Sting had a lot to prove on his first post-Police effort, and he proved himself up to the task of establishing a distinctive identity as a solo artist. Instead of replicating his reggae-tinged Police style, he ventured into new realms, hiring top drawer American jazz musicians like Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland and drum monster Omar Hakim to accompany him on the kind of harmonically sophisticated (though decidedly non-jazz) tunes he'd begun working on towards the end of the Police's lifetime (see SYNCHRONICITY). There's still a touch of reggae on the open-hearted "Love Is the Seventh Wave", and even a funked-up version of the formerly abstract Police tune "Shadows In The Rain", but most of the tunes here (except the pop smash "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" are the kind of literate, adult-friendly sophisto-pop that would become a template for his subsequent solo recordings. BLUE TURTLES still stands as one of his most memorable albums.

• CMJ (1/5/04, p.16) - Ranked #11 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1985"

Personnel: Sting (vocals, guitar, bass); Branford Marsalis (saxophone, percussion); Frank Opolko (trombone); Kenny Kirkland (keyboards); Danny Quatrochi (Synclavier synthesizer, background vocals); Darryl Jones (bass); Omar Hakim (drums); Eddy Grant (congas); Dolette McDonald, Janice Pendarvis, Pete Smith, Elliot Jones, Jane Alexander, Vic Garbarini, The Nannies Chorus, Rosemary Purt, Stephanie Crewson, Joe Sumner, Kate Sumner, Michael Sumner (background vocals).
Sting had a lot to prove on his first post-Police effort, and he proved himself up to the task of establishing a distinctive identity as a solo artist. Instead of replicating his reggae-tinged Police style, he ventured into new realms, hiring top drawer American jazz musicians like Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland and drum monster Omar Hakim to accompany him on the kind of harmonically sophisticated (though decidedly non-jazz) tunes he'd begun working on towards the end of the Police's lifetime (see SYNCHRONICITY). There's still a touch of reggae on the open-hearted "Love Is the Seventh Wave," and even a funked-up version of the formerly abstract Police tune "Shadows In The Rain," but most of the tunes here (except the pop smash "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" are the kind of literate, adult-friendly sophisto-pop that would become a template for his subsequent solo recordings. BLUE TURTLES still stands as one of his most memorable albums.

To some, the Englishman born under the name Gordon Sumner will always be known as the bassist, songwriter, and frontman of the Police. But Sting's mega-successful solo career from the 1980s into the 21st century may even overshadow his former band's fame. Crafty lyrics and a clever hybrid of rock, jazz, pop, and world music have made him an international star, and he proudly inhabits the role of the pensive celebrity. While his former bandmates search out uncharted territory, Sting continues to pursue the spotlight with his own brand of soulful, grown-up pop. Throughout his career, Sting has also dabbled in various acting roles, appearing in films directed by numerous cinema luminaries.