinclination to follow the styles of my peers. This was the first song that we rehearsed as the Police and also our first recording. We recorded it in a tiny studio and it was one of the rare instances in which I got to play the guitar. On this track and on 'Nothing Achieving', I played the main guitar tracks and Henri Padovani did the solo in the middle. When Andy joined the group, my guitar went back in to the closet."
Stewart Copeland: 'Message In A Box' Liner Notes, '93

"I always get a special feeling when I see that single. I mean, I probably packed that record into its sleeve."
Stewart Copeland: Sounds, 1/80

On 'Nothing Achieving'...
"My brother Ian actually wrote the words for this song, with changes by Sting and me. Very dark, very hostile. It was a major step forward when Sting started writing the songs. I had a zillion guitar riffs like this, but Sting actually had something useful to say about the world."
Stewart Copeland: 'Message In A Box' Liner Notes, '93

'Fall Out' was The Police's debut single, and featured the original line up which included Corsican, Henri Padovani, on guitar. The single was released in May 1977, and the band received their first royalty cheque, for £200, on August 12th. The original release of course was in the black and white sleeve, but there were three main reissues of the single most of them in 1979, known as the blue/purple sleeve, the green/black sleeve and the orange/black sleeve. Surprising though it may seem, the orange/black reissue, is by some margin the most difficult to locate and consequently the most valuable of the four. There was a very limited repressing of 100 records for the Outlandos fan club in 1979 - and it is believed that these were the orange/black sleeve. It would certainly explain the rarity of the release as the copies only went to Outlandos members. If you are lucky enough to stumble across a copy at a record fair be sure to pick it up. Copies can occasionally be seen advertised for around £50, whereas a standard black and white original can often be obtained in excellent condition for between £20-£30. The other two reissues can be found for a few pound

Review from Record Mirror magazine

"Listen officer, I'm a restless child of the underground, but that don't mean you can push anything off on me in the name of punk."

Review from Sniffin' Glue magazine

"Good to see a new label, but this is like a sort of Highway Star, and I never did like Highway Star. Did you?"

Review from New Musical Express

"This is the kind of music that Mr Big look as if they ought to play, with a remorseless ramalama attack and an insolent high-piched vocal. The ghost of Hideous Bill smiles grimly."

Review from Sounds

"Featuring former Air drummer (they have split up haven't they?) Stewart Copeland on drums, guitar (bass/vocals) and Henry Padovani (guitar). Obviously under Copeland's direction (he composed both sides). It's competently played rock, with nasal annihilated vocals... that's all folks.