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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The 6-CD Super Deluxe Edition of The Police’s Synchronicity (40th Anniversary) is an archival set built around the album, with B-sides, bonus tracks, unreleased versions and a two-disc recording of the band’s 10 September 1983 Oakland concert. Its strongest case is for listeners who want that wider documentary record—and the substantial book and art—not simply another copy of the album. The official listings establish what is included, but they do not establish that the remaster sounds better than an earlier edition.
What this review covers
The 2024 anniversary release came in several formats, so this review focuses on the 6-CD Super Deluxe box, the most extensive CD archive documented in the official listings. Universal Music announced a global release date of 26 July 2024 and listed 6-CD, 4-LP, 2-CD, coloured 2-LP, picture-disc LP and digital versions (Universal Music Canada).
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The Police: Synchronicity | $6.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The album is a significant subject for an anniversary archive: Universal Music Canada said it had sold over 15 million copies globally and received five Grammy nominations in 1984, winning three. Those are label-reported figures, not independently audited totals in the cited announcement.
What is in the 6-CD box
The disc sequence moves from the original album into increasingly archival material, then closes with a live performance. The UK Police store listing describes the following contents (official 6-CD product page):
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- CD 1: The remastered album. Universal Music Canada says this disc was remastered from the original source tapes and includes “Murder By Numbers.”
- CD 2: B-sides and bonus material. The Canadian announcement specifies original 7- and 12-inch B-sides plus exclusive non-album bonus tracks.
- CDs 3–4: Unreleased alternate versions, out-takes and instrumentals. The Japan-market listing further describes these discs as including demos and alternate mixes.
- CDs 5–6: The Oakland concert recording. Universal Music Japan identifies this as live material from September 1983; the official Police store lists the concert date as 10 September 1983.
Universal Music Canada describes the limited six-disc box as containing 55 previously unreleased tracks. That is the label’s figure for the set; the cited short product descriptions do not provide a complete track-by-track inventory that would allow a separate count here.
The Oakland concert is the key format distinction
For a listener interested in the band beyond the studio album, the two Oakland discs are the most consequential distinction between the 6-CD box and the documented 4-LP edition. The six-CD listing includes the concert, while the 4-LP product description instead lists the album, B-sides and bonus tracks, and two collections of unreleased alternates, out-takes and instrumentals. It does not document a complete Oakland concert (official 4-LP product page).
That difference matters more than the shared “Super Deluxe” label: buyers choosing vinyl should not assume the 4-LP contents match the six-CD set. The official announcement also lists 2-CD, coloured 2-LP, picture-disc LP and digital formats, but its summary does not establish the complete contents of each of those editions.
Packaging and market-specific details
The six-CD set is also a physical archive. The UK store describes a 60-page hardback colour book with new liner notes and interviews, archival visuals and rare or unseen photographs, printed inner wallets, four art prints and a hardback slipcase.
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Booklet pagination varies across the official market listings: Universal Music Canada describes a 62-page booklet, the Japan-market page specifies a 64-page colour booklet, and the UK store calls it a 60-page book. Treat those as descriptions tied to their respective pages and editions rather than a single universal specification.
The Japanese six-CD edition is explicitly identified as SHM-CD and carries catalogue number UICY-80511/6. Universal Music Japan listed it at ¥23,100 including tax, with a 26 July 2024 release date (Japan edition details; catalogue and price). Those SHM-CD, catalogue and price details describe the Japan-market product; they should not be generalized to international editions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which edition fits which listener?
| Edition | Documented contents and format | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 6-CD Super Deluxe | Remastered album, B-sides and bonus material, two discs of unreleased material, two Oakland live discs, book and prints. | Listeners who want the widest documented CD archive, especially the concert and physical extras. |
| 4-LP Super Deluxe | Four vinyl discs: album, B-sides and bonus tracks, plus two collections of unreleased alternates, out-takes and instrumentals. The listing does not document the six-CD edition’s complete live concert. | Vinyl buyers who want the album and studio archival material, without assuming the CD concert content is included. |
| 2-CD, coloured 2-LP, picture-disc LP and digital | Listed among the release formats by Universal Music Canada; detailed contents are not established in that announcement’s summary. | Buyers who prefer these media should verify the specific edition’s track listing before purchase. |
Is the 6-CD box worth it?
It is easiest to justify if you will actually use the archival material: the Oakland performance, the unreleased development versions, or the book and prints. If your interest is limited to hearing Synchronicity, the original album is the central attraction on CD 1; the remainder of the box is about context, variants and collecting.
A sound-quality recommendation would require direct listening and comparison with earlier editions. The official product descriptions say the album was remastered from original source tapes, but that fact alone cannot establish whether this edition sounds better, or whether its pressing and playback experience will suit a particular listener.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAt the time the official store pages were accessed, the UK 6-CD listing showed £98.99 and sold out, while the 4-LP page showed $174.98 and sold out. These are retailer snapshots, not evidence of current prices, stock or general availability; check the relevant territory’s listing before buying.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
