Thank you, Random iTunes Fairy, for a trip back in time to early 1993, when Sting dropped his fourth solo album, Ten Summoner’s Tales. For my money, this record remains the greatest thing he ever did as a solo artist.
Buoyed by two hit singles, ‘Fields of Gold’ and ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith in You’ (today’s SOTD), the album reached #2 on both the British and U.S. charts and achieved multi-platinum status in multiple countries.
I wrote about Elvis Costello yesterday, and now here’s another old-timer with a new album out. Sting released The Bridge in November, a month after his 70th birthday.
I have not kept up with Sting’s discography over the past 23 years. The last album of his I listened to was 1999’s Brand New Day, a triple Platinum hit in the U.S. that capped off a run of six excellent solo albums.
I never found time for the follow-up, 2003’s Sacred Love, which managed to go Platinum despite not producing a hit. After that came a grab bag of novelty releases, including two collections of alternate releases of his own material, a Christmas album, and an album heavily featuring a lute.
Here’s a standout track from Sting’s excellent 1987 album Nothing Like the Sun. The record features a great mix of pop hits and jazzy ballads, and for my money remains the pinnacle of Sting’s solo efforts.
The site SongFacts.com contains this interesting anecdote about ‘Sister Moon,’ pulled from a book of his lyrics and commentary.
My #4 album of 1993 is Sting’s fourth solo record, Ten Summoner’s Tales. While 1987’s …Nothing Like the Sun holds the title as my favorite Sting album, this one is right up there with it.
An Album of the Year Grammy nominee and triple Platinum seller, this album didn’t produce any runaway hits but it is Sting’s top-selling album. Singles ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith in You’ and ‘Fields of Gold’ reached #17 and #23, respectively, on Billboard’s Hot 100.
I haven’t listened to Sting’s 1991 album The Soul Cages in many, many years. But back at the time of its release, I remember thinking it was the shit.
In ‘Mad About You’ and ‘Why Should I Cry For You?,’ the album features two of Sting’s best, most emotionally resonant, songs. Lead single ‘All This Time’ is a catchy, cerebral blast. Even the three mournful 6-plus minute tracks that bookend the album held my interest.
Meet Me In Montauk 