Studio Album · No. 5
Synchronicity Songwriting Credits by The Police
Produced by The Police, Hugh Padgham · Engineered by Hugh Padgham
A&M Records
New WavePost-PunkPop RockArt Rock
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Police carries a lyricist or composer credit.
11 trackswritten by The Police
0 tracksoutside writers
The Police's roles on this album
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
11
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
15 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1983
Released
Awards & Recognition 5
Song of the Year (1984)
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (1984)
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1984)
Album of the Year (1984, Nominated)
Record of the Year (1984, Nominated)
Data Insight
Sting wrote the large majority of Synchronicity, including 'Every Breath You Take,' 'King of Pain,' 'Wrapped Around Your Finger,' and 'Synchronicity II.' Andy Summers wrote 'Mother' and Stewart Copeland wrote 'Miss Gradenko,' the only two tracks not credited to Sting. The album was co-produced by The Police and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered, and it became the band's commercial peak and final studio album. 'Every Breath You Take' won Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and the album won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Synchronicity I
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Walking in Your Footsteps
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
O My God
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Mother
|
Andy Summers | Andy Summers | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Miss Gradenko
|
Stewart Copeland | Stewart Copeland | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Synchronicity II
#16
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Every Breath You Take
#1
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
King of Pain
#3
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Wrapped Around Your Finger
#7
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Tea in the Sahara
|
Sting | Sting | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Murder by Numbers
|
Sting | Andy Summers | The PoliceHugh Padgham | Sting (Lead Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors
More from The Police
Frequently Asked Questions Synchronicity
Did Sting write all of Synchronicity?
Sting wrote the large majority of the album, including 'Every Breath You Take,' 'King of Pain,' and 'Wrapped Around Your Finger.' Andy Summers wrote 'Mother' and Stewart Copeland wrote 'Miss Gradenko,' the only two tracks not by Sting. This concentration of Sting's writing reflected the tensions that led to the band breaking up after the album.
Who wrote Every Breath You Take?
Sting wrote 'Every Breath You Take.' It won the Grammy for Song of the Year at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984, an award given to the songwriter. The song topped the charts in both the US and UK and became the band's biggest hit.
How many Grammys did Synchronicity win?
The album and its songs won three Grammys at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984. 'Every Breath You Take' won Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and the album won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Synchronicity was also nominated for Album of the Year, losing to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
How did Every Breath You Take chart?
'Every Breath You Take' reached number 1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It spent eight weeks atop the Hot 100 in 1983. It remains one of the most-played songs in radio history.
Did Wrapped Around Your Finger reach number one in the UK?
No, 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States it reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sting wrote the song, which draws on imagery from myth and the Faust legend.
How many copies has Synchronicity sold?
Synchronicity has sold around 15 million copies worldwide. In the United States it is certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA. It was The Police's best-selling album and their last studio record.
Who produced Synchronicity?
The album was co-produced by The Police and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered it. It was the second consecutive Police album Padgham worked on after Ghost in the Machine. The band members reportedly recorded many parts in separate rooms because of internal tensions.