Various Featuring The Police, Sting, Go.Go's* & Squeeze (2) – Brimstone & Treacle (Original Soundtrack Album)

Music is a business. As a business, if there's a demand for product, record companies will figure out a way to supply that demand. Exhibit A - the 1982 soundtrack accompanying the film "Brimstone & Treacle".  

For a brief period in the late-'70s and early-'80s Sting and the Police were music's "it" band. Young, attractive, and charismatic, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking on Sting's door. That came in 1982 when Sting was given an opportunity to star in the film adaptation of Dennis Potter's television play. It's been years since I saw the movie, but as I remember the plotline, Sting plays a mysterious young deviant who manages to worm his way into the home of a couple caring for a pretty daughter who's been incapcitated by a hit-and-run accident. Among other unpleasant segments, Sting's character rapes the girl. I guess it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the BBC elected to shelve the original play. Though filmed in 1976, it didn't see daylight until 1987.

Along with a starring roll in Richard Loncraine's 1982 film adaptation, Sting provided a significant amount of the music for the accompanying soundtrack album (showcasing some of the year's ugliest cover art). The collection was clearly intended to sell to Police and Sting fans, but anyone looking at the liner notes quickly recognized this was a quickly thrown together various artists collection. What you got were a couple of leftover Police castoffs (the instrumental 'How Stupid Mr. Bates'), Sting castoffs ('Only You'), assorted slices of incidental film music ('When the Roll Is Called Up Younger') and a couple of odds and ends including a Go-Gos hit ('We Go the Beat') and a Squeeze track ('Up the Junction'). Those were seemingly included solely due to the fact those bands happened to be signed to A&M. I'd love to tell you this was an essential album - it wasn't.

"Brimstone & Treacle" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder - 2:07 rating: ** stars
One of the non-Sting performances, 'When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder' was performed by the Finchley Children's Music Group and appeared during the film's opening credits. It's pretty much what you would expect from a children's chorus, meaning it was largely forgettable..  
2.) Brimstone & Treacle (instrumental) (Sting) - 2:15 rating: *** stars
Not sure, but whenever I hear the instrumental title track it makes me thing of Mike Oldfield and 'Tubular Bells'.  
3.) Narration (Sting - Dennis Potter) - 4:02  rating: * star
Well, at least the title was accurate - Sting seemingly reading highlights from the screenplay. 
4.) How Stupid Mr. Bates (instrumental) (Stewart Copeland - Sting - Andy Summers) - 2:41 rating: **** stars
Powered by Andy Summers' instantly recognizable guitar, 'How Stupid Mr. Bates' was a classic Police tune. I'm guessing the reason it hadn't previously appeared on a Police album had something to do with the fact it was an instrumental. The track finally made an appearance on a Police album when it was included on the "Message In a Box" set.  
5.) Only You (Sting) - 4:50   rating: *** stars
'Only You' was another tune with a distinct Police vibe - it would not have sounded out of place on the "Ghost In the Machine" album. Can't say the lyric had much going for it .... The song actually appeared as the flip side to a 1982 Police 12" promo 45 for 'I Burn for You'.
6.) I Burn for You (Sting) - 4:50 rating: **** stars
'I Burn for You' was another Police track, though Sting apparently wrote the song back in 1976 while still in the band Last Exit. The song was a patented Sting ballad - well at least until the tune abruptly morphed into what sounded like some sort of soccer crowd chant.. The ballad segment offered up a pretty melody accompanied by some dark and ominous lyrics. In fact, the best description of this tune (and the whole movie) was "Sting as a charming sociopath." A&M released the song as a 12" promo 45:

- 1982's 'I Burn for You' b/w 'Only You' (A&M catalog number SP 17126) Sting included the song in his solo repertoire and it was part of his 1985 "Bring On the Night" concert film. Thanks to YouTube you can see the performance at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgxy9lMbqJc  

(side 2)
1.) Spread a Little Happiness (Vivian Ellis) - 3:25  rating: * star
I've never understood the English fascination with all things '20s and '30s, but Sting's cover of 'Spread a Little Happiness' reached into that collective attraction. The song was written by Vivian Ellis and Clifford grey for the 1929 musical "Mr. Cinders". The track was tapped as an international single, though it didn't do much for me.

- 1982's "Spread a Little Happiness' b/w 'Only You' ( A&M catalog number 2501-S) As a tie-in to the the film and the soundtrack, A&M even financed a promotion video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ8ahL8LsEQ 
2.) We Got the Beat (Charlotte Caffey) - 2:30
A well deserved hit for The Go-Gos, but I've always wondered why this tune was included on the album.
3.) You Know I Had the Strangest Dream (instrumental) (Sting) - 2:22   rating: * star
Two minutes of incidentally and totally anonymous soundtrack music.
4.) Up the Junction (Chris Difford - Glenn Tilbrook) - 3:09
Good Squeeze song, but the fact they were another A&M act seems to be the only explanation for this song being included on the album.
5.) Bless This House (May Brahe - Helen Taylor) - 0:41   rating: * star
More incidental film music. At least it was short.
6.) A Kind of Loving (Stewart Copeland - Sting - Andy Summers) - 2:04 rating; * star
One of those songs that you probably don't want to play with the windows wide open; Sting's version of 'Mother'? It's basically two minutes of a woman screaming with sting occasionally screaming "shut up" which made it quite disturbing. The song also appeared on to the "Message In a Box" collection.
7.) Brimstone 2 (instrumental) (Sting) - 4:07   rating: *** stars
Ominous instrumental continuation of the title track.

Like many A&M vinyl releases this one is translucent, too

Kind of a missing police and sting album with 9 tracks in total...

Various Featuring The Police, Sting, Go-Go's & Squeeze (2) - Brimstone & Treacle (Original Soundtrack Album) Can anybody tell why this oeuvre is listed under Sting's "Releases" AND under Sting's "Appearances" as well? To me this seems to be a contradiction. Imo this is a production which should be listed under Sting's appearances only.

Cosmic disco fans will have this in their collection simply for The Police track 'How Stupid Mr. Bates' - sadly at 2:39, you really need two copies if you're relying on vinyl or the much rarer CD.