Inspired by Albumism, I’m doing my own version of Flying Solo with individual tracks. Band breakups and hiatuses are never fun, but these solo jams were defining moments in my life’s soundtrack.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles was my first experience hearing a former frontman turn solo, and it didn’t disappoint. Sting’s debut solo album is full of varied themes, genres and personalities. And my favorite track was always “Fortress Around Your Heart”.

It’s a love song written like an epic war story. The melody is infectious, yet utterly unique, and contains one of Sting’s self-proclaimed finest choruses. And the instrumentation is impeccable, with the calculating guitar picking, prodding bass line and Branford Marsalis’ sly sax solo marching in sync.

“I recognized the fields where I'd once played. Had to stop in my tracks for fear of walking on the mines I'd laid.”