Starting in 2021 and continuing annually, albums in Sting's solo catalogue have been reissued with bonus tracks for various anniversaries. This year, fans have asked themselves if that will continue, and, perhaps, if this material will ever receive a physical release. The answers appear to be "yes" and "yes, if you're willing to import from Japan."

On July 11, Universal Music Group Japan will issue SHM-CD editions of the former Police frontman's ...Nothing Like the Sun (1987), The Soul Cages (1991), Ten Summoner's Tales (1993) and Brand New Day (1999) with bonus discs of B-sides, remixes and edits - along with a new, triple-disc version of his 1985 solo debut The Dream of the Blue Turtles, no doubt indicating that a digital equivalent is due worldwide for the album's 40th anniversary. They will not be packaged in typical SHM-CD style - no obis, inserts or fastidious CD-size LP jacket replications, but in "mega jackets": a miniature poster-sized edition of the album package measuring 24 centimeters squared, retaining the color borders around the original cover from the digital editions noting that each title is expanded. All will be two CDs, with the exception of Blue Turtles and Brand New Day, which are three. (These Japanese releases follow that country's CD release of the expanded Sting 3.0 Live, a Record Store Day exclusive that was given general CD and vinyl release in edited form last month.)

After a dizzying ascension to success with The Police - culminating in 1983's blockbuster Synchronicity - Sting seemed to walk away from it in 1985, recording and releasing The Dream of the Blue Turtles, which largely eschewed rock for a flavor of literate, danceable jazz-pop. Here, the bassist switched to guitar and recruited a band of established jazz players to back him up: saxophonist Branford Marsalis was the older brother of jazz trumpeter Wynton, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland played in Wynton Marsalis' band, bassist Darryl Jones had played on Miles Davis' last two studio albums, and drummer Omar Hakim was a latter-day member of Weather Report who also drummed on David Bowie's Let's Dance and Tonight. From sterling radio pop ("If You Love Somebody Set Them Free," "Fortress Around Your Heart") to lofty experiments (the Synclavier-driven, anti-nuclear peace prayer "Russians," the minimalist jazz of "Moon Over Bourbon Street"), the album was a success in the U.S. and the U.K., with "Set Them Free" and "Fortress" becoming Top 10s in America.

The 40th anniversary edition of Blue Turtles, like several of these releases, combines period and latter-day bonus material and is not entirely complete. While the non-LP B-side "Another Day" makes its CD debut here and vintage mixes of "Set Them Free" and "Love is the Seventh Wave" are included, the bonus discs also feature eight remixes of "Set Them Free" issued to promote the greatest-hits album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 a decade later. Other extras include a '70s translation of the Bertolt Brecht-Kurt Weill song "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" - quite different from Bobby Darin's swinging take - issued on a Hal Willner-produced Weill tribute album, as well as a 2003 reinterpretation of "Bourbon Street."

Sting re-emerged in 1987 with the moody double album ...Nothing Like the Sun, a diverse blend of styles. Retaining Marsalis and Kirkland and adding drummer Manu Katché (fresh from Peter Gabriel's So and subsequent tour) and a rotating list of guest guitarists (including Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, Eric Clapton and former Police partner Andy Summers), the album was dually inspired by the passing of Sting's mother and the work of human rights organization Amnesty International. (Sting co-headlined a stadium tour organized by Amnesty, which included the final live dates by The Police until 2007.) Somber pop ("Be Still My Beating Heart," the Latin-influenced "Fragile" and "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)") rubbed elbows with light jazz ("Englishman in New York"), deeply quirky pop (the Top 10 hit "We'll Be Together," penned for a Japanese beer commercial) and even a Gil Evans-assisted arrangement of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." B-sides were voluminous at the time - five, including a cover of the Gershwin classic "Someone to Watch Over Me" - and remixes include period takes on "Together" and "Englishman" (released in 1990 by Ben Liebrand and reaching the Top 20 in England) as well as a 2001 suite of dance versions of "Fragile." It does not, however, include the contents of the 1988 EP ...Nada Como El Sol, which featured Spanish and Portuguese-language takes on some of the album's key cuts.

His next album, 1991's The Soul Cages, was even more reflective, drawing inspiration from the passing of his father, who worked in the shipbuilding community of Wallsend - where the pop star born Gordon Sumner dreamed of a more glamorous career. (When Sting finally tweaked his musical The Last Ship - first released as a concept album in 2014 - for stateside stage productions, he borrowed The Soul Cages' opening tracks "Island of Souls" and "All This Time," the latter still Sting's biggest U.S. hit as an unaccompanied solo artist, reaching No. 5.) Other standouts include "Mad About You," "Why Should I Cry for You" and the rousing title track, featuring Sting in a Northumbrian accent and a brief, haunting solo by Marsalis. The Soul Cages - which reunited Sting with Hugh Padgham, who produced The Police's last two LPs - was also the first album to feature former World Party guitarist Dominic Miller, still a fixture of Sting's discography and live band. B-sides include live takes on Squeeze's "Tempted" and the French ballad "Ne me quitte pas" and foreign-language versions of "Mad About You" (in Italian) and "Why Should I Cry for You" (in Spanish).

Those wondering if solo Sting would ever lighten up got their wish on 1993's Ten Summoner's Tales, one of his poppiest efforts to date. A Grammy nominee for Album of the Year, Sting, Padgham and a crew of session giants (including Miller, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and keyboardist David Sancious) offered radio staples like "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Fields of Gold," the quirky "Seven Days" and "Shape of My Heart," a favorite of younger Sting appreciators when it was interpolated into the hit "Lucid Dreams" by the late rapper Juice WRLD, one of the 40 most streamed songs in Spotify history. A heap of radio edits and mixes and some live tracks are featured on the bonus disc.

After the greatest hits set Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 and the adult contemporary-leaning Mercury Falling (1996), Sting's next effort was one of his most unexpected. Brand New Day, released in 1999, took influence from more modern electronic and world influences. Bolstered by its appearance in a dramatic Jaguar sports car commercial, "Desert Rose" - featuring Arabic vocals by Algerian singer Cheb Mami - became a Top 20 hit in America; the irresistible title track was garnished by an immediately recognizable harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder. The sheer amount of period remixes - including some available on rare promos or hard-to-find EPs like the Target-exclusive Still Be Love in the World or the Japanese-only Brand New Day: The Remixes - bumps this set up to three CDs, alongside studio B-sides (including a demo of "Desert Rose" and a cover of the Oscar-winning "The Windmills of Your Mind" from the Steve McQueen heist classic The Thomas Crown Affair that featured in a 1998 remake with then-James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan) and live cuts.

All five titles will be released July 11, at which point the Blue Turtles expansion will likely be available digitally. Pre-order links from CDJapan and full, annotated track listings are below.

The Dream of the Blue Turtles (Expanded Edition) (A&M UICY-16304/6 (JP), 2025)

CD 1: Original album (released as A&M DREAM 1 (U.K.)/SP-3750 (U.S.), 1985)

1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
2. Love is the Seventh Wave
3. Russians
4. Children's Crusade
5. Shadows in the Rain
6. We Work the Black Seam
7. Consider Me Gone
8. The Dream of the Blue Turtles
9. Moon Over Bourbon Street
10. Fortress Around Your Heart

CD 2: Bonus material

1. Another Day
2. The Ballad of Mac the Knife
3. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Dance Mix)
4. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (William Orbit Mix)
5. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Soulpower Mix)
6. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Soulpower Radio Mix)
7. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Soulpower Hip-Hop Mix)
8. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Soulpower House Mix)
9. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Soulpower Deep Dub)

CD 3: Bonus material

1. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Brothers in Rhythm Soundtrack Version)
2. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Brothers in Rhythm Edit)
3. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (Tom Stephan Mix)
4. Love is the Seventh Wave (New Mix)
5. Love is the Seventh Wave (Special Single Version)
6. Moon Over Bourbon Street (Cornelius Mix)
7. Fortress Around Your Heart (Hugh Padgham Mix)

Disc 2, Tracks 1 and 3-4 from "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" 12" - A&M AMY 258 (U.K.)/SP-12132 (U.S.), 1985
Disc 2, Track 2 from Lost in the Stars (The Music of Kurt Weill) - A&M AMA 5104 (U.K.)/SP 9-5104 (U.S.), 1985
Disc 2, Track 5 from "When We Dance" U.K. CD single - A&M 580 859-2, 1994
Disc 2, Tracks 6-7 and 9 from "When We Dance" U.K. CD single #2 - A&M 580 861-2, 1994
Disc 2, Track 8 from "When We Dance" U.S. 12" - A&M 314 580 871-1, 1994
Disc 3, Track 1 from A&M U.K. 12" promo AMDJ3, 1995
Disc 3, Track 2 from "This Cowboy Song" U.K. CD single - A&M 580 957-2, 1995
Disc 3, Track 3 from Audacious Records digital single (no cat. #), 2019
Disc 3, Track 4 from "Love is the Seventh Wave" 12" - A&M AMY 272 (U.K.)/SP-12153 (U.S.), 1985
Disc 3, Track 5 from "Love is the Seventh Wave" single - A&M AM 272 (U.K.)/AM-2787 (U.S.), 1985
Disc 3, Track 6 from "Send Your Love" U.K. CD single - A&M 981 010-3, 2003
Disc 3, Track 7 from Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 - A&M 314 540 269-2, 1994

...Nothing Like the Sun (Expanded Edition) (A&M UICY-16290/1 (JP), 2025)

CD 1: Original album (released as A&M AMA 6402 (U.K.)/SP-6402 (U.S.), 1987)

1. The Lazarus Heart
2. Be Still My Beating Heart
3. Englishman in New York
4. History Will Teach Us Nothing
5. They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)
6. Fragile
7. We'll Be Together
8. Straight to My Heart
9. Rock Steady
10. Sister Moon
11. Little Wing
12. The Secret Marriage

CD 2: Bonus material

1. Conversation with a Dog
2. If You There
3. Up from the Skies
4. Someone to Watch Over Me
5. Ghost in the Strand
6. Englishman in New York (Ben Liebrand Mix)
7. Englishman in New York (Ben Liebrand Mix Edit)
8. Fragile (dj MONK's Extended Vocal Remix Version)
9. Fragile (dj MONK's Radio Edit Version)
10. Fragile (dj MONK's Hard Rain Dub Version)
11. Fragile (Bedroom Rockers Remix Version)
12. We'll Be Together (Extended Mix)
13. We'll Be Together (Alternate)
14. We'll Be Together (Instrumental)

Disc 2, Tracks 1 and 12-14 released as "We'll Be Together" 12" - A&M AMY 410 (U.K.)/SP-12251 (U.S.), 1987
Disc 2, Track 2 from "Englishman in New York" single - A&M AM 1200 (U.S.), 1987
Disc 2, Tracks 3-4 from "Englishman in New York" U.S. CD single - A&M 750 212 370-2, 1988
Disc 2, Track 5 from "Be Still My Beating Heart" single - A&M AM 2992 (U.S.), 1987
Disc 2, Tracks 6-7 from A&M U.K. 12" AMY 580, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 8-10 from A&M 12" promo - STVP1 (U.K.)/AMRR-10641-1 (U.S.), 2001
Disc 2, Track 11 from A&M U.K. promo CD single STCDP3, 2001

The Soul Cages (Expanded Edition) (A&M UICY-16292/3 (JP), 2025)

CD 1: Original album (released as A&M 396 405-2 (U.K.)/750 216 405-2 (U.S.), 1991)

1. Island of Souls
2. All This Time
3. Mad About You
4. Jeremiah Blues (Part 1)
5. Why Should I Cry for You?
6. St. Agnes and the Burning Train
7. The Wild Wild Sea
8. The Soul Cages
9. When the Angels Fall

CD 2: Bonus material

1. I Miss You Kate
2. Come Down in Time
3. Tempted (Live @ the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan - 10/25/1988)
4. Ne me quitte pas (Live)
5. Oo La La Hugh
6. Mad About You (Original Remix)
7. Mad About You (Remix Edit)
8. Mad About You (12" Remix)
9. Mad About You (Italian Version)
10. Why Should I Cry for You? (Spanish Version)
11. Why Should I Cry for You? (Extended Mix)
12. The Soul Cages (Edit)
13. All This Time (Edit)

Disc 2, Tracks 1 and 13 released as A&M single AM 713 (U.K.)/750 211 541-7 (U.S.), 1991
Disc 2, Track 2 from Two Rooms - Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin - Mercury 845 749-2 (U.K.)/Polydor 845 750-2 (U.S.), 1991
Disc 2, Track 3 from "Mad About You" U.K. CD single - A&M AMCD 721, 1991
Disc 2, Track 4 from "Why Should I Cry for You?" U.K. CD single - A&M AMCD 796, 1991
Disc 2, Tracks 5 and 12 from A&M U.K. CD single AMCD 759, 1991
Disc 2, Tracks 6-8 released as A&M U.S. promo CD single 750 217 294-2, 1991
Disc 2, Track 9 from A&M Italian 12" promo 5001 710, 1991
Disc 2, Track 10 from A&M Spanish single STING 3, 1991
Disc 2, Track 11 from A&M U.S. CD single 750 212 364-2, 1991

Ten Summoner's Tales (Expanded Edition) (A&M UICY-16294/5 (JP), 2025)

CD 1: Original album (released as A&M 540 075-2 (U.K.)/314 540 070-2 (U.S.), 1993)

1. Prologue (If I Ever Lose My Faith in You)
2. Love is Stronger Than Justice (The Munificent Seven)
3. Fields of Gold
4. Heavy Cloud No Rain
5. She's Too Good for Me
6. Seven Days
7. Saint Augustine in Hell
8. It's Probably Me
9. Everybody Laughed But You (only on ex-U.S. pressings)
10. Shape of My Heart
11. Something the Boy Said
12. Epilogue (Nothing 'Bout Me)

CD 2: Bonus material

1. We Work the Black Seam (1993 Version)
2. January Stars
3. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (Miracle of Science Mix)
4. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (Hoax Mix)
5. It's Probably Me (Alternate)
6. Nothing 'Bout Me (Remix)
7. Nothing 'Bout Me (Remix with Horn Intro)
8. Love is Stronger Than Justice (The Munificent Seven) (Edit)
9. Seven Days (Radio Edit)
10. Nothing 'Bout Me (Edit with Fade)
11. Shape of My Heart (Live @ Villa Manin, Codroipo, Italy - 7/25/1993)
12. Love is Stronger Than Justice (The Munificent Seven) (Live @ Villa Manin, Codroipo, Italy - 7/25/1993)
13. It's Probably Me (Live @ Villa Manin, Codroipo, Italy - 7/25/1993)
14. Purple Haze (Live @ Statenhal, The Hague, The Netherlands - 5/9/1991)
15. Ain't No Sunshine (LIve @ The Buddle Arts Centre, Newcastle, England - 4/20/1991)

Disc 2, Tracks 1-2 from "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" U.S. CD single - A&M 314 580 111-2, 1993
Disc 2, Tracks 3-4 from A&M U.K. 12" promo AMYDJ 529, 1993
Disc 2, Track 5 from Lethal Weapon 3 (Music from the Motion Picture) - Reprise 26989, 1992
Disc 2, Tracks 6-7 and 10 from A&M U.S. promo CD single 314 588 138-2, 1993
Disc 2, Track 8 from A&M U.K. CD single 580 370-2, 1993
Disc 2, Track 9 from A&M U.K. CD single 580 223-2, 1993
Disc 2, Tracks 11-13 from Demolition Man EP - A&M 314 540 162-2, 1993
Disc 2, Track 14 from "Fields of Gold" U.S. CD single - A&M 314 580 259-2, 1993
Disc 2, Track 15 from Acoustic Live in Newcastle EP - A&M 397 169-2 (U.K.), 1991

Brand New Day (Expanded Edition) (A&M UICY-16296/8 (JP), 2025)

CD 1: Original album (released as A&M 490 425-2 (U.K.)/069 490 443-2 (U.S.), 1999)

1. A Thousand Years
2. Desert Rose
3. Big Lie Small World
4. After the Rain Has Fallen
5. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong
6. Tomorrow We'll See
7. Prelude to the End of the Game
8. Fill Her Up
9. Ghost Story
10. Brand New Day

CD 2: Bonus material

1. The Windmills of Your Mind
2. End of the Game
3. Desert Rose (Demo)
4. Fill Her Up (Original Version)
5. Brand New Day (Edit)
6. A Thousand Years (Bill Laswell Remix)
7. A Thousand Years (Escape Club Remix)
8. A Thousand Years (Escape Club Remix Edit)
9. A Thousand Years (Nitin Sawhney Mix)
10. Desert Rose (Filter Dub Mix)
11. Desert Rose (Radio Edit)
12. Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix)
13. Desert Rose (Melodic Club Mix Radio Edit)

CD 3: Bonus material

1. After the Rain Has Fallen (Tin Tin Out Mix)
2. After the Rain Has Fallen (Tin Tin Out Radio Edit)
3. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (LISA m-flo Mix)
4. Brand New Day (Cornelius Mix)
5. Brand New Day (Murlyn Mix)
6. Brand New Day (Murlyn Radio Mix)
7. A Thousand Years (Live @ the Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA - 10/29/1999)
8. Desert Rose (Live @ the Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA - 10/29/1999)
9. After the Rain Has Fallen (Live @ the Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA - 10/29/1999)
10. Perfect Love...Gone Wrong (Live @ the Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA - 10/29/1999)

Disc 2, Track 1 from The Thomas Crown Affair (Music from the MGM Motion Picture) - Pangaea 186 810 049-2, 1999
Disc 2, Tracks 2 and 5 from "Brand New Day" U.K. CD single - A&M 497 152-2, 1999
Disc 2, Tracks 3-4 from "Fragile" U.K. CD single - A&M 497 626-2, 2001
Disc 2, Track 6 and Disc 3, Tracks 3-4 from Brand New Day: The Remixes - A&M POCM-1300 (JP), 2000
Disc 2, Tracks 7-8 from A&M U.K. promo CD single (no cat. #), 2000
Disc 2, Track 9 and Disc 3, Tracks 9-10 from Still Be Love in the World EP - A&M 069 490 887-2 (U.S.), 2001
Disc 2, Tracks 10 and 12-13 from A&M U.K. CD single 497 241-2, 1999
Disc 2, Track 11 from A&M U.K. CD single 497 240-2, 1999
Disc 3, Track 1 from A&M U.K. CD single 497 325-2, 2000
Disc 3, Track 2 from A&M U.K. CD single 497 370-2, 2000
Disc 3, Tracks 5-6 from A&M U.K. promo CD single 497 163-2, 1999
Disc 3, Tracks 7-8 from Live At Universal Amphitheater October 29, 1999 promo disc - A&M 1 STING, 2000