Sting - The Gordon Sumner Quartet (1993)

Timothy White was a well-known journalist in the US, being the senior editor for 'Rolling Stone' magazine, and then Editor in Chief of 'Billboard' from 1991 until his early death in 2002, from a heart attack at the age of 50. He also recorded interviews with musicians for broadcast on various radio stations around America, and in 1991 he invited Sting plus three of his band into the studio to talk about his career, and his recently released album 'The Soul Cages'. In between the chat the four piece group of Sting (bass/vocals), Dominic Miller (guitar), David Sancious (piano) and Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) played stripped-down jazz versions of a number of songs, some from the album, some choice covers, and a rare b-side in 'I Miss You, Kate'. Two years later, in 1993, the same musicians returned for a second interview, this time to discuss the recently released record 'Ten Summoner's Tales', and once again they interspersed the chat with jazzy versions of some of the tracks from the album, plus a few older songs and a selection of covers. A number of recordings from this second session are missing, as they were removed from bootlegs of the sessions after it was reported that they had been officially released, but I have searched everywhere and can find no sign of them on any official Sting record, so it appears that are probably lost forever. There are, however, enough great recordings from both shows to put together a superb album of Sting and the band in a jazz quartet setting, performing some of his best songs in a way you've probably never heard them before. I've selected what I consider the best of the tracks from each session and performed some subtle edits to tidy them up, to make a concise 50-minute album, and if you want to hear the full version of all the available recordings plus the interviews from the 1993 show then you can hear them here.

Track listing

01 Jeremiah Blues (Part 1)

02 I Miss You, Kate
03 The Soul Cages
04 The Wind Cries Mary
05 If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
06 Love Is Stronger Than Justice 
07 Fields Of Gold 
08 Englishman In New York 
09 Fortress Around Your Heart 
10 Nothing 'Bout Me> 
11 Every Breath You Take 

The Police - Shadows In The Rain (1985)

After releasing a string of hugely successful singles and albums throughout the 80's, cracks began to show in The Police during the group's 1983 Shea Stadium concert, where Sting felt performing at the venue was his 'Everest', and he decided to leave the band and pursue a solo career. After the 'Synchronicity' tour ended in March 1984 the band went on hiatus while Sting recorded and toured his 1985 solo debut album, the jazz-influenced 'The Dream Of The Blue Turtles'. Stewart Copeland also had a project that he could turn to, and recorded and filmed 'The Rhythmatist', an album and film which was the result of his pilgrimage to Africa, where he recorded local drums and percussion, with more drums, percussion, other musical instruments and occasional lead vocals added later by Copeland. The previous year Andy Summers had rekindled his partnership with Robert Fripp, and released the second of their collaborative albums 'Bewitched', five of whose tracks were composed by Summers. He also recorded a couple of instrumentals for the 1984 film '2010: The Year We Made Contact', releasing them as a single, with 'To Hal And Back' as the b-side. In June 1986 the Police reconvened to play three concerts for the Amnesty International, and in July of that year they reunited in the studio to record a new album. However, Copeland broke his collarbone in a fall from a horse and was unable to play the drums, so the sessions were abandoned, and with a re-recording of 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' being released in October 1986 as their final single, the band finally called it a day later that year. As all three members of the band were actively recording during 1984 and 1985, we can take a stab at putting together their sixth album by taking tracks from their three solo projects of the time. Obviously Sting's album would sound most like The Police purely due to his vocals on the songs, and while Summers' and Copeland's contributions are mostly instrumentals, that wasn't unheard of on their previous records, and they slot in quite nicely between Sting's songs. I've just made a slight edit to Copeland's 'Serengeti Long Walk' to remove a spoken vocal part which didn't really fit with the rest of the tracks, and the cover is based on a superb painting by Aged Pixel.   

Track listing

01 Shadows In The Rain (Sting)
02 Franco (Copeland)
03 We Work The Black Seam (Sting)
04 Parade (Summers)
05 Another Day (Sting)
06 Gong Rock (Copeland)
07 To Hal And Back (Summers)
08 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Sting)
09 Bewitched (Summers)
10 Serengeti Long Walk (Copeland)
11 Fortress Around Your Heart (Sting)

Last Exit - Savage Beast (1976)

Following their triumphant return to the UK from Spain, Last Exit were considering a move south to help secure that all important record deal, but during the autumn of 1975, John Hedley's enthusiasm was waning and he left the band. The seeds of punk were being sown, and he - correctly, as it turned out - suspected that even with a move to London, the band would still struggle to build a following. November 1975 saw them release their only piece of vinyl, a 7" single of two Gerry Richardson tracks featuring Sting vocals, 'Whispering Voices' and 'Evensong', on the Wudwink label, and the disc was once again recorded by Dave Wood back at Impulse Studios. In late 1975 the band were hired again for a follow-up to their previous rock opera 'Rock Nativity', with 'Hellfire' consisting of the Bible set to rock music. Further sessions at Impulse in 1976 were completed which resulted in new recordings of Sting's 'Carrion Prince', Richardson's 'Whispering Voices', a cover of Neil Young's 'Don't Let It Bring You Down', and another Sting track, 'Everyday's Just The Same'. On May 1st 1976 Sting and Frances married at Our Lady and St Oswin's Chapel, Tynemouth, and in July Sting handed in his notice to the school where he taught. That summer Frances made appointments in London to showcase the band's demo tape around various A&R men, whilst leaving Sting to fend for himself back in Newcastle. Eventually Virgin showed interest and promised to watch the band, and that Autumn they kept their promise and came to check out the band when they supported fellow Geordie Alan Price at Newcastle City Hall. Virgin were not impressed but music publisher Carol Wilson was persistent, and although the band didn't get a recording contract, a publishing deal was offered to Sting - one he accepted and later came to regret, and which resulted in a court battle to win back the rights to all his early material. Carol remained enthusiastic, and she arranged for the band to come to London for an A&R gig at Dingwalls supporting Isaac Guillory, and to spend three days at Pathways studio with Virgin picking up the tab. The time wasn't right, though, with every bunch of snot-nosed kids with ripped jeans being signed up, so the band returned to Newcastle, and they slipped back into their usual routine of regular gigs at local venues. 

Just before Christmas 1976, Curved Air played Newcastle City Hall, and afterwards Stewart Copeland asked local journalist Phil Sutcliffe to take him to see a local band. A long time champion of Last Exit, Sutcliffe took Copeland to see them at St. Mary's Teacher Training College, and although Copeland took an instant dislike to the group, he saw enough in the singer to be impressed, and the first seeds of what would become The Police were sown. In January 1977, Last Exit played their farewell to Newcastle gig at the University Theatre, and considered heading for London once again. Sting went there to meet his publisher and to sort out the move of Last Exit from Newcastle to the capital, and as he didn't know that many people in London he met up with Copeland, who had his heart set on Sting joining him in a new band, and within a few days the two of them started rehearsing with Henri Padovani. Last Exit followed Sting down to London and in January and February secured a few dates, and for a short period, Sting was rehearsing with both Copeland and Padovani, getting ready to record the 'Fall Out' single, and also playing gigs with Last Exit. Sadly, Last Exit failed to get the reviews and attention they needed to retain their enthusiasm, and at the end of February 1977 they decided to disband. On 1st March 1977 the Police played their first paying gig in Monmouth, Wales, and the rest as they say, is history. This second cassette from the band contains the b-side of their 1975 single, plus most of their 1976 demo sessions from Impulse Studios, which include reworkings of some of the songs from the first tape, alongside some newly-written material. 

Track listing

01 Evensong (b-side of 'Whispering Voices' 1975)
Impulse Studio Demos I (1976)
02 Every Day's Just The Same   
03 Don't Let It Bring You Down 
Impulse Studio Demos II (1976)
04 I Burn For You 
05 Untitled (Instrumental I) 
06 Fool In Love 
07 I'm On This Train (Alternate Version)  
08 Don't You Look At Me 
09 Savage Beast (Alternate Version) 
10 Untitled (Instrumental II) 
11 Soul Music 
12 Night In The Grand Hotel 

The complete history of Last Exit by Dave & Wendy can be found on https://www.sting.com/discography/album/319/Albums

Last Exit - First From Last Exit (1975)

In autumn 1971 Gordon Sumner enrolled at Northern Counties Teacher Training College in Newcastle, where he met and befriended Gerry Richardson who was in the year ahead. Richardson saw him playing, and although not initially impressed, his interest picked up when he learned that Sumner knew a drummer, Paul Elliot, who had access to both a van and a PA, and it didn't take long before the three got together with a female singer to form 'Earthrise', and started rehearsing at the Wheatsheaf pub. Richardson was involved with local bands, including the Phoenix Trad Jazz Band where he filled in on bass, and when he left the band his place was taken by Sumner, and it was at this time that he was given the nickname Sting, because of the black and yellow stripey jumpers that he used to wear. When Richardson finished his stint at Teacher Training College he left for Bristol, but within a year he found himself back in Newcastle, just as Sting finished his spell at college, and at this point they decide to put together a band with John Hedley and Ronnie 'Armour' Pearson, naming themselves Last Exit, after Hubert Selby's cult book 'Last Exit From Brooklyn'. By December 1974 Last Exit, augmented by Derek Lunn on drums and Iwan Williams on keyboards, had secured the job of house band for the 'Rock Nativity' show at Newcastle University Theatre, which is where Sting met his future wife Frances Tomelty. By now Richardson and Sting were starting to write their own material, and by 1975 they were regular visitors to Impulse Sound Studios in Wallsend to record demo tracks. 
The band secured a booking at the 1975 San Sebastian festival in Spain, and the thought of the trip spurred the band into yet more recording activity, and it was decided at short notice to cobble together the demos they'd recorded to produce an album that they could sell at the festival. 'First From Last Exit' is one of the rarest collectibles in the Sting world, containing some of his earliest material, and reworked versions of some songs would later feature on Police albums. The nine track collection, produced by Dave Wood, features the three original Last Exit members along with one track by semi-occasional guest guitarist, Terry Ellis, who was later to replace John Hedley full time. With their 100 demo cassettes ready to be (hopefully) snapped up by eager fans, Last Exit arrived in Spain on 16 July, and played well enough to win the award for best amateur band. In return for accommodation and food the band played another festival on 2 August 1975, and with some additional club dates hastily arranged in Bilbao, the band secured enough money to book places on the ferry back home to Britain. So, graced with some new artwork, here is the first album that Sting put his name to.  

Track listing

01 We Got Something (Sumner) 
02 Truth Kills (Sumner)
03 Whispering Voices (Richardson)   
04 Carrion Prince (Sumner)
05 Savage Beast (Sumner) 
06 I Got It Made (Richardson)  
07 I'm On This Train (Sumner) 
08 Oh My God (Sumner)
09 A Bit Of Peace (Ellis)