Spirits in the Material World
| "Spirits in the Material World" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by The Police | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Ghost in the Machine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B-side | "Low Life" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | 1981 (United Kingdom) 1982 (United States) |
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| Format | Vinyl record (7") | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | New Wave | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 2:58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Label | A&M - AMS 8194 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Sting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Hugh Padgham, Stewart Copeland, Sting, Andy Summers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Police singles chronology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Spirits in the Material World" is a song by new wave trio The Police, written by Sting. It is the opening track for their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine. The song features bass, guitar, synthesizer, drums, saxophone, and vocals. It has a Jamaican Ska beat which changes to a swaggering rock beat in the chorus. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached number 12 in the United Kingdom[1] and number 11 in the United States of America in early 1982.[2]
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[edit] Background and Recording
Andy Summers's presence on the studio track is considerably less pronounced than on the vast majority of Police songs, and in fact, Sting wanted to record it without him entirely. Having written the song on a synthesizer, he wanted for it to use synthesizer instead of guitar, and to play the synthesizer part himself. Summers thought the synthesizer part should be replaced by guitar, and after considerable argument, they compromised by recording the part on both instruments, with a mix such that the synthesizer drowned out much of Summers's guitar.[3] In live performances this part was played on guitar only, with synthesizer used only for background chords.
The lyrics comment on the nature of man's existence and the failure of his earthly institutions.
[edit] Personnel
- Sting - bass, synthesizer, saxophone, lead vocals, backing vocals
- Andy Summers - guitar
- Stewart Copeland - drums
[edit] Cover versions
In 1995, reggae artist Pato Banton covered the song for the soundtrack to Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Sting is featured in the song. The song entered the UK charts at number 36 in January 1996[4] and stayed there for two weeks. Banton later rerecorded the song (without Sting) for his greatest hits album in 2008.
Also, the Puerto Rican metal band Puya did a Spanish-language version called "Almas" for the Police tribute album Outlandos d'Americas.
On the 2007 Six Degrees Records compilation Backspin, A Six Degrees 10 Year Anniversary Project Karsh Kale covered "Spirits in the Material World".
In 2006 Q magazine issued a CD "Q Covered - The Eighties" on which Cord covered the song.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] 7": A&M / AMS 8194 (UK)
- "Spirits in the Material World" -2:59
- "Low Life" - 3:45
[edit] 7": A&M / AM 2390 (US)
- "Spirits in the Material World" - 3:01
- "Flexible Strategies" - 3:44
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1981/1982) | Peak position |
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| Dutch Top 40 | 6[5] |
| French Singles Chart | 4 |
| German Singles Chart | 44 |
| UK Singles Chart | 12[1] |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 11[2] |
| US Billboard Top Tracks | 7 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Police in the UK Charts, The Official Charts.
- ^ a b "Spirits in the Material World" Billboard Chart History, Billboard.com.
- ^ Summers, Andy (2007). One Train Later, 1st Edition (St. Martin's Griffin), page 295-6.
- ^ UK Singles Chart for the week of January 20, 1996, The Official Charts.
- ^ "Spirits in the Material World" in the Dutch Top 40, Dutch Top 40 website.
[edit] External links
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