Nothing Like the Sun (Sting album)

The title comes from Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 130 ("My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun"), which Sting used in the song "Sister Moon". He added that his inspiration for this was a close encounter with a drunk, in which Sting quoted the sonnet in response to the drunk's importunate query, "How beautiful is the moon?"{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/nothing-like-the-sun-19970122 |title=Nothing Like the Sun Album Review |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=29 December 2011}}

The album was influenced by two events in Sting's life: first, the death in late 1986 of his mother, which contributed to the sombre tone of several songs; and second, his participation in the Conspiracy of Hope Tour on behalf of Amnesty International, which brought Sting to parts of Latin America that had been ravaged by civil wars, and introduced him to victims of government oppression. "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" was inspired by his witnessing of public demonstrations of grief by the wives and daughters of men missing in Chile, tortured and murdered by the military dictatorship of the time, who danced the Cueca (the traditional dance of Chile) by themselves, with photos of their loved ones pinned to their clothes. "Be Still My Beating Heart" and "The Lazarus Heart" approach the subjects of life, love and death. Elsewhere on the album, "Englishman in New York", in honour of Quentin Crisp, continues the jazz-influenced music more commonly found on Sting's previous album, as does "Sister Moon".

The album's first single and biggest hit, "We'll Be Together" sported a prominent dance beat and funk overtones; it reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in late 1987 and even crossed over to the R&B charts.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The album also inspired a Spanish/Portuguese counterpart, the 1988 mini-album Nada Como el Sol. It featured four of the songs from the album sung in either Spanish or Portuguese, and in the case of "Fragile", both languages. The Brazilian CD and Vinylhttps://www.discogs.com/de/release/1732346-Sting-Nothing-Like-The-Sun edition of Nothing Like the Sun also contained "Fragile" in Portuguese ("Frágil") as the tenth track (between "Rock Steady" and "Sister Moon").PolyGram Brazil, Brazilian CD cover and booklet, CD SKU 396941-2

Three years after its release on both the album and in single form, "Englishman in New York" was remixed in mid-1990 by Dutch producer Ben Liebrand. Providing a stronger dance beat, as well as an extended introduction, the song was a hit in clubs and reached number 15 in the UK singles chart. The maxi-single also included a dance remix of "If You Love Somebody (Set Them Free)" as a B-side.

Nothing Like the Sun was one of the first fully digital audio recordings (DDD) to achieve multi-platinum status.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In celebration of its 35th anniversary, an expanded edition of the album was released on October 13, 2022. This digital-only release features the original 12 songs on the album, plus 14 bonus tracks that consist of B-sides, remixes, alternate versions, and instrumentals.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sting-celebrates-35th-anniversary-of-nothing-like-the-sun-with-expanded-digital-only-edition-available-now-301641993.html | title=Sting Celebrates 35Th Anniversary of ...Nothing Like the Sun with Expanded Digital-Only Edition Available Now }}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nothing-like-the-sun-mw0000651226|title=Nothing Like the Sun – Sting|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=1 October 2011}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-03-07-9303188007-story.html|title=Feeling A Sting|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=7 March 1993|access-date=1 October 2011}}

| rev3 = Los Angeles Times

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news|last=Willman|first=Chris|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-11-ca-13151-story.html|title=Burning Sting|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=11 October 1987|access-date=18 October 2011}}

| rev4 = Orlando Sentinel

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Duffy|first=Thom|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1987-10-25-0150390117-story.html|title=Sting|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=25 October 1987|access-date=7 April 2017}}

| rev5 = Q

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Rimmer|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Rimmer|title=Philosophical|magazine=Q|issue=14|date=November 1987}}

| rev6 = Rolling Stone

| rev6score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=DeCurtis|first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony DeCurtis|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/nothing-like-the-sun-197259/|title=Nothing Like The Sun|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=3 December 1987|access-date=3 March 2012}}

| rev7 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Considine|first=J. D.|author-link=J. D. Considine|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|chapter=Sting|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/783 783–784]}}

| rev8 = The Sacramento Bee

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news|last1=Macias|first1=Chris|last2=Barton|first2=David|title=On the Sting beat: The Police and beyond|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|date=30 July 2000}}

| rev9 = Smash Hits

| rev9score = {{Fraction|6|1|2}}/10{{cite magazine|last=Cranna|first=Ian|title=Sting: ...Nothing Like the Sun|magazine=Smash Hits|volume=9|issue=18|date=21 October – 3 November 1987|page=81}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = B{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv10-87.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide|newspaper=The Village Voice|date=27 October 1987|access-date=3 March 2012}}

}}

Nothing Like the Sun was praised by many critics. In a review for Rolling Stone, Anthony DeCurtis wrote: "...Nothing Like the Sun represents impressive growth for Sting. His voice is rich, grainy and more mature; his ideas are gaining in complexity; and musically he is stretching without straining. His mistress's eyes may be nothing like the sun, but on this fine new album Sting's intrepid talent shines on brightly." In 1989, the album was ranked number 90 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties".

In a retrospective review, AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described ...Nothing Like the Sun as "one of the most doggedly serious pop albums ever recorded" and noted the presence of only one uptempo song ("We'll Be Together"), with the remaining tracks being "too measured, calm, and deliberately subtle to be immediate". He found that it succeeds as "a mood piece – playing equally well as background music or as intensive, serious listening", and that while slightly overlong, "it's one of his better albums."

There were harsher assessments elsewhere. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice observed a "more relaxed" Sting on the album but deemed it "pretentious" on the whole, while Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune felt that Sting's "nuanced singing and literate lyrics" are "weighed down by ponderous music." Trouser Press critic Ira Robbins disparaged the album as "self-important" and "a tedious, bankrupt and vacuous cavern of a record."{{cite web|last=Robbins|first=Ira|url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/sting|title=Sting|website=Trouser Press|access-date=7 November 2019}}

In the United States, the album debuted at number 54 on the US Billboard 200 chart on the week of 31 October 1987 and eventually peaked at number nine in its third week of release. The album spent a total of 52 weeks on the chart. On 24 October 1991, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over two million copies in the United States.

In the UK, the album debuted and peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart. In the second week the album dropped to number three. It spent a total of 42 weeks on the chart. The album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of over 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Sting, except where noted

| headline = Side one

| title1 = The Lazarus Heart

| length1 = 4:34

| title2 = Be Still My Beating Heart

| length2 = 5:32

| title3 = Englishman in New York

| length3 = 4:25

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title4 = History Will Teach Us Nothing

| length4 = 4:58

| title5 = They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)

| length5 = 7:16

| title6 = Fragile

| length6 = 3:54

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side three

| title7 = We'll Be Together

| length7 = 4:52

| title8 = Straight to My Heart

| length8 = 3:55

| title9 = Rock Steady

| length9 = 4:27

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side four

| title10 = Sister Moon

| length10 = 3:46

| title11 = Little Wing

| writer11 = Jimi Hendrix

| length11 = 5:04

| title12 = The Secret Marriage

| writer12 = Hanns Eisler, Sting

| length12 = 2:03

| total_length = 54:45

}}

1. "Ghost in the Strand" ("Englishman in New York" 7"/ Maxi Single)
2. "Ellas Danzan Solas" (Spanish version of "They Dance Alone", "They Dance Alone" Maxi Single)
3. "If You There" ("They Dance Alone" 7")
4. "Conversation with a Dog" ("We'll Be Together" 7"/ Maxi Single)
5. "Someone to Watch over Me" (George Gershwin's cover, "Englishman in New York" 3-inch CD single)
6. "Up from the Skies" (Jimi Hendrix cover with Gil Evans and His Orchestra, "Englishman in New York" 3-inch CD single)

• 1987 – "We'll Be Together" No. 7 US
• 1988 – "Be Still My Beating Heart" No. 15 US
• 1988 – "Englishman in New York" No. 84 US, No. 51 UK
• 1988 – "Fragile" No. 70 UK
• 1988 – "They Dance Alone" No. 94 UK
• 1990 – "Englishman in New York" (Remix) No. 15 UK

{{Cite magazine |title=Chart history {{!}} Sting |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/sting/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Sting |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19711/sting/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}

• Sting – vocals, arrangements, bass guitar (1–9, 12), Spanish guitar (4), acoustic guitar (6) double bass (10)
• Kenny Kirkland – keyboards
• Gil Evans – keyboards (11)
• Gil Evans and His Orchestra – orchestra (11)
• Ken Helman – acoustic piano (12)
• Andy Summers – guitars (1, 2)
• Eric Clapton – guitar (5, 7)
• Fareed Haque – guitar (5)
• Mark Knopfler – guitar (5)
• Hiram Bullock – guitars (11)
• Mark Egan – bass guitar (11)
• Manu Katché – drums (1–10)
• Kenwood Dennard – drums (11)
• Andy Newmark – additional drums
• Mino Cinelu – percussion, vocoder
• Branford Marsalis – saxophones
• Renée Geyer – backing vocals
• Dolette McDonald – backing vocals
• Janice Pendarvis – backing vocals
• Pamela Quinlan – backing vocals
• Rubén Blades – Spanish vocals (5)
• Annie Lennox – backing vocals (7)
• Vesta Williams – backing vocals (7)

[http://www.discogs.com/Sting-Nothing-Like-The-Sun/release/1241673 Nothing Like the Sun credits], Discogs.[http://www.sting.com/discography/index/album/albumId/18/tagName/Albums Official Sting Discography], Sting.com. Accessed 2015-02-20. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150429220911/http://www.sting.com/discography/index/album/albumId/18/tagName/Albums Archived] 2015-03-25.

• Producers – Sting (all tracks); Neil Dorfsman (Tracks 1–6 & 8–12); Bryan Loren (Track 7).
• Production Assistants on Tracks 1–6 & 8–12 – Ken Blair and Dave O'Donnell
• Recording and Mixing – Neil Dorfsman and Hugh Padgham (Tracks 1–6 & 8–12); Paul McKenna (Track 7).
• Mix Assistants – Mark McKenna and Bob Vogt (Tracks 1–6 & 8–12); John Hegedes (Track 7).
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk (New York, NY).
• Art Direction and Design – Richard Frankel
• Photography – Brian Aris

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|nocert=true|artist=Sting|title=Nothing Like the Sun|type=album|salesamount=100,000|relyear=1984|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-01-28.pdf|title=Australia '89|magazine=Billboard|author=Glenn A. Baker|via=World Radio History|volume=101|issue=4|page=A-4|date=28 January 1989|accessdate=22 June 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-08-06.pdf|title=Nothing Like It|magazine=Music & Media|page=14|volume=5|issue=32|date=6 August 1988|via=American Radio History|access-date=29 March 2020}}|certyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=U2|title=The Joshua Tree|nocert=true|type=album|relyear=1984|salesamount=125,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_10&Pesq=abba%20fernando&pagfis=155195|title=Um bom ano para o disco|magazine=Jornal do Brasil|page=36|first=Tarik de|last=Souza|date=6 January 1988|access-date=18 November 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Canada|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1990|region=France|award=Platinum|number=2|source=infodisc}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Germany|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Hong Kong|artist=Sting|title=Nothing like the Sun|award=Gold|certyear=1990|relyear=1987|accessdate=29 November 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing like The Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=460,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-12-10.pdf|title=Italian Market|date=10 December 1988|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=100|issue=50|page=I-6|access-date=3 June 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan (Oricon Charts)|nocert=yes|salesamount=221,000|salesref={{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Netherlands|award=Platinum|number=1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|id=1988-05-20|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|region=New Zealand|award=Gold}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|award=Gold|relyear=1987|artist=Sting|title=Nothing Like the Sun|type=album|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-01-14.pdf|title=Platinum in Portugal|magazine=Music & Media|page=11|volume=6|issue=2|date=14 January 1989|via= World Radio History|first=Luis|last=Pinheiro De Almeida|access-date=26 July 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|region=Spain|award=Platinum|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8|title=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979–1990|publisher=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|number=2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|id=4646-1653-2|access-date=18 April 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nothing Like the Sun|artist=Sting|type=album|relyear=1987|region=Yugoslavia|nocert=true|salesamount=50,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-11-24.pdf|title=Yugoslavia - Small Labels Emerging in Major-Dominated Market|magazine=Billboard|via=World Radio History|page=69|date=24 November 1990|access-date=18 November 2020}}}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Nothing Like the Sun (Sting album)}}

{{Sting}}

{{Brit British Album}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nothing Like the Sun}}

Category:1987 albums

Category:Sting (musician) albums

Category:A&M Records albums

Category:Brit Award for British Album of the Year

Category:Albums produced by Hugh Padgham

Category:Soft rock albums by English artists

Category:Albums recorded at AIR Studios