The Last Ship

★16座葛莱美奖肯定国际音乐巨星 睽违十年首张全创作流行专辑

★专辑灵感及概念来自同名音乐剧 2014将登上百老汇舞台

★力邀摇滚大团AC/DC主唱Brian Johnson跨刀献唱

16座葛莱美奖肯定、一亿张唱片销售，拥有作曲家、歌手、畅销作家、演员、慈善家等多重身份的史汀，才刚庆祝完个人音乐生涯的25周年纪念，便投入并挑战全新的创作领域，推出他个人睽违已久的全新创作大碟【The Last Ship】。专辑的灵感和概念来自于史汀费时三年创作的同名音乐剧，即将于2014登上纽约的百老汇舞台，而这张全球乐迷引颈期盼的全新专辑也因此带有浓厚的叙事色彩和丰富多变的音乐风格。

「The Last Ship」是以80年代位于英国东北部、距离新堡市（Newcastle）中心区东方3.5英里的Wallsend当地造船工业为故事背景，史汀与三位东尼奖得主—音乐剧「Wicked」导演Joe Mantello、电影「007空降危机」编剧John Logan、音乐剧「Next To Normal」编剧Brian Yorkey携手合作，将自己在Wallsend当地著名的「天鹅猎人造船厂」（Swan Hunter Shipyard）工业区的成长回忆编写成感人的故事。剧情叙述一群失业的造船工人决定拿回他们的造船工厂，然后建造最后一艘船，此举不是为了先前的雇主，也不是为了政府，纯粹只是为了尊严与人性。

新专辑最初的灵感其实要追溯到史汀1991年面对丧父之痛的专辑『The Soul Cages』。在【The Last Ship】中史汀再度探索他在新堡市的成长历程，史汀为音乐剧谱写了超过40首关于逃亡与冒险、父与子、罪过与救赎的歌曲，他表示，Wallsend的镇上不是造船厂、就是煤矿场，居民的工作只有这两种选择；他每天望着大船在造船厂缓缓升起，遮住阳光；祖父是造船工人，街坊邻居也大多数是在造船厂工作，造船工业塑造了这座城市的样貌，也让它的发展还有整个小区都蒙上了阴影。

【The Last Ship】是Sting自2003年英、美TOP 5畅销专辑『Sacred Love』之后，十年来首张全创作流行专辑，专辑由Rob Mathes（*Eric Clapton、Elton John）担任制作，音乐风格以深受居尔特音乐影响的英国东北部民谣为主，加入华尔兹、bossa nova、百老汇乐风，饶富George Gershwin、Richard Rodgers、Stephen Sondheim等音乐剧创作大师的半音阶曲风，还有揣摩造船工人的工作歌节奏调调。参与专辑录制的艺人也与英国东北部有着渊源，包括入列摇滚名人殿堂的重摇滚大团AC/DC主唱Brian Johnson、以"Ain't No Doubt"拿下1992年英国金榜冠军的歌手Jimmy Nail，以及民谣乐团The Unthanks成员Becky Unthank…等。专辑中有引用圣经故事与天启意象的标题曲"The Last Ship"；描写造船厂工人父子亲情对话的"Dead Man's Boots"；很不浪漫的求婚情歌"Practical Arrangement"；深陷生活与爱情困境的忧伤抒情曲"I Love Her But She Loves Someone Else"。史汀透过专辑中的歌曲，阐释了人际关系的错综复杂、时光的流逝，还有家庭与小区的重要性，用音乐诉说了这段深刻的故事。

Cherrytree/Interscope/A&M Records is pleased to announce a new album of original material from Sting, entitled "The Last Ship", scheduled for release on September 24, 2013.

The album is inspired by Sting’s forthcoming play of the same name and explores the central themes of homecoming and self-discovery, drawing upon his memories of growing up in the shadow of the Swan Hunters Shipyard in Wallsend. His personal reminiscences illuminate universal truths – the complexity of relationships, the passage of time and the importance of family and community – to form an affecting, complex parable for our modern times.

The play, in which Sting has been creatively immersed for nearly three years, debuts 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 had, for so long, shaped and overshadowed the city, its development, and its community.

"The Last Ship" album is produced by Rob Mathes (Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Lou Reed, Carly Simon) and engineered and mixed by Donal Hodgson.

"The Last Ship" will be available as both a digital and physical release in two configurations - 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 edition, containing 2-discs comprised of 20 tracks within special packaging, will also be sold as a physical product exclusively at Amazon.com. AmazonMP3 will be the exclusive retailer for the 20-track, super deluxe digital edition.