Today, however, we'll look back at the masterpiece from Sting: His debut solo album, "Dream of the Blue Turtles".
Sting, of course, had already had a stunningly successful career with the band The Police - arguably the biggest band in the world at the time he left the group (following the tour in support of the 1983 classic album "Synchronicity", an album I wrote about HERE).
"Dream of the Blue Turtles" was released June 17, 1985, after only 7 weeks of recording & mixing, which itself followed only ONE week of rehearsals before Sting (without telling the band in advance) had them play three surprise shows in what he called a "baptism of fire".
The band in question was born for such fire, however, as it included future jazz legends Kenny Kirkland (keys), Branford Marsalis (sax & clarinet), Darryl Jones (bass), and Omar Hakim (drums).
The album went on to feature five hit singles (4 of 5 broke the top 40 in the US, with "If You Love Someone Set Them Free" peaking at number 3), sell triple platinum in the US alone (hitting platinum status in six more countries), nominated for two Grammy Awards, and charted in the top 10 in eleven countries.
Let's take a look at each song!
side one:
1) "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free"
Sting comes out of the gate swinging with this pop rocker - but not simply a straight 4 rock track, as the song also features a clever modulation moving into the pre-chorus, amazing vocal backups, and a funky bass. Lyrically, he said it was "an antidote to 'Every Breath You Take' (1983)", which was not the love song most thought of it as, but a song about unhealthy obsession (with the narrator stalking the target of his affections).
Branford Marsalis' soaring sax is featured prominently on this track as well as the entire album, as the perfect response to Sting's voice.
In addition to the aforementioned #3 peak on the Hot 100, this song hit #1 on both the Billboard Rock charts and R&B charts.
2) "Love Is the Seventh Wave"
If you ever wondered what reggae and jazz would sound like together, this song is your huckleberry! More lush backing vocals, a tropical rhythm and melody, uber-tight rhythm section, and more of Branford's amazing horn work.
It charted in 9 countries and peaked at #17 in the US.
3) "Russians"
The feel on this song is much different than the opening songs, and sets a tone that Sting would follow for much of his solo career. Dark and moody, it opens with a ticking clock and the vice of a Soviet news anchor saying in Russian, "....The British Prime Minister described the talks with the head of the delegation, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, as a constructive, realistic, practical and friendly exchange of opinions...".
The music is based on the Romance theme by famed Russian composer Sergi Prokofiev and the lyric features the haunting line, "I hope the Russians love their children, too".
"Russians" charted in 14 countries, topping the charts twice, and peaking at #16 in the US.
4) "Children's Crusade"
Another dark and politically driven song, this one with a "three feel" (some transcribe this as 6/8 and others as 3/4, which are NOT the same, but at certain speeds can become "grey"). It features a stunning solo by Marsalis - with the band building to a frenzy - and an absolutely glorious vocal section as the chorus repeats after the solo and before the final verse.
Lyrically, Sting melds three themes (held together by poppies): The child soldiers of 13th century Europe during the crusades, the millions of young men killed in WW1, and the heroin trade of the late 20th century (especially the 1980s).
"Corpulent generals safe behind lines, history's lessons drowned in red wine..."
5) "Shadows in the Rain"
Originally on the third Police studio album, "Zenyatta Mondatta", Sting and band transform this slow reggae infused song into a pedal-to-the-metal rocker, with amazing performances turned in by Kenny, Branford, Darryl, and Omar, plus Sting's voice cracking from the sheer intensity of the ride!
What a way to wrap side one!
side two:
6) "We Work the Black Seam" 
Sting immediately gets dark and political again, this time with another topic central to the mid 1980s, but this one specific to his home country: The 1984-85 British coal miners strike.
Musically, it has a constant - almost mechanistic - percussion theme with Sting's penetrating lyrics and passionate voice. The verse feels somehow simultaneously cold & unfeeling and also seething with a barely hidden anger, which is contrasted by a beautiful and beautifully delivered chorus, which has Sting's voice and Branford's sax soaring above the musical bed and taking the listener with them.
"One day in the nuclear age, they may understand our rage..."
7) "Consider Me Gone"
This one is just COOL.....a slow swinging groove that provides a perfect backdrop for Sting's voice, singing in almost a whisper for the chorus and taking flight in Dorian bliss through the verses.
The entire time, the music builds in tension and feels like its just about to break out, but never quite does.
"There were rooms of forgiveness, In the house that we share, but the space has been emptied, of whatever was there..."
8) "The Dream of the Blue Turtles"
The album's only instrumental, it showcases the band just having a mad bit of fun in the studio...bass doubling the keyboard line then Barnford's horn popping in to mimic them, and then Kenny goes off while Darryl switches to a walking approach all while Omar holds down the fort.
The track - under two minutes in length - ends with the guys cracking up at themselves!
9) "Moon Over Bourbon Street"
Written by Sting when he was in New Orleans (and inspired by the Anne Rice novel "Interview with a Vampire"), the song starts with just a hint of drums, double bass, and Sting's voice telling the story of a vampire walking the French Quarter.
Branford's sax eases in just before the chorus and Kenny's keys roll in just after that as the song builds and flows into an almost baroque mid section, then returns to the verse that takes us from a general condition to a very personal lament as the narrator eyes one particular young lady for his next victim.
It was released as a single in the UK and peaked at #44.
10) "Fortress Around Your Heart"
The final track on the album features Sting's musical composition skills on full display, changing keys in the verse no less than 3 times and modulating yet again in the chorus. The simple 3 note guitar theme reveals itself to be not so simple once the harmonies and modulations are made plain.
The vocal harmonies are downright glorious, the band is on absolute fire throughout, and the lyrics are among the best Sting has ever composed.
The song charted in 7 countries (peaking at #1 in the US on the rock charts and #8 on the Hot 100).
"Then I went off to fight some battle, that I'd invented inside my head..."
As I've said on the other "Look Back" articles, amazing album and definitely on my list of "100 albums to hear before you die"!
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