My Songs

 

While I'm on the subject of Sting, I finally got around to the 2019 My Songs album.  There's probably a quite a bit of criticism about Sting's continual touring of his back catalog (and the re-releases such as this).  However, it could be argued that it shows a lot of dedicated hard work to his art, fans, and legacy (although he could add in some more thorough US tours)  This is an interesting collection of reworked material, a much better idea in my opinion than a greatest hits work. I think this could have been a great opportunity to put  together a definitive collection of his body of work, but as it is it's a little half-baked.  First, the songs that are only remixed really don't belong here. As far as the songs of The Police finally done as solo studio versions, the question might be: what took so long?  It's interesting that while these songs are definitely part of his musical DNA, going back to the beginning, the songs I Can't Stand Losing You, So Lonely and Next To You were all shelved for 25 years, only re-emerging in his sets after the Police reunion. As for Fields of Gold, and Shape of My Heart, there is a nagging question of why these songs needed rerecording?

Despite an intriguing idea, this collection feels a little thrown together.  What I would have like to have seen would have been a one or two volume double-disc collection either studio or live in the studio   recordings with Dom and David Sancious, and Vinnie or Josh. Start disc 1 with the essential Police recordings.  As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'd really love to see his first two solo records re-recorded with Dominic and with him back on bass. This would have been the perfect opportunity.  Just using the live post-1990 arrangements would be satisfying for a Volume 2, perhaps adding highlights of the albums with a few revisits to the forgotten, although significant, tracks: Love is the Seventh Wave, Lazarus Heart, History Will Teach Us Nothing.

Tracks done with this band so far: If Your Love Somebody, Love is the Seventh Wave (rare), Russians, Children's Crusade (rare), We Work the Black Seam (studio only), Consider Me Gone, Moon Over Bourbon street, Fortress Around You Heart (truncated), Be Still My Beating Heart, Englishman in New York, They Dance Alone (somewhat rare), Fragile, We'll Be Together, Straight to My Heart, Rock Steady (rare, excerpt), Little Wing (rare), Sister Moon

Newer songs seem unnecessary for re-recording, although this inclination of Sting's could always be questioned. Perhaps selections from Brand New Day and Sacred Love could use a stripping-down, and brought back to a tight rock-band feel (although live versions would probably suffice).

As it is, the Special Edition with live disc makes the purchase worth it (although, why he can't just release live albums from each tour is beyond me)