57th & 9th

57th & 9th
Studio album by Sting
Released 11 November 2016 (2016-11-11)
Recorded Summer 2016 (over ten weeks)[1]
Genre Pop rock
Length 37:05
Label Cherrytree, Interscope, A&M
Producer Martin Kierszenbaum
Sting chronology
The Last Ship
(2013)		 57th & 9th
(2016)
Singles from 57th & 9th
  1. "I Can't Stop Thinking About You"
    Released: 1 September 2016
  2. "Fifty Thousand"
    Released: 22 September 2016
  3. "Petrol Head"
    Released: 4 November 2016

57th & 9th is the twelfth solo studio album by British singer-songwriter Sting, his first rock album in 13 years,[2] released on 11 November 2016.[3][4]

Background and release

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."[5]

The album title is a reference to the New York intersection Sting crossed every day to get to the studio in Hell's Kitchen where much of the album was recorded.[3][4]

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.

Music and lyrics

Sting wrote "50,000" the week of Prince's death, and in memory of several famous musicians who died in 2016: Prince, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, and Lemmy.[6]

"One Fine Day" is a plea for sanity regarding anthropogenic climate change.[7]

According to the Rolling Stone magazine on 11 November 2016, the two tracks "Heading South on the Great North Road" (with its «Chaucer-y balladry») and "If You Can't Love Me" (with its «mordantly Kafkaesque echo of the jazz rock Sting made in the Eighties») constitute a kind of travelogue through Sting's own musical past.[7]

"Inshallah" is a Middle East-tinged refugee's prayer.[7][8] The Arabic word "Inshallah" means "If God wills", or in Sting's words: "If it's God's will then it shall be".[8]

"The Empty Chair" is a song inspired by American journalist James Foley who was kidnapped and killed by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS).[9]

Promotion

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.[6][10] In an article published on 25 July 2016, Roger Friedman wrote that the lead single, "I Can't Stop Thinking About You", would be released on 2 September 2016.[2]

Sting performed the song "Fifty Thousand" live for the first time ever on 16 September 2016 on Later with Jools Holland.[11]

On 22 September 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube the audio version of "Fifty Thousand".[12]

Sting performed the song "One Fine Day" live for the first time ever on 6 October 2016 on Deutscher Radiopreis.[13]

On 27 October 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube an acoustic version of "I Can't Stop Thinking About You".[14]

On 3 November 2016, Sting released for free on YouTube the audio version of "Petrol Head".[15]

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).[16][17][18][19]

Backed by a 3-piece band including Dominic Miller (guitar), Vinnie Colauita (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 no less than seven songs from 57th & 9th.[nb 1] The Police's former guitar player, French native Henry Padovani, joined the band on stage for "Next to You", one of the final encore.[nb 2][20][21][22][23]

Track listing

Ten new tracks were announced[2][3][4] and officially revealed on 31 August 2016 as:[24]

Standard edition

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I Can't Stop Thinking About You"  Sting 3:30
2. "50,000"  Sting, Dominic Miller, Lyle Workman, Josh Freese 4:17
3. "Down, Down, Down"  Sting, Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta 3:48
4. "One Fine Day"  Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese 3:14
5. "Pretty Young Soldier"  Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese 3:06
6. "Petrol Head"  Sting, Miller, Workman, Freese 3:32
7. "Heading South on the Great North Road"  Sting 3:18
8. "If You Can't Love Me"  Sting, Miller, Colaiuta 4:34
9. "Inshallah"  Sting 4:56
10. "The Empty Chair"  Sting, J. Ralph 2:49

Personnel

Source:[3][4]

  • Sting - vocals, bass, guitar, piano, percussion
  • Dominic Miller – guitar, 12-string, shaker
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Rhani Krija – percussion
  • Martin Kierszenbaum – organ, piano, mellotron, keyboards
  • Rob Mathes – piano
  • Lyle Workman – guitar
  • Josh Freese – drums
  • Jerry Fuentes (of The Last Bandoleros) – backing vocals, vocals, guitar
  • Diego Navaira (of The Last Bandoleros) – backing vocals, vocals, bass
  • Derek James (of The Last Bandoleros) – backing vocals
  • Zach Jones – drums
  • Razan Nassreddine – additional vocals
  • Hazem Nassreddine – Turkish zither
  • Marion Enachescu – violin
  • Jean-Baptiste Moussarie – guitar
  • Salam Al Hassan – percussion
  • Accad Al Saed – percussion
  • Thabet Azzawi – oud
  • Nadim Sarrouh – oud
  • Nabil Al Chami – clarinet

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 9
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 4
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] 18
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[30] 4
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[31] 21
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[32] 7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[33] 25
French Albums (SNEP)[34] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35] 3
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[36] 16
Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 22
Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[39] 25
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[40] 2
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[41] 7
Scottish Albums (OCC)[42] 13
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[43] 15
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 6
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 15
US Billboard 200[47] 9

Notes

  1. ↑ "I Can't Stop Thinking About You", "One Fine Day", "50,000", "Inshallah", "Petrol Head", "Down, Down, Down", "The Empty Chair".[20]
  2. ↑ 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."[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Sting Discusses His Album, "57th & 9th" (21:46) / BUILD Series". YouTube. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sting's First Rock Album in 13 Years Coming in November, Single Drops September 2 (by Roger Friedman)". showbiz411.com. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Inside Sting's First Rock Album in Decades – How Prince's death, climate change inspired "impulsive" new LP". Rolling Stone. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Sting announces new rock album 57th & 9th – "It's rockier than anything I've done in a while."". Consequence of Sound. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  5. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/11/13/sting-57th-9th-new-album-world-tour/93573124/
  6. 1 2 Reed, Ryan (31 August 2016), 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), Rolling Stone, retrieved 14 November 2016
  7. 1 2 3 Dolan, Jon (11 November 2016), Review: Sting Flexes Rock Muscles on '57th and 9th' (Our take on singer-songwriter's 12th solo album), Rolling Stone, retrieved 14 November 2016
  8. 1 2 "'I Have A Purpose': Sting Talks About '57th & 9th' And Why He's Still Here (by NPR Staff)". npr.org. 13 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Sting / Empty Chair / Irving Plaza Fan Club show 11.09.2016 (4:41)". YouTube. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Sting – I Can't Stop Thinking About You – Live @ KROQ Red Bull Sound Space 2016 (3:45)". YouTube. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. ↑ "Watch the first ever performance of "50,000" on Later with Jools Holland!". Facebook. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Sting - 50,000 (Audio)". YouTube. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  13. ↑ ThePoliceExcommunicatedIl (7 October 2016), "Sting - One fine day (premiere from 57th &9th) Live 2016.10.06 Deutsche Radiopreis", vimeo.com, retrieved 5 November 2016
  14. ↑ "Sting - I Can't Stop Thinking About You". YouTube. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Sting - Petrol Head (Audio)". YouTube. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Upcoming...". sting.com. November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "LIVE in NYC next Wednesday 11/9". Facebook. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "Exclusive Sting.com Fan Club 57th & 9th Album Release Party Announced - November 9 at Irving Plaza in NYC!". sting.com. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Exclusive show at Irving Plaza next Wednesday, November 9!". Facebook. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Nov 12 2016 Sting Setlist at Le Bataclan, Paris, France". setlist.fm. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Sting to Perform an Exclusive Concert In Paris for the Re-opening of the Bataclan on November 12". sting.com. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Exclusive concert in Paris for re-opening of @le_bataclan just announced for Sat., Nov. 12.". Twitter. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  23. ↑ Lutaud, Lena (4 November 2016), ""Avec Sting, le monde entier va voir le Bataclan revivre!"", Le Figaro, retrieved 5 November 2016
  24. ↑ "57th & 9th Album Now Available for Pre-Order; Tracklisting Revealed". sting.com. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Sting – 57th & 9th" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Sting – 57th & 9th" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Sting – 57th & 9th" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  29. ↑ "Sting – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Sting. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201647 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  31. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU - Album Top-40 Uge 46, 2016". Hitlisten. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  32. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sting – 57th & 9th" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  33. ↑ "Sting: 57th & 9th" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  34. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  35. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sting – 57th & 9th" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  36. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2016. 45. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  37. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 46, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  38. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  39. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  40. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  41. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  42. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  43. ↑ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 46: del 11.11.2016 al 17.11.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  44. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Sting – 57th & 9th". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  46. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  47. ↑ "Sting – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Sting. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
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