Walking On The Moon, 7''

A classic Police tune, 'Walking on The Moon' was the follow up single to 'Message In A Bottle' and like it's successor topped the UK chart. The track also appears on the 'Reggatta de Blanc' album, and was accompanied by a very memorable video of the band at Cape Canaveral. Somewhat surprisingly, the song is not a regular in Sting's solo set list. A live solo version recorded in Holland in 1991 can be found on the 'Shape Of My Heart' single. 'Visions of The Night' is one of the earliest Police songs, although it was not released until late 1979 when it appeared on the B-side of the 'Walking On The Moon' single. A very early live version of the track can be heard on Strontium 90's 'Police Academy' album.

Review from Smash Hits

"Well, what would you do if you had to follow up one of the greatest singles of the Seventies? You'd play it fairly safe and the boys have done with this pleasant, almost casual reggae affair. It's a bit of a one paced proposition but I like it, even though I would have preferred to see 'The Bed's Too Big' get a shot. B side is a previously unissued rather raw rocker called 'Visions Of The Night'."

Review from New Musical Express

"Message to you, in a bottleneck: love letters, straight for our chart. Made for one another. A while since I've been persuaded by pop music, but this one is straight to my heart; there's no doubt any longer. Now that The Police have won the necessary space - not to mention hearts - and their eyes are open, there's no sleeping, no sweet nothings. I sense it the other night - on the thinktank pub jukebox - with 'Message In A Bottle': it's no ordinary affair between those three and popular music's form. Just between you and me, I hope that someone gets the ... Drift around normative lines and tunes: Signifier Over Signified!

So dignified; what a leisurely affair! 'Walking On The Moon' is an undeniable serenade, hinged around popularity or sexuality or some post-euphoric sleight of hand-in-hand. 'Walking On The Moon' isn't soft soil, understated though it is. It's risky dubble seduction: edible reggae and hungry pop interest.

Guitar and bass and drums meet in all the wrong places, at all the nicest times, so discreetly. There's no point as such to the song - where it could all suddenly focus safely, assured of a meaning - so you're left exhausted but... not over the moon but... kept hanging on. All of which is the right pop patch for a single which sounds like something Tim Buckley would have headed for, via recent dub twists: a little more bittersweet than most. Sting's vocal recalls Buckley as lazy, speedy starsailor; less of a voice than a metaphor. What for? 'Walking back from your house, walking on the moon...' I've though this recently, but it's nice to have accompaniment. Bought it yet? I'm grinning and fading away..."