(Pop Rock) [12", 45 RPM] [24/96] Sting - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free [1985, USA, SP-12132] - 1985, FLAC (tracks)

"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" is the first single released from Sting's solo debut album The Dream of the Blue Turtles. It is also the opening track of the album and is featured on Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 as well as The Very Best of Sting & The Police.
Like much of the album, the song has heavy jazz influences, and was a major hit, peaking at number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. On the US pop chart, it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 17 on the US R&B chart, number 26 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart.
A portion of the song was later used for Sting's 1987 hit "We'll Be Together" from Nothing Like the Sun.
The single launched a long string of singles (stretching over three albums) where Sting collaborated with New Orleans saxophonist and one-time Tonight Show bandleader Branford Marsalis.
The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People. He duetted on the song with the band's lead singer, Heather Small and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who was also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.
Sting said that he wrote the song as an "antidote" to the Police's 1983 song, "Every Breath You Take", which he also wrote. The song was also lampooned by The Dead Milkmen in the song "If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire", from their 1990 album Metaphysical Graffiti.
The single B-side consists of a studio recording of the song "Another Day" which would appear the following year in a live version on Sting's live album Bring on the Night.