Shape of My Heart

With classical pianist Kevin Savigar established as his songwriting partner, Rod Stewart marched into the mid-'80s in finer shape than he'd been in for a few years. Every Beat of My Heart was his 15th solo album and, after the disappointments of the preceding Body Wishes and Camouflage, the wistful romance of the title track alone suggested that he was back on track. Unfortunately, it was not to be. One could compile a genuinely excellent collection from across Stewart's entire '80s output. But Every Beat of My Heart, like the LPs on either side of it, found him floundering directionless in a sea of, on the one hand, syrupy schmaltz; and, on the other, clichéd rockers, with just the occasional flash of style sneaking in, to remind us why we even cared any longer.

At the height of a commercial teen pop explosion in the late '90s, the Backstreet Boys emerged at the top of the boy band pack alongside friendly rivals *NSYNC, quickly trailed by a crop of imitators. Their hybrid of R&B balladry, hip-hop, and dance pop initially found its greatest audience in Canada and Europe, while success in their native land didn't follow until mainstream pop hit it big on radio and MTV in America.

Speaking on his approach to the album, Sting says: “‘My Songs’ is my life in songs. Some of them reconstructed, some of them refitted, some of them reframed, but all of them with a contemporary focus.” ‘My Songs’ boasts modernized recordings, faithful to the original arrangements and celebrates Sting’s illustrious musical career as one of the world’s most distinctive and influential artists. Since forming The Police in 1977 with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, Sting has evolved into one of the world’s most iconic artists, selling 100 million records and earning the highest accolades along the way. Fans can expect to hear Sting’s own fresh approach to hits including “Englishman In New York,” “Fields Of Gold,” “Shape Of My Heart,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne,” “Message In A Bottle” and many more.

Speaking on his approach to the album, Sting says: “‘My Songs’ is my life in songs. Some of them reconstructed, some of them refitted, some of them reframed, but all of them with a contemporary focus.