Riffing on June 1985 - “Dream of the Blue Turtles” by Sting, presented by Bruce (Fortress Around Your Heart / Russians / Moon Over Bourbon Street / Shadows in the Rain). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme to Saint Elmo's Fire. STAFF PICKS: “Bad” by U2 — Wayne. “Voices Carry” by Till Tuesday — Rob. “What about Love?” by Heart — Brian. “Kayleigh” by Marillion — Bruce. LAUGH TRACK: “Axel F” by Harold Faltermeyer.
This is the first solo album from Sting - formerly known as Gordon Sumner - formerly the front man of the ultra-successful band, “The Police.” The title, “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” was based on a dream Sting had while recording in Barbados. He was sitting in his walled garden at his home, and the wall crumbled down as a crowd of giant blue turtles invaded and destroyed the garden. This album garnered a bunch of Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, and Best Engineered Recording. Join us as we riff on this jazz-leaning solo debut from one of the top performers of the 80's.
“Fortress Around Your Heart”
This is the last track from the album, and was inspired by Sting's divorce. This song is about appeasement and moving forward. It was a kind of antidote to The Police song, “Wrapped Around Your Finger.” While "Wrapped" is about control, "Fortress is about giving up control.
“Russians”
By 1985 the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union had taken a more confrontational turn from the Detente of the 70's. This song explores the idea of coming together for the sake of our children. Sting was inspired by hearing a Soviet broadcast of a children's television program.
“Moon Over Bourbon Street”
Inspired by Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" which Police guitarist Andy Summers gave Sting. Branford Marsalis delivers a great counter-melody on saxophone in this deep cut.
“Shadows in the Rain”
This is a jazz remake of a Police track off the album "Zenyatta Mondatta." Sting takes the tempo up considerably on this jazz jam.
Theme to “St. Elmo's Fire”
One of the Brat Pack movies of the eighties. (From Bruce: As a correction, the brat pack movies were directed by John Hughes, not John Houston.)
“Bad” by U2
A tremendous live track by U2, Bono talks about heroin addiction in this song. Their Live Aid performance of this song propelled the group into superstar status.
“Voices Carry” by Till Tuesday
"Hush, Hush, keep it down now." Aimee Mann was inspired to write this song after breaking up with her drummer. Mann is considered one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the day.
“What About Love?” by Heart
Ann Wilson fronts Heart on this Power Ballad originally written by the Canadian group Toronto. Grace Slick sings in the background on this one.
“Kayleigh” by Marillion
The most commercially successful song off the concept album "Misplaced Childhood" is a melancholy apology to some of the women Marillion front man Fish dated in the past. The name Kayleigh was almost unheard of before this song, and took hold afterwards.
“Axel F” from “Beverly Hills Cop”
We exit this week's podcast to the instrumental hit by Harold Faltermeyer, written for the film, "Beverly Hills Cop."