Sting - The Last Ship [CD]

ALBUM RELEASE : 23RD SEPTEMBER FOCUS TRACK “PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENT” TO RADIO MID AUGUST The Last Ship - a new album of original material from Sting - is scheduled for release on 23rd September 2013 on Polydor Records, his first new material in nearly a decade. Inspired by Sting's forthcoming play of the same name, The Last Ship draws upon his memories of growing up in the shadow of the Swan Hunters Shipyard in Wallsend and explores themes such as the complexity of relationships, family, community and the passage of time. Guest artists on The Last Ship with roots in the North East include Brian Johnson, Jimmy Nail, The Unthanks, The Wilson Brothers and Kathryn Tickell. The album is produced by Rob Mathes (Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Lou Reed, Carly Simon) and engineered and mixed by Donal Hodgson. The play, which Sting has been working on for nearly three years, will debut on Broadway in 2014 and is a collaboration with Tony Award winners Joe Mantello (director; Wicked, Other Desert Cities), John Logan (writer; Red, Skyfall)) and Brian Yorkey (writer; Next to Normal). The Last Ship tells the story of the demise of the shipbuilding industry in 1980s Newcastle which, for so long, shaped the city, its development, and its community. The Last Ship will be available as both a digital and physical release in two formats - a 12-song version and a 2-disc deluxe version featuring 5 additional tracks. (The 12-song version will also be available on vinyl.) A super deluxe physical edition, containing 2-discs comprised of 20 tracks within special packaging, will also be available exclusively at Amazon.co.uk. <b>Sting will be undertaking significant promotion in support of this album which is very close to his heart. We will have 2 initial windows of promotion – the first in September, detailed below. The second in November – there is a huge amount of interest from major TVs - we are considering Grahan Norton and Children In Need performances for that period.</b>