Sting - Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 [Australian Bonus Tracks]

Early in his solo career, Sting defined himself as a man of taste, choosing to work with jazz musicians instead of rockers. Inevitably, this meant he walked the thin line between sophisticated pop and adult contemporary, but he did it with grace from 1985's Dream of the Blue Turtles to 1993's Ten Summoner's Tales. Unfortunately, Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting doesn't illustrate what a deft trick he pulled off with that quartet of albums. Naturally, Fields of Gold concentrates on his hit singles, just like any other greatest-hits collection, but Sting's material sounds surprisingly tame in this context. Sure, there is a number of great songs here -- enough to state his case as a fine songwriter or to satisfy his casual fans. Still, these songs are safe choices and all share a similarly tranquil quality, which means the collection itself becomes a little monotonous. Nevertheless, Fields of Gold performs the necessary service of rounding up all of the big hits -- "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "All This Time," "Fortress Around Your Heart," "They Dance Alone," "If Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Fragile," and an alternate version of "We'll Be Together" -- and offering them on one disc, which is reason enough to make it worthwhile, even with its flaws. [The Australian edition boasts several more tracks than the standard edition.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Stone Mixing Assistant Bob Ludwig Remastering Bob Vogt Mixing Assistant Brian Scheuble Mixing Assistant Dave Abraham Assistant Project Coordinator, Master Tape Research Dave Collins Digital Transfers Efren Herrera Mixing Assistant Hugh Padgham Producer, Mixing, Remixing Jim Scott Mixing Mark Mazzetti Remastering, Remixing Mark McKenna Mixing Assistant Michael Kamen Producer Michel Comte Photography Neil Dorfsman Producer, Mixing Norman Moore Art Direction, Design Pat Sullivan Digital Transfer Assistant Pete Lewis Mixing Assistant Peter Smith Mixing, Producer Richard Frankel Art Direction, Design Simon Osborne Engineer, Mixing Assistant Stephen McLaughlin Producer Stewart Whitmore Digital Transfers Sting Producer, Arranger, Bass, Vocals Stoker Drum Programming Yves Jaget Mixing Assistant