10 Classic Albums With Glaring Errors

The Police were a real shock to the music world once they arrived on the scene. At a time when the punk movement was still the main draw, this little art rock trio out of England were taking elements of new wave, reggae, and pop to create some of the most infectious tunes the rock world had ever heard. These songs have practically been lodged in our psyche, but that doesn’t stop the more sophomoric material on display.

Like most debut albums, Outlandos D’Amour is pretty rough, with the guitar sound feeling a bit too scattered from track to track. Though Sting’s songwriting is definitely there, the actual soundscapes created on here are a long way from epics like “Synchronicity.” Also, anyone who’s heard about the Police knows about the unintentional instrument on this record’s biggest hit.

During the recording for the ska-influenced “Roxanne,” Sting accidentally sat down on the piano, causing an out-of-tune note to bleed through the mix. Even on later releases, Sting is credited for “butt piano” in the liner notes for the tune.

The Police have done some incredible things for pop music, but don’t let that trick you into thinking that they're absolutely flawless.