Sting, The Dream Of The Blue Turtles
Featured Album
Sting's first, searing solo effort
Sting finished his first solo album before the Police had even split up. The opening song, "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" was a promising beginning, carried by the bristling energy of a good Police tune, striking a message of optimism and regret that could have been aimed at his soon-to-be-former band: "If it's a mirror you want, just look in my eyes/ Or a whipping boy, someone to despise."
Despite politics-on-his-sleeve lyrics, like those on "Russians," another plea against nuclear war, and "Children's Crusade," about the slaughter of millions of young men in World War I, this is a smart transitional album, with other Police-fan friendly tunes such as the hit single, "Fortress Around Your Heart."
Sting mostly puts down the bass, focusing on singing and playing guitar and the synclavier. The basic lineup: Omar Hakim, drums; Darryl Jones, bass; Kenny Kirkland, keyboards; and Branford Marsalis, saxophones, all jazz players, helped Sting create his new sound, most notably on free-swinging tracks like "Shadows in the Rain."
