57th & 9th

The album was recorded over a period of three months. Sting has said of the tight deadline: "Artificially reintroducing that pressure gave the album a kind of urgency it wouldn't have had otherwise."{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/11/13/sting-57th-9th-new-album-world-tour/93573124/|title=Exclusive: Sting talks world tour, new album '57th & 9th'|publisher=USA Today}}

The album title is a reference to the New York intersection Sting crossed every day to get to Avatar Studios in Hell's Kitchen where much of the album was recorded.

From late 2015 and throughout the first half of 2016, images of Sting working in the studio were periodically published across his various social media outlets. The resultant album was eventually announced on 18 July 2016. In a teaser video published subsequently, Sting described the album as having a spontaneous feel, featuring "a lot of rock 'n' roll" with themes of searching, travelling, the road and the pull of the unknown.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-01|title=sting.com|url=https://www.sting.com/discography/album/405/Albums|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907184448/http://www.sting.com:80/discography/album/405/Albums |archive-date=7 September 2016 }}

Sting wrote "50,000" the week of Prince's death, and in memory of several famous musicians who died in late 2015 and 2016: Prince, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, and Lemmy.{{Citation |last=Reed |first=Ryan |date= 31 August 2016 |title=Sting Teases '57th & 9th' LP With Hard-Hitting New Song ("I Can't Stop Thinking About You" highlights singer's rock-influenced 12th solo album) |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sting-teases-57th-9th-lp-with-hard-hitting-new-song-w437363 |access-date= 14 November 2016}}

"One Fine Day" is a plea for sanity regarding anthropogenic climate change.{{Citation |last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=11 November 2016 |title=Review: Sting Flexes Rock Muscles on '57th and 9th' (Our take on singer-songwriter's 12th solo album) |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-sting-flexes-rock-muscles-on-57th-and-9th-w449735 |access-date= 14 November 2016}}

According to Rolling Stone magazine on 11 November 2016, Sting "offers a kind of travelogue through his own musical past, from the Chaucer-y balladry of 'Heading South on the Great North Road' to 'If You Can’t Love Me,' a mordantly Kafkaesque echo of the jazz rock Sting made in the Eighties."

"Inshallah" is a Middle East-tinged refugee's prayer.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/11/13/501746601/i-have-a-purpose-sting-talks-about-57th-9th-and-why-hes-still-here |title= 'I Have A Purpose': Sting Talks About '57th & 9th' And Why He's Still Here (by NPR Staff) |date= 13 November 2016 |website=npr.org |access-date= 14 November 2016}} The Arabic word "Inshallah" means "If God wills", or in Sting's words: "If it's God's will then it shall be".

"The Empty Chair" is a song inspired by American journalist James Foley who was kidnapped and killed by Daesh (a.k.a. Islamic State of Iraq or ISIS).{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3hx-BJFrUs |title=Sting / Empty Chair / Irving Plaza Fan Club show 11.09.2016 (4:41) |date= 9 November 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date= 13 November 2016}}

Sting debuted the studio version of "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" – and performed the song live – on 31 August 2016 in the Red Bull Sound Space at L.A. radio station KROQ.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ddp3l2A2hE |title=Sting – I Can't Stop Thinking About You – Live @ KROQ Red Bull Sound Space 2016 (3:45) |date= 31 August 2016 |publisher=YouTube |access-date= 31 August 2016}}

On 22 September 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube the audio version of "50,000".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkWn4EQ4Ns |title=Sting – 50,000 (Audio) |date= 22 September 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date= 5 November 2016}}

Sting performed the song "One Fine Day" live for the first time 6 October 2016 on Deutscher Radiopreis.{{Citation |last=ThePoliceExcommunicatedIl |url=https://vimeo.com/185924553 |date= 7 October 2016 |title=Sting – One fine day (premiere from 57th &9th) Live 2016.10.06 Deutsche Radiopreis |website=vimeo.com |access-date= 5 November 2016}}

On 27 October 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube an acoustic version of "I Can't Stop Thinking About You".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZIUzaZ8dm8 |title=Sting – I Can't Stop Thinking About You |date= 27 October 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date= 5 November 2016}}

On 3 November 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube the audio version of "Petrol Head".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYJ2FAKhQi8 |title=Sting – Petrol Head (Audio) |date= 3 November 2016 |website=YouTube |access-date= 5 November 2016}}

Sting performed two shows on 9 November 2016 at Irving Plaza, a small (only one thousand-people capacity) music venue in Manhattan, New York City, playing songs from 57th & 9th for the first time live in concert: a "57th & 9th iHeartRadio Album Release Party" show (scheduled at 8PM, indeed occurring at 7PM) and a Sting.com Fan Club Member Exclusive Show (scheduled at 11PM, indeed occurring at 10PM).{{cite web |url=http://www.sting.com/tour |title=Upcoming... |date= November 2016 |website=sting.com |access-date= 6 November 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sting.com/news/title/exclusive-stingcom-fan-club-57th--9th-album-release-party-announced---november-9-at-irving-plaza-in-nyc/ |title=Exclusive Sting.com Fan Club 57th & 9th Album Release Party Announced – November 9 at Irving Plaza in NYC! |date=3 November 2016 |website=sting.com |access-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105193259/http://www.sting.com/news/title/exclusive-stingcom-fan-club-57th--9th-album-release-party-announced---november-9-at-irving-plaza-in-nyc/ |archive-date=5 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Backed by a 3-piece band including Dominic Miller (guitar), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Rufus Miller (guitar), Sting performed on 12 November 2016 a (one hour and a half) concert in Paris for the re-opening of the Bataclan, performing even songs from 57th & 9th.{{refn|group=nb|"I Can't Stop Thinking About You", "One Fine Day", "50,000", "Inshallah", "Petrol Head", "Down, Down, Down", "The Empty Chair".{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sting/2016/le-bataclan-paris-france-6bfa223e.html |title=Nov 12 2016 Sting Setlist at Le Bataclan, Paris, France |date= 14 November 2016 |website=setlist.fm |access-date= 14 November 2016}}}} The Police's former guitar player, French native Henry Padovani, joined the band on stage for "Next to You", one of the final encore.{{refn|group=nb|About the 2016 Bataclan re-opening show, Sting stated: "In re-opening the Bataclan, we have two important tasks to reconcile. First, to remember and honour those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents. In doing so we hope to respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them."}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sting.com/news/title/sting-to-perform-an-exclusive-concert-in-paris-for-the-re-opening-of-the-bataclan-on-november-12/ |title=Sting to Perform an Exclusive Concert In Paris for the Re-opening of the Bataclan on November 12 |date=4 November 2016 |website=sting.com |access-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105095346/http://www.sting.com/news/title/sting-to-perform-an-exclusive-concert-in-paris-for-the-re-opening-of-the-bataclan-on-november-12/ |archive-date=5 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Citation |last=Lutaud |first=Lena |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2016/11/04/03004-20161104ARTFIG00160-avec-sting-le-monde-entier-va-voir-le-bataclan-revivre.php |date= 4 November 2016 |title="Avec Sting, le monde entier va voir le Bataclan revivre!" |website=Le Figaro |access-date= 5 November 2016}}

Sting embarked on the 57th & 9th Tour. The tour began on 1 February 2017, at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.{{cite web|title=Tour|url=http://www.sting.com/tour|website=Sting's Official Website|date=1 February 2017}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 5.9/10{{cite web|title=57th & 9th by Sting reviews {{!}} Any Decent Music|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8379/Sting-57th--9th-.aspx|website=anydecentmusic.com|access-date=15 January 2017}}

| MC = 67/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/57th-9th/sting|title=Critic Reviews for 57th & 9th|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=15 January 2017}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Sendra|first=Tim|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/57th-9th-mw0002977036|title=Sting – 57th & 9th|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|date=10 November 2016|access-date=15 January 2017}}

| rev2 = The Guardian

| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Dennis|first=Jon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/nov/10/sting-57th-9th-review-wembley-sized-plodding-on-his-first-rock-album-in-years|title=Sting: 57th & 9th review – Wembley-sized plodding on his first rock album in years|work=The Guardian |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=15 January 2017}}

| rev3 = The Independent

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Gill|first=Andy|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-emeli-sand-long-live-the-angels-sting-57th-and-9th-alicia-keys-here-simple-minds-a7407841.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109173529/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-emeli-sand-long-live-the-angels-sting-57th-and-9th-alicia-keys-here-simple-minds-a7407841.html |archive-date=2016-11-09 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Sting, 57th & 9th|work=The Independent |date=9 November 2016 |access-date=15 January 2017}}

| rev4 = Rolling Stone

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Dolan|first=Jon|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-sting-flexes-rock-muscles-on-57th-and-9th-w449735|title=Review: Sting Flexes Rock Muscles on '57th and 9th'|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 November 2016 |access-date=15 January 2017}}

}}

57th & 9th received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 67, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 8 reviews.

Ten new tracks were announced and officially revealed on 31 August 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.sting.com/news/title/57th-and-9th-album-now-available-for-pre-order-tracklisting-revealed/ |title=57th & 9th Album Now Available for Pre-Order; Tracklisting Revealed |date=31 August 2016 |website=sting.com |access-date=31 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903053915/http://www.sting.com/news/title/57th-and-9th-album-now-available-for-pre-order-tracklisting-revealed |archive-date=3 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| title1 = I Can't Stop Thinking About You

| writer1 = Sting

| length1 = 3:38

| title2 = 50,000

| writer2 = Sting, Dominic Miller, Lyle Workman, Josh Freese

| length2 = 4:17

| title3 = Down, Down, Down

| writer3 = Sting, Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta

| length3 = 3:48

| title4 = One Fine Day

| writer4 = Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese

| length4 = 3:14

| title5 = Pretty Young Soldier

| writer5 = Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese

| length5 = 3:06

| title6 = Petrol Head

| writer6 = Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese

| length6 = 3:32

| title7 = Heading South on the Great North Road

| writer7 = Sting

| length7 = 3:18

| title8 = If You Can't Love Me

| writer8 = Sting, Miller, Colaiuta

| length8 = 4:34

| title9 = Inshallah

| writer9 = Sting

| length9 = 4:56

| title10 = The Empty Chair

| writer10 = Sting, J. Ralph

| length10 = 2:49

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe and Super Deluxe Edition bonus tracks

| title11 = I Can't Stop Thinking About You

| note11 = LA version

| length11 = 3:38

| title12 = Inshallah

| note12 = Berlin sessions version

| length12 = 4:58

| title13 = Next to You

| note13 = with The Last Bandoleros (live at Rockwood Music Hall)

| length13 = 2:54

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japan Tour Edition bonus tracks

| title14 = Fragile

| note14 = Live at the Bataclan

| length14 = 4:11

| title15 = Message in a Bottle

| note15 = Live at the Bataclan

| length15 = 5:48

| title16 = I Can't Stop Thinking About You

| note16 = Live at the Bataclan

| length16 = 3:47

| title17 = One Fine Day

| note17 = Live at the Bataclan

| length17 = 3:13

| title18 = Englishman in New York (Reggae Version)

| note18 = Live at the Bataclan

| length18 = 5:15

| title19 = Every Breath You Take

| note19 = Live at the Bataclan

| length19 = 5:30

}}

Source:

• Sting – vocals, bass (1–6, 8, 9), acoustic piano (4), guitars (7, 9, 10), percussion (9)
• Dominic Miller – guitars (1–9, 11, 12), 12-string guitar (3), shaker (9)
• Lyle Workman – guitars (2, 4, 5, 6)
• Jerry Fuentes – backing vocals (2), guitars (10, 11, 13)
• Jean-Baptiste Moussarie – guitars (12)
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1, 3, 8, 9)
• Josh Freese – drums (2, 4, 5, 6)
• Rhani Krija – percussion (1, 3, 8, 11, 12)
• Martin Kierszenbaum – organ (1–5, 8, 11), acoustic piano (4), Mellotron (5), keyboards (9, 12)
• Rob Mathes – acoustic piano (8)
• Percy Cardona – accordion (13)
• Razan Nassreddine – zither (12), vocals (12)
• Derek James – guitars (13)
• Diego Navaira – bass (11), guitars (13)
• Zach Jones – drums (11)
• Emilo Navaira – drums (13)
• Salam Al Hassan – percussion (12)
• Accad Al Saed – percussion (12)
• Thabet Azzawi – oud (12)
• Nadim Sarrouh – oud (12)
• Nabil Alchami – clarinet (12)
• Marion Enachescu – violin (12)
• The Last Bandoleros [Jerry Fuentes, Derek James and Diego Navaira] – backing vocals (1, 11), vocals [with Emilo Navaira] (13)

Live Track Credits (14–19)

• Sting – vocals, guitars, bass
• Dominic Miller – guitars
• Rufus Miller – guitars, backing vocals
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Mäel Guézel – darbuka
• Ibrahim Maalouf – trumpet

• Martin Kierszenbaum – producer (1–12, 14–19)
• Jerry Fuentes – producer (13)
• Donal Hodgson – recording (1–6, 8, 9, 12, 13)
• Tony Lake – recording (1–13), mixing (11), additional mix engineer (14–19)
• Clif Norrell – recording (2, 4, 5, 6)
• Philip Krause – recording (12)
• Thomas Dappelo – recording (14–19)
• Thom Beemer – assistant engineer
• Jeff Citron – assistant engineer
• Tyler Hartman – assistant engineer
• Richard Kinnon – assistant engineer
• Owen Mulholland – assistant engineer
• Grant Valentine – assistant engineer
• Robert Orton – mixing (1–10, 12, 13), mastering (14–19)
• Bob Ludwig – mastering (1–13)
• Danny Quatrochi – guitar technician for Sting
• Lawrence Azerrad – art direction, design
• Eric Ryan Anderson – photography
• Cherrytree Management – management

Studios

• Recorded at Avatar Studios and Sear Sound (New York, NY).
• Additional recording at Rockwood Music Hall (New York, NY); Nightbird Studios (West Hollywood, CA); Emil Berliner Studios (Berlin, Germany).
• Tracks 14–19 recorded at Le Bataclan (Paris, France).
• Tracks 14–19 mixed at Studio De La Grande Armée (Paris, France).
• Tracks 1–13 mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, ME); Tracks 14–19 mastered at Studio De La Grande Armée.

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|title=57th & 9th|artist=Sting|relyear=2016|certyear=2018|access-date=11 April 2018}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=600,000|salesref=|access-date=February 28, 2021}}

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Category:2016 albums

Category:A&M Records albums

Category:Sting (musician) albums

Category:Albums produced by Martin Kierszenbaum