martes, junio 17, 2025

Rocktrospectiva: The Elegant And Shimmering "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles" Turns 40

 
Released on 17 June 1985 "The Dream Of The Blue Turtles" was the debut solo album by English musician Sting.  The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200. The album spawned five singles: "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free", "Fortress Around Your Heart", "Russians", "Moon Over Bourbon Street", and "Love Is the Seventh Wave". 

The album is named after a dream that Sting had. He initially worked on tracks for his debut solo album with producers Torch Song: William Orbit, Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert. These sessions were more synth-driven and 'electrofunk' in nature than what eventually was recorded and released; Sting eventually decided against this direction, and instead decided to pursue more jazz-oriented music.

Back in January 1985, he started assembled his backing band after holding auditions for jazz musicians in New York, including the likes of Omar Hakim, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland and Darryl Jones. Subsequently, he rehearsed the material with his band for a week before three surprise concerts at The Ritz in New York in late February; Sting's idea was for a "baptism of fire" to help consolidate the band's identity before recording began in early March. Seven weeks were spent recording the songs at Eddy Grant's Blue Wave Studio in Barbados, followed by mixing at Le Studio in Quebec.

By the end of 1983, The Police were the biggest band in the world. Their fifth album, 'Synchronicity,' was a huge hit, spawning a handful of massive hit singles, and ultimately selling multi-platinum. After being active non-stop since forming in 1977, they decided that, following a world tour, they would take a break. It was in that time frame that Sting decided to record his first solo album. So 'The Dream Of The Blue Turtles' presented Sting in a new and different light. Gone were any signature styles of The Police and, for the most part, stripped of any actual rock and roll, replaced by a jazz based aesthetic and approach that suited his voice quite well. About that Sting said: "In reality, the first rock band I ever played in was The Police," "Before that, I'd worked extensively in different kinds of jazz groups. My first band was a Dixieland trad group where I played double bass, so I feel in many ways at home with jazz players."

Back then, the record company were perturbed, the management were perturbed, the general public were probably perturbed when they heard this word jazz mentioned, it was what Sting said in an interview surrounding the album. All parties needn’t have worried, as once released, it took on a life of its own.

The album's first single, the catchy jazz inflected pop of 'If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,' shot up the charts right off, reaching No. 3 on Billboard, and making Top 10 elsewhere around the world. Sting was on to something it seemed. 'Fortress Around Your Heart,' 'Love Is The Seventh Wave,' and 'Russians' all followed suit, and though not charting as high, still made a huge impact, driving the album near the top of the charts worldwide and selling into the millions. The album, while a huge success, ultimately signaled the end of The Police. The band tried to start up once again, but various issues prevented it from taking flight. What was supposed to be a stop gap during their time off turned into the first step on a highly successful solo journey, one that stands strong to this day.
 
The Dream Of The Blue Turtles Track List:  
 
1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
2. Love Is The Seventh Wave
3. Russians
4. Children's Crusade
5. Shadows In The Rain
6. We Work The Black Seam
7. Consider Me Gone
8. The Dream Of The Blue Turtles
9. Moon Over Bourbon Street
10. Fortress Around Your Heart

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