The Police, “Live!,” A&M.; ***1/2

What made the Police so great? A combination of the passion of late ‘70s-early ‘80s punk, a distinctive rock-reggae style, Sting’s composing skills and remarkable instrumental proficiency. On this two-record set--the band’s first live collection--you get a sense of how good this trio, which called it quits in 1984, really was. Includes both obscure gems and hits, recorded at shows in Boston (1979) and Atlanta (1983).