In 1985, Sting shocked fans by stepping away from The Police and diving headfirst into jazz, pop, and political commentary with his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles. Backed by a dream team of jazz greats – including Branford Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland – Sting delivered an album full of brains, groove, and heart. From the haunting ‘Russians’ to the infectious ‘If You Love Somebody Set Them Free’, this is one classic worth rediscovering.
A Jazz-Soaked Leap Into Solo Stardom
In June 1985, the music world collectively raised an eyebrow – and then an ovation – as Sting unveiled The Dream of the Blue Turtles, his first solo album after the meteoric success of The Police. Having just wrapped up a global tour with one of the biggest bands on the planet, Sting didn’t play it safe with a predictable rock record. Instead, he delivered a vibrant, jazz-influenced collection of songs that tackled love, politics, and personal reflection – all wrapped in silky grooves and sophisticated arrangements.
Breaking Free from The Police
By 1984, creative tensions were brewing within The Police. Their massive hit Synchronicity had dominated the charts, but Sting was itching to explore broader musical horizons. Jazz, classical, world music – his appetite was vast. Rather than force these eclectic ideas into a Police framework, he decided to carve out a new path.
He decamped to Château Miraval in the south of France – a sun-dappled recording retreat – and assembled a world-class group of jazz and session musicians:
- Branford Marsalis (saxophone)
- Kenny Kirkland (keyboards)
- Darryl Jones (bass, fresh off touring with Miles Davis)
- Omar Hakim (drums, from Weather Report)
This powerhouse ensemble became the beating heart of the album.
A Bold Sound with a Global View
The result was a collection that shimmered with intelligence and sonic elegance. While The Police’s reggae-rock pulse occasionally surfaces, Dream of the Blue Turtles leans heavily into jazz phrasing, orchestral flourishes, and social commentary.
Lyrically, the album reflects Sting’s growing engagement with world affairs – particularly the tensions of the Cold War and the dangers of nuclear proliferation. But it’s also deeply personal, exploring freedom, vulnerability, and human connection.
The Track Listing
- If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
A joyous, funk-inflected single that served as a statement of Sting’s newfound creative freedom. - Love Is the Seventh Wave
A bright, Caribbean-flavored tune celebrating love as an unstoppable force. - Russians
A haunting meditation on Cold War fears, built on a motif from Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite. - Children’s Crusade
A moving lament for lost youth, drawing parallels between World War I and the modern drug epidemic. - Shadows in the Rain
A reimagined version of a Police track – here, transformed into a jazzy, loose-limbed jam. - We Work the Black Seam
A stirring, politically charged ballad about the plight of coal miners in Thatcher-era Britain. - Consider Me Gone
A sultry, introspective number with a languid jazz feel. - The Dream of the Blue Turtles
An instrumental piece that evokes the album’s enigmatic title — inspired by a dream Sting had about fragile blue turtles as a metaphor for peace. - Moon Over Bourbon Street
A moody, noirish track inspired by Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. - Fortress Around Your Heart
A sweeping, emotionally rich single about rebuilding trust after a relationship breakdown.
Critical and Commercial Reception
Dream of the Blue Turtles was an instant success. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. and went platinum on both sides of the Atlantic. Critics praised its daring scope, sophisticated musicianship, and Sting’s maturity as a songwriter.
Tracks like ‘If You Love Somebody Set Them Free’ and ‘Fortress Around Your Heart’ dominated radio, while “Russians” struck a nerve with its timely commentary.
The album also earned Grammy nominations and established Sting as a solo artist who could innovate and take risks – rather than simply rest on his Police laurels.
The Legacy
Today, The Dream of the Blue Turtles remains a cornerstone of Sting’s career – an album that bridges pop accessibility with artistic ambition. It paved the way for his continued solo evolution, blending elements of jazz, classical, world music, and thoughtful lyricism across decades of work.
And those mysterious blue turtles? Sting once said they represented vulnerability and a fragile hope for peace – fitting symbols for an album that dared to dream beyond the mainstream.
Revisit the Album Today
The Dream of the Blue Turtles remains a timeless listen – not just as a snapshot of mid-’80s ambition, but as a fearless artistic statement. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or hearing it for the first time, the album offers layers of discovery: sleek jazz-pop hooks, socially conscious lyrics, and Sting’s ever-searching spirit.
So pour a glass of something good 🍷, put on those headphones, and let the blue turtles dream once again.
Did You Know?
- Branford Marsalis was initially hesitant to join Sting’s project — he thought the offer was a prank!
- The title track, ‘The Dream of the Blue Turtles’, came from a literal dream Sting had after reading Carl Jung. The turtles symbolized peace and fragility.
- ‘Russians’ borrows its chilling melody from Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite.
- The album was documented in the Grammy-nominated film Bring On the Night, capturing the making of the album and the subsequent tour.
- Château Miraval, where the album was recorded, is now famous as the former estate of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
