Blimp Time-Hop: The One & Only Maine Appearance By The Police
39 years ago this week, the Ghost in the Machine Tour arrived in Portland, Maine. The Police released their fourth album in 1981 featuring the hit singles Spirits in the Material World and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic. They brought it to us live at the Cumberland County Civic Center on April 15, 1982.
Ghost in the Machine was a different direction for the band. The exciting 'new' album included synthesizers like their 1980 release and added horns on full-blast. It was slick departure from the raw three-piece power of the the first three albums, Outlandos d’Amour, Reggatta de Blanc and Zenyatta Mondatta.
The show was sold-out with reggae legends Black Uhuru opening. Sting was kind enough to come back and see us in Maine a few more times, but this was the only Portland appearance ever by the Police.
We can't find the Portland setlist but, here's the one from Providence two nights before they arrived in Maine. It's pretty safe bet that this is very close to what Blimpsters heard at the CCCC, all those years ago.
Watch Sting, Andy, and Stewart at their best, live in July 1982 with a 3 piece horn section blowing white-hot at Gateshead, England. This is a really great documentation of this incredible band at a magnificent time in their history. The sound and picture quality is top-notch and you can watch the whole concert.
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