Sting – “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” (1985) Review | Sting Sings Real Good for Freedom

Kronomyth 1.01: If you free somebody, let them love.

Sting’s first solo album was the source of much speculation. Would it sound like The Police, return to his pre-Police jazz roots or further Sting’s image as a sexy sophisticate? The answer, apparently, was “yes” to all three. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free was groovy and smart at the same time, with a funky jazz feel that was still audibly the work of The Police’s lead singer. It lacked the propulsive energy of The Police, opting instead for a cool jazz-pop vibe, but it was still much better than most of the songs on the radio. A 12-inch single presented the A side in two needless remixes that add nothing to the original. (Remixes from the 80s in general suck it hard.) For the B side, Sting serves up a tasty nonalbum track, Another Day, which was good enough to slip into the setlist for the Bring on the Night tour.

The Product

A1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Sting) (4:14)
B1. Another Day (Sting) (3:59)

Original 12-inch single version
A1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Jellybean remix) (Sting) (8:00)
A2. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Sting) (4:14)
B1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (torch song mix) (Sting) (4:52)
B2. Another Day (Sting) (3:59)

The Players

Sting and William Orbit are listed as performers on the Torch Song Mix. Produced by Pete Smith and Sting except Torch Song Mix produced by William Orbit; Jellybean Mix remixed by John “Jellybean” Benitez and engineered by Michael Hutchinson, Torch Song Mix mixed by Rico Conning.

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch and 12-inch single in May 1985 in the UK (A&M, AM-258), the US and Canada (A&M, AM-2738), Australia (A&M/Mushroom, K-9693) and Japan (A&M, 7Y3027/AMP-18052) with picture sleeve. Also released on 7-inch gold vinyl in 1985 in Canada (A&M, AM-2738) and on red vinyl 12-inch single in 1985 in Mexico (A&M, AMS-43006). Reached #26 on the UK charts and #3 on the US charts.