The Soul Cages

For other uses, see Soul Cages (disambiguation).

The Soul Cages
Studio album by Sting
Released	21 January 1991
Recorded	April – November 1990
Studio	Studio Guillaume Tell (Paris, France); Villa Salviati (Migliarino, Italy).
Genre	Pop rock [1]
Length	48:11
Label	A&M PolyGram（Hong Kong）
Producer	Hugh Padgham
Sting chronology
Nada como el sol (1988) The Soul Cages (1991) Ten Summoner's Tales (1993)
Singles from The Soul Cages
"All This Time" Released: 31 December 1990 [2] "Mad About You" Released: 18 February 1991 [3] "The Soul Cages" Released: 22 April 1991 [4] "Why Should I Cry for You" Released: 21 May 1991

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Chicago Tribune	[6]
Robert Christgau	[7]
Entertainment Weekly	C [8]
Los Angeles Times	[9]
NME	4/10 [10]
Orlando Sentinel	[11]
The Windsor Star	B [12]

The Soul Cages is the third full-length studio album by English musician Sting. Released on 21 January 1991, ^[13] it became Sting's second No. 1 album in the United Kingdom. ^[14]

It spawned four singles: "All This Time", "Mad About You", "The Soul Cages", and "Why Should I Cry for You?". Both "All This Time" and "Why Should I Cry for You?" were included on Sting's 1994 compilation album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 ; "Mad About You" was also included on the international version of the compilation. The title track won the first Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1992. ^[15]

On 15 January 2021, an expanded version of The Soul Cages was released to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Along with the original nine tracks, this new edition includes 13 bonus tracks that consist of remixes, extended mixes, and a pair of songs sung in Spanish and Italian incarnations. ^[16]

Concept

The Soul Cages is a concept album focused on the death of Sting's father. ^[17] Sting had developed a writer's block shortly after his father's death in 1987; the episode lasted several years, until he was able to overcome his affliction by dealing with the death of his father through music. ^[18] The single, "Why Should I Cry for You", was written for The Soul Cages in 1989, and Sting has said that the rest of the album flowed quite easily after that first hurdle was overcome. Most of the songs have motifs related to sailing or the seas; Sting wrote in his autobiography, Broken Music, that his father had always regretted not becoming a sailor. There are also references to Newcastle, the part of England where Sting grew up. ^[17]

"I lived next to a shipyard when I was young and it was a very powerful image of this huge ship towering above the house. Tapping into that was a godsend – I began with that and the album just flowed." – Sting ^[18]

In an interview with Charlie Rose aired on 10 December 2010, Sting mentioned that he was working on a "mood piece", a musical project and book in collaboration with Pulitzer winner Brian Yorkey. The work would be based on an album he released many years ago concerning the loss of his father, growing up in Newcastle and witnessing the passing of the shipbuilding industry there. He admitted being scared of the prospect of pulling it all together but expressed confidence in it working out. This project has since been confirmed as the musical The Last Ship . ^[19]

Packaging

At the time this album appeared, the music industry was starting to shift away from using CD longboxes. Sting, a committed environmentalist, wanted to eliminate the amount of cardboard waste caused by the longbox. ^[20] The original packaging was a fourfold cardboard case that could be modified to look like a longbox, and folded back into a jewel box sized CD package for home storage. In Germany, the CD was sold in jewel cases as well as longboxes. The cover painting was a commissioned work by the Scottish artist Steven Campbell.

Until the release of Symphonicities in July 2010, The Soul Cages was the only studio album by Sting not to feature a photograph of himself on the front cover, although he does appear on the back cover of both albums.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Island of Souls" – 6:41
2. "All This Time" – 4:54
3. "Mad About You" – 3:53
4. "Jeremiah Blues (Part 1)" – 4:54
5. "Why Should I Cry for You" – 4:46

Side two

1. "Saint Agnes and the Burning Train" – 2:43
2. "The Wild Wild Sea" – 6:41
3. "The Soul Cages" – 5:51
4. "When the Angels Fall" – 7:48

Personnel

Musicians

• Sting – vocals, Synclavier, mandolin, bass, arrangements
• Kenny Kirkland – keyboards
• David Sancious – keyboards
• Dominic Miller – guitars
• Manu Katché – drums
• Skip Burney – percussion
• Ray Cooper – percussion
• Munyungo Jackson – percussion
• Vinx De'Jon Parrette – percussion
• Bill Summers – percussion
• Tony Vacca – percussion
• Branford Marsalis – saxophones
• Paola Paparelle – oboe
• Kathryn Tickell – Northumbrian smallpipes

Production

• Produced by Sting and Hugh Padgham; QSound production assisted by Brian Cowieson and Scott Willing
• Recorded and mixed by Hugh Padgham; Assisted by Simon Osbourne, Yves Jaget, Bruce Keene, Al Stone, Brian Scheuble and Efren Herrera
• Technical assistant to Sting – Danny Quatrochi
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig
• Mixed at The Town House (London, England) and A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)
• Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City, New York)
• Design – Richard Frankel and Len Peltier
• Front cover painting and inside illustrations by Steven Campbell
• Photographs of Sting by Guzman
• All songs published by Magnetic Publishing, Ltd/Blue Turtle Music

Singles

• "All This Time" (1990) – No. 5 US Hot 100, No. 1 US Mainstream Rock, No. 1 US Modern Rock, No. 9 US Adult Contemporary, No. 22 UK Singles Chart
• "Mad About You" (1991) – No. 56 UK Singles Chart ^[14]
• "Why Should I Cry For You" (1991) – No. 32 US Mainstream Rock, No. 40 US Rock Digital Singles
• "The Soul Cages" (1991) – No. 7 US Mainstream Rock, No. 9 US Modern Rock, No. 57 UK Singles Chart

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for The Soul Cages Chart (1991) Peak position Australian ARIA Albums Chart [21] 3 Ö3 Austria Top 40 Longplay [22] 3 Canadian RPM100 [23] 1 Dutch Album Top 100 [24] 1 French SNEP Albums Chart [25] 7 German Media Control Albums Chart [26] 1 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [27] 17 Japanese Oricon Albums Chart [28] 4 New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart [29] 4 Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart [30] 2 Spanish PROMUSICAE Albums Chart [31] 4 Swedish Sverigetopplistan Albums Chart [32] 4 Swiss Hitparade Albums Top 100 [33] 1 UK Albums (OCC) [14] 1 US Radio & Records AOR Albums Chart [34] 2 US Billboard 200 [35] 2

Year-end charts 1991 year-end chart performance for The Soul Cages Chart (1991) Position Austrian Albums Chart [36] 26 Canadian Albums Chart [37] 10 Dutch Albums Chart [38] 30 French Albums Chart [39] 36 Japanese Albums Chart [40] 85 Swiss Albums Chart [41] 19 UK Albums Chart [42] 82 US Billboard 200 [43] 46

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for The Soul Cages

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [44]	Gold	35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [45]	Gold	25,000*
Belgium (BEA) [46]	Gold	40,000 [46]
Canada (Music Canada) [47]	Platinum	100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [48]	Gold	26,040 [48]
France (SNEP) [49]	Platinum	300,000*
Germany (BVMI) [50]	Platinum	500,000^
Italy	—	500,000 [51]
Japan (RIAJ) [52]	Gold	185,820 [53]
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [54]	Platinum	100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [55]	Platinum	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [56]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA) [57]	Platinum	1,000,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Browne, David (1 February 1991). "The Soul Cages". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
2. "Sting: The New Single – All This Time" (PDF). Music Week . 22 December 1990. p. 4. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
3. "New Singles". Music Week. 16 February 1991.
4. "New Singles". Music Week . 20 April 1991. p. 23.
5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sting – The Soul Cages". AllMusic . Retrieved 4 May 2020.
6. Kot, Greg (7 March 1993). "Feeling A Sting". ChicagoTribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
7. "Sting – Consumer Guide Reviews". Dean of American Rock Critics. Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
8. Browne, David (1 February 1991). "The Soul Cages". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
9. Willman, Chris (20 January 1991). "Sting "The Soul Cages"". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 4 May 2020.
10. Mulvey, John (26 January 1991). "Long Play". NME . p. 32. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
11. Gettelman, Parry (1 February 1991). "Sting". Orlando Sentinel .
12. Shaw, Ted (26 January 1991). "Record Review". The Windsor Star .
13. "BPI".
14. "Sting Top 75 Releases". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
15. "34th Annual GRAMMY Awards". Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
16. ""Sting Celebrates 30th Anniversary of The Soul Cages with Digital Only Expanded edition..."". sting.com. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
17. Paul Sexton (15 January 2021). "Sting's 'The Soul Cages' Arrives in Expanded 30th Anniversary Edition". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
18. Tim Peacock (17 January 2021). "'The Soul Cages': How Personal Tragedy Led Sting to an Artistic Triumph". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
19. "Writing The Last Ship". Huffington Post. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
20. "Short life for the longbox?". The Rotarian. April 1991. p. 14 – via Google Books.
21. Australian Recording Industry Association. "Sting – The Soul Cages". Australian-Charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
22. "Sting – The Soul Cages". AustrianCharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
23. "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 2 March 1991. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
24. MegaCharts. "Sting – The Soul Cages". DutchCharts.nl. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
25. "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste". InfoDisc (in French). Dominic Durand. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
26. "Album Search: Sting". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
27. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1991. 32. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
28. "スティング-リリースミュージック" [Sting Release – The Soul Cages]. Oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
29. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. "Sting – The Soul Cages". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
30. VG-Lista. "Sting – The Soul Cages". NorwegianCharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
31. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (First ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
32. "Sting – The Soul Cages". SwedishCharts.com (in Swedish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
33. Swiss Music Charts. "Sting – The Soul Cages". HitParade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
34. "AOR Albums" (PDF). Radio & Records . 25 January 1991. p. 88. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
35. "The Soul Cages > Charts & Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
36. "Jahreshitparade 1991" [Annual Hit Parade 1991]. AustrianCharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
37. "RPM 100 Albums (CDs & Cassettes) of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 21 December 1991. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
38. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1991" [Annual Statements – Album 1991]. DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). DutchCharts. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
39. "Les Albums (CD) de 1991 par InfoDisc" [InfoDisc's 1991 Albums (CD)] (in French). InfoDisc. Archived from the original (PHP) on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
40. "Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 1991" 1991年 アルバム年間TOP100 [1991 Album Top 100] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2020– via GeoCities.
41. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991" [Swiss Annual Hit Parade 1991]. HitParade.ch. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
42. "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". ChartHeaven. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
43. "Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1991". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
44. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
45. "Austrian album certifications – Sting – The Soul Cages" (in German). IFPI Austria.
46. "Golden Cage" (PDF). Music & Media. Theo Roos. 27 July 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
47. "Canadian album certifications – Sting – The Soul Cages". Music Canada.
48. "Sting" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
49. "French album certifications – Sting – The Soul Cages" (in French). InfoDisc.Select STING and click OK. 
50. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sting; 'The Soul Cages')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
51. Stansield, David (22 February 1992). "PolyGram Leader in '91 Sales Survey" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 9. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2020– via American Radio History.
52. "Japanese album certifications – スティング – ソウル・ケージ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 1991年2月 on the drop-down menu
53. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
54. "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
55. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Soul Cages')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
56. "British album certifications – Sting – The Soul Cages". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 September 2022.
57. "American album certifications – Sting – The Soul Cages". Recording Industry Association of America.