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Spirits in the Material World

"Spirits in the Material World" is a song by rock trio the Police, written by Sting. It is the opening track for their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine. It was released as a single in 1981 and reached No. 12 in the United Kingdom[1] and No. 11 in the US in early 1982.[2]

"Spirits in the Material World"
Single by the Police
from the album Ghost in the Machine
B-side
  • "Low Life" (UK)
  • "Flexibile Strategies" (US)
Released11 December 1981 (United Kingdom)
1982 (United States)
Recorded1981
Genre
Length2:58
LabelA&MAMS 8194
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)
The Police singles chronology
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
(1981)
"Spirits in the Material World"
(1981)
"Secret Journey"
(1982)
Alternative cover
US 7-inch single cover
Music video
"Spirits in the Material World" on YouTube

Background edit

"Spirits in the Material World" was written by Sting on a Casio keyboard while in a truck.[3] It was his first experience using a synthesizer.[3]

'Spirits in the Material World' was written on one of those Casio keyboards while I was riding in the back of a truck somewhere. I just tap, tap, tap and there it was, just by accident. That was the first time I'd ever touched a synthesizer, that album.

— Sting, Synchronicity Tour Program, 1983[3]

Andy Summers' 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.[4] In live performances this part was played on guitar only, with synthesizer used only for background chords. The bass part for the song is distinctively complex, with music producer and cognitive psychologist Daniel Levitin writing that it "takes this rhythmic play to such an extreme that it can be hard to tell where the downbeat even is."[5] The track was recorded at Air Studios Montserrat.

The lyrics comment on the nature of man's existence and the failure of his earthly institutions.

"Spirits in the Material World" eventually saw single release in 1981 as the follow-up to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", making it the third single from Ghost in the Machine in Britain and the second in America. Billboard called it "less mainstream yet more captivating" than "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" and said that "the repetitive rhythm creates a hypnotic effect."[6] Record World also compared it to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," saying that it "[takes] reggae one step further into the pop world" and calling it a "hypnotic cut."[7] The single, while not as successful as its predecessors, peaked at No. 12 in Britain and No. 11 in America. It was followed up by "Secret Journey" in America.

The UK B-side of "Spirits in the Material World," "Low Life," was written by Sting around 1977 in the back of a German tour bus.[3] Although the band's drummer Stewart Copeland claimed to have "always loved the song," guitarist Andy Summers claimed that "Neither Stewart or I liked 'Low Life.' I thought the lyric was snobby and it had a kind of corny jazziness to it."[3] The American B-Side, an instrumental song titled "Flexible Strategies", was recorded in Canada while the band jammed for ten minutes while working on Ghost in the Machine, when word came for them to create a B-Side. According to Stewart Copeland, recording this particular song was a disgrace.[8][9]

Live performances edit

The band performed the song live during the Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity tours (the latter of which was included on their Live! album) and it was also included on their first North American setlist during their reunion tour. Since the dissolution of the Police, Sting has often performed the song on solo tours.

In all live performances, the song is played in the key of D minor in contrast to the studio version’s A minor. In most cases, Sting plays a more simplified version of the original bassline to play while singing.[10]

Personnel edit

Track listing edit

7-inch: A&M / AMS 8194 (UK) edit

  1. "Spirits in the Material World" – 2:59
  2. "Low Life" – 3:45

7-inch: A&M / AM 2390 (US) edit

  1. "Spirits in the Material World" – 3:01
  2. "Flexible Strategies" – 3:44

Charts edit

Chart (1981–1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 50
Canadian RPM Top Singles 13
Dutch Singles Chart 6
French Singles Chart 4
German Singles Chart 44
Irish Singles Chart 6
UK Singles Chart 12
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 11
US Cashbox[14] 15
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 7

Cover versions edit

  • 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[15] and stayed there for two weeks. Banton later rerecorded the song (without Sting) for his greatest hits album in 2008. The original version (with Sting) was also featured on the covers album Reggatta Mondatta: A Reggae Tribute to the Police (1997).

References edit

  1. ^ The Police in the UK Charts, The Official Charts.
  2. ^ a b "The Police – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Spirits In The Material World, 7". sting.com. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  4. ^ Summers, Andy (2007). One Train Later, 1st Edition (St. Martin's Griffin), page 295-6.
  5. ^ J., Levitin, Daniel (2006). This is your brain on music : the science of a human obsession. New York, N.Y.: Dutton. ISBN 0525949690. OCLC 65197831.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 23 January 1982. p. 93. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 16 January 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. ^ "The Police – Spirits in the Material World (1982, Terre Haute Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs. January 1982.
  9. ^ The Police Message in a Box booklet Page 58.
  10. ^ "The police - spirits in the material world (Live) - YouTube". YouTube.
  11. ^ Obrecht, Jas (September 1982). "Andy Summers: Playing Soundscapes with The Police". Guitar Player. pp. 70–96.
  12. ^ Sutcliffe, Phil (1993). "The B-sides and Other Obscure Releases". In Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (pp.57–59) [Boxed set booklet]. A&M Records Ltd.
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
  15. ^ UK Singles Chart for the week of January 20, 1996, The Official Charts.

spirits, material, world, song, rock, trio, police, written, sting, opening, track, their, 1981, album, ghost, machine, released, single, 1981, reached, united, kingdom, early, 1982, single, policefrom, album, ghost, machineb, side, life, flexibile, strategies. Spirits in the Material World is a song by rock trio the Police written by Sting It is the opening track for their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine It was released as a single in 1981 and reached No 12 in the United Kingdom 1 and No 11 in the US in early 1982 2 Spirits in the Material World Single by the Policefrom the album Ghost in the MachineB side Low Life UK Flexibile Strategies US Released11 December 1981 United Kingdom 1982 United States Recorded1981GenreNew wave avant popLength2 58LabelA amp M AMS 8194Songwriter s StingProducer s Hugh Padgham Stewart Copeland Sting Andy SummersThe Police singles chronology Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic 1981 Spirits in the Material World 1981 Secret Journey 1982 Alternative coverUS 7 inch single coverMusic video Spirits in the Material World on YouTube Contents 1 Background 1 1 Live performances 2 Personnel 3 Track listing 3 1 7 inch A amp M AMS 8194 UK 3 2 7 inch A amp M AM 2390 US 4 Charts 5 Cover versions 6 ReferencesBackground edit Spirits in the Material World was written by Sting on a Casio keyboard while in a truck 3 It was his first experience using a synthesizer 3 Spirits in the Material World was written on one of those Casio keyboards while I was riding in the back of a truck somewhere I just tap tap tap and there it was just by accident That was the first time I d ever touched a synthesizer that album Sting Synchronicity Tour Program 1983 3 Andy Summers 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 4 In live performances this part was played on guitar only with synthesizer used only for background chords The bass part for the song is distinctively complex with music producer and cognitive psychologist Daniel Levitin writing that it takes this rhythmic play to such an extreme that it can be hard to tell where the downbeat even is 5 The track was recorded at Air Studios Montserrat The lyrics comment on the nature of man s existence and the failure of his earthly institutions Spirits in the Material World eventually saw single release in 1981 as the follow up to Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic making it the third single from Ghost in the Machine in Britain and the second in America Billboard called it less mainstream yet more captivating than Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and said that the repetitive rhythm creates a hypnotic effect 6 Record World also compared it to Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic saying that it takes reggae one step further into the pop world and calling it a hypnotic cut 7 The single while not as successful as its predecessors peaked at No 12 in Britain and No 11 in America It was followed up by Secret Journey in America The UK B side of Spirits in the Material World Low Life was written by Sting around 1977 in the back of a German tour bus 3 Although the band s drummer Stewart Copeland claimed to have always loved the song guitarist Andy Summers claimed that Neither Stewart or I liked Low Life I thought the lyric was snobby and it had a kind of corny jazziness to it 3 The American B Side an instrumental song titled Flexible Strategies was recorded in Canada while the band jammed for ten minutes while working on Ghost in the Machine when word came for them to create a B Side According to Stewart Copeland recording this particular song was a disgrace 8 9 Live performances edit The band performed the song live during the Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity tours the latter of which was included on their Live album and it was also included on their first North American setlist during their reunion tour Since the dissolution of the Police Sting has often performed the song on solo tours In all live performances the song is played in the key of D minor in contrast to the studio version s A minor In most cases Sting plays a more simplified version of the original bassline to play while singing 10 Personnel editSting bass guitar synthesizer saxophone lead and backing vocals Andy Summers guitar Prophet 5 synthesizer 11 Stewart Copeland drums Olaf Kubler saxophone on Low Life 12 Track listing edit7 inch A amp M AMS 8194 UK edit Spirits in the Material World 2 59 Low Life 3 457 inch A amp M AM 2390 US edit Spirits in the Material World 3 01 Flexible Strategies 3 44Charts editChart 1981 1982 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 13 50Canadian RPM Top Singles 13Dutch Singles Chart 6French Singles Chart 4German Singles Chart 44Irish Singles Chart 6UK Singles Chart 12US Billboard Hot 100 2 11US Cashbox 14 15US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 7Cover versions editIn 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 15 and stayed there for two weeks Banton later rerecorded the song without Sting for his greatest hits album in 2008 The original version with Sting was also featured on the covers album Reggatta Mondatta A Reggae Tribute to the Police 1997 References edit The Police in the UK Charts The Official Charts a b The Police Chart history Billboard Retrieved 3 May 2022 a b c d e Spirits In The Material World 7 sting com Retrieved 12 April 2017 Summers Andy 2007 One Train Later 1st Edition St Martin s Griffin page 295 6 J Levitin Daniel 2006 This is your brain on music the science of a human obsession New York N Y Dutton ISBN 0525949690 OCLC 65197831 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Top Single Picks Billboard 23 January 1982 p 93 Retrieved 21 January 2023 Hits of the Week PDF Record World 16 January 1982 p 1 Retrieved 2 March 2023 The Police Spirits in the Material World 1982 Terre Haute Pressing Vinyl Discogs January 1982 The Police Message in a Box booklet Page 58 The police spirits in the material world Live YouTube YouTube Obrecht Jas September 1982 Andy Summers Playing Soundscapes with The Police Guitar Player pp 70 96 Sutcliffe Phil 1993 The B sides and Other Obscure Releases In Message in a Box The Complete Recordings pp 57 59 Boxed set booklet A amp M Records Ltd Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 235 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Whitburn Joel 2014 Cash Box Pop Hits 1952 1996 Sheridan Books Inc ISBN 978 0 89820 209 0 UK Singles Chart for the week of January 20 1996 The Official Charts Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spirits in the Material World amp oldid 1169027196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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