Studio Album · No. 2

...Nothing Like the Sun Songwriting Credits by Sting

1987 A&M Records 12 tracks 55 min

Produced by Sting, Neil Dorfsman, Bryan Loren  ·  Engineered by Neil Dorfsman, Bryan Loren

A&M Records Pop RockJazzSoft rockWorld
92%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Sting carries a lyricist or composer credit.

92%
11 trackswritten by Sting 1 trackoutside writers
Sting's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist92%
Composer83%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
2
Lyricists
3
Producers
1987
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Brit Award for Best British Album (1988)
Grammy Award for Album of the Year (1989, Nominated)
Data Insight

Sting wrote ten of the twelve tracks by himself. 'Little Wing' is a Jimi Hendrix cover, and 'The Secret Marriage' sets his own words to a Hanns Eisler melody, so this is not quite the sealed self-authored record his debut was. The album is dedicated to his mother, who died in late 1986, and the writing swings between grief, politics and jazz-inflected pop across 'Englishman in New York,' 'Fragile' and 'They Dance Alone.'

...Nothing Like the Sun came out on A&M on 16 October 1987 as a double LP, recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat with Neil Dorfsman and Bryan Loren. Andy Summers, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Hiram Bullock all play on it. Sting wrote it in the shadow of his mother's death and a Conspiracy of Hope tour that took him through Latin America, which produced 'They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo).' Five singles were released, among them 'Englishman in New York' and 'Fragile.' The album went to number one in the UK and number nine in the US, won Best British Album at the 1988 Brit Awards, and is 2x platinum in America.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Lazarus Heart
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
2
Be Still My Beating Heart #15
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
3
Englishman in New York #84
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
4
History Will Teach Us Nothing
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
5
They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
6
Fragile
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
7
We'll Be Together #7
Sting Sting StingBryan Loren Sting (Lead Vocals)
8
Straight to My Heart
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
9
Rock Steady
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
10
Sister Moon
Sting Sting StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
11
Little Wing
Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)
12
The Secret Marriage
Sting Hanns Eisler StingNeil Dorfsman Sting (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

S
Sting
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album11 written
HE
Hanns Eisler
Writer
On this album1 written
JH
Jimi Hendrix
Writer
On this album1 written
ND
Neil Dorfsman
Producer
On this album11 produced
BL
Bryan Loren
Producer
On this album1 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions ...Nothing Like the Sun

Did Sting write ...Nothing Like the Sun himself?
Yes. ...Nothing Like the Sun is fully self-written, with every song an original Sting composition. He dedicated the album to his late mother.
Who wrote "Englishman in New York" by Sting?
"Englishman in New York" was written by Sting, inspired by the writer Quentin Crisp. Though only a modest chart hit at first, it became one of his most beloved and enduring songs.
Who wrote "Be Still My Beating Heart" by Sting?
"Be Still My Beating Heart" was written by Sting. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Did ...Nothing Like the Sun by Sting win any awards?
Yes. The album won Best British Album at the 1988 Brit Awards and earned three Grammy nominations in 1989, including Album of the Year.
What genre is ...Nothing Like the Sun by Sting?
It is a pop rock album that blends jazz, soft rock, reggae, and world music influences. The arrangements are lush and sophisticated, reflecting Sting's jazz-trained backing band.
How well did ...Nothing Like the Sun by Sting sell?
...Nothing Like the Sun sold over two million copies in the United States and was certified 2x Platinum there and in the UK. It was one of Sting's most acclaimed solo records.

Sources

Wikipedia: ...Nothing Like the Sun MusicBrainz: ...Nothing Like the Sun release group (Sting) Cover Art Archive: ...Nothing Like the Sun front cover Cover Art Archive: ...Nothing Like the Sun by Sting