release date: Jul. 1, 1986
format: digital (2 lp)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Sting, Kim Turner
label: A&M Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Bring on the Night / When the World Is Running Down..." - 2. "Consider Me Gone" - 4. "We Work the Black Seam" - 5. "Driven to Tears" - 7. "Tea in the Sahara" - 8. "Moon Over Bourbon Street" - 10. "Another Day" - 11. "Children's Crusade"
2nd solo album by Sting is a double live album featuring tracks from his recent solo debut and several tracks by The Police. The production sound doesn't reveal a lot of studio re-mixing, which means it's very authentic as live recordings.
The inclusion of various compositions by The Police basically serves to document Sting's progression towards a more jazz-influenced sound. Yes, the material is there, undoubtedly, it consists of a number of great compositions, and the (star) backing band personnel including Branford Marsalis, Darryl Jones, Kenny Kirkland, and Omar Hakim doesn't come short on jazz - but as a contemporary pop / rock release I find it a bit tedious. It contains long jazz solos, which makes it a bit dreary in the long run, and I never was a big fan of fusion jazz.
[ used to own on vinyl ].
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]
