Twenty-Five Years After Sting's Dream of the Blue Turtles

It’s been twenty-five years since Sting released his debut solo album The Dream of the Blue Turtles to critical acclaim in 1985. Transitioning from band member of the Police to solo artist was a huge risk at a time when Sting could have easily continued coasting along with the biggest and most successful rock band in the world. 1985 was a turning point in music history with digital technology rapidly altering the landscape due to the popularization of the audio compact disk and CD players. Sting jumped on the bandwagon for change and planned his own evolution, recruiting notable jazz musicians to come along for the ride. The jazz label was doubtfully pinned to the work by critics eager to pigeonhole the music in contempt of the new path Sting was forging in a conscious effort to break down musical barriers and blend different genres of music.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles was released on the dying vinyl LP record format and introduced ten ambitious and innovative songs with intelligent lyrics and complex, sophisticated compositions, including the war themed “Russians” and “Children’s Crusade”, the vampire confessional “Moon Over Bourbon Street” and the British miner’s strike sympathizer “We Work The Black Seam”. Jazz instrumentalists Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Darryl Jones and Omar Hakim added substantial credibility and talent to Sting’s highly anticipated freshman project. Radio DJs and listeners alike eventually overcame their jazz bias, and the catchy first single “If You Love Sombody Set Them Free” hit number three on the US charts, followed by “Fortress Around Your Heart” at number eight. The album proceeded to sell over three million copies.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles was a crucial stepping stone on Sting’s exploratory career path. It started with the Police fusing punk with reggae to form a new kind of rock, expanded with jazz and pop on The Dream of the Blue Turtles, then ventured into R&B, country and world music through successive albums. Never one to rest on his laurels, Sting continues to experiment and push musical boundaries into new and uncharted territory. Most recently Sting has crossed over the border into classical terrain, evident on the lute album Songs from the Labyrinth in 2006, traditional folk songs from the British Isles from If On a Winter’s Night in 2009, and his current symphonic tour excursion with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the companion album Symphonicities released in July 2010.

In hindsight a quarter of a century later, it’s easy to recognize Sting’s solo leap of faith was the right choice based on his musical longevity and successful career. Twenty-five years is a significant milestone for any musician, and Sting is now eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. Only time will tell if Sting receives this recognition for his distinctive contributions to rock and roll. But regardless of what the future holds, it is certainly true that the dream has indeed become reality for Sting.