Difference between revisions of "King Of Pain"

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==Utopia demo==
 
==Utopia demo==
−
On [[1982-11-23]] he recorded a demo at [[Utopia Studios]] in London, England, UK.
+
On [[1982-11-23]] he recorded a 4:12 minute demo at [[Utopia Studios]] in London, England, UK.
  
 
The main melody was played with the sequencer and guitars. Vocals were already in place, but the chorus parts were sung lower than on the LP.
 
The main melody was played with the sequencer and guitars. Vocals were already in place, but the chorus parts were sung lower than on the LP.
  
−
==Recording 1 (AIR Studios)==
+
==AIR version==
−
There's an early take from [[AIR Studios]] which is quite different to the LP version - it's not just an early or modified take, it's a different version lasting 4:20 minutes.
+
===Alternate version===
 +
The [[AIR Studios]] version of this song comes in various stages of mixing... All are based on the same recording which is different to the song we know from the LP. The 4:48 minute Alternate Version can be found on the [[Synchronicity]] box set (released on [[2024-07-26]]).
  
−
The song starts with a rather cheesy instrumental intro, but with drums.
+
The basic differences to the LP version are:
−
Vocals begin with the "fossil" line - [[Sting]] sings "That's my soul up there" right from the start in that 1st verse, too.
 
  
−
From the start of the vocals onwards it sounds like it's a different and slower drum take - there are sound and timing issue when one part replaces the other. The drum pattern is also different to the LP version.
+
* the first "little black spot" verse is not repeated when all the instruments kick in - the song continues with the "fossil" verse instead
 +
* different drum pattern, louder backing vocals, different bass
 +
* additional "happy" middle part, "oooh oooh" vocals and a short guitar solo (played on electric sitar, doubled with clean guitar)
 +
* different ending with "that's my soul up there" backing vocals and some "happy" guitar bits
  
−
The backing vocals are louder in this take - maybe even some other harmonies.
+
The complete song lasts 4:48 minutes and fades out.
−
The middle part features different "happy" harmonies - some "oooh ooooh" vocals and a short guitar solo (played on electric sitar, doubled with clean guitar).
 
  
−
The end of the song has a happier feel - this comes from "that's my soul up there" backing vocals and some happy guitar bits...
+
===4:20 minute mix===
 +
There's a strange shorter 4:20 minute mix, too.
  
−
==Recording 2 (?)==
+
It starts with a rather cheesy intro which sounds like a demo, but features additional Copeland drums.
−
The second version of this song features the quiet start as known from the LP, with the well known "little black spot" lyrics.
+
[[Sting]] is ad-libbing a bit:
−
After a cool drum break however the "little black spot" verse is NOT repeated and the song continues with the "fossil" verse.
 
  
−
That drum break into that "fossil" verse is much easier to access than the single snare beat into the LP's repeated 1st verse (at least to my ears). The bass drum parts are played differently than the LP version, more like version 1.
+
"tape's rolling...
 +
shut up
 +
ooh oh
 +
yeah-eah
 +
ho-ho
 +
ha-ha-ha"
 +
 
 +
This short intro blends into the longer AIR version, starting with the "fossil" line.
 +
As the AIR version is slower than the "cheesy" intro there are sound and timing issues when one part replaces the other.
 +
This version does not fade out and ends on strange instrumental bits that were probably recorded earlier on the same tape.
  
−
This version still features the "happy" middle part with different harmonies and a guitar solo. The happier ending is also still present.
+
==Le Studio version==
 +
===LP version===
 +
The version that's on the LP was filed as the [[Le Studio]] version. It's unedited length would be roughly 5:06 minutes - with a few more "[[King Of Pain]]"s at the end...  
  
−
This version lasts 4:40 minutes.
+
In "Studio Sound" from March [[1984]] producer [[Hugh Padgham]] remembered that the final mix didn't bear much resemblance to what they initially recorded on the multitracks. The first verse of the LP version was recorded on another day and edited into the next bit.
  
−
==Recording 3 (Le Studio)==
+
The whole song seems to have been re-recorded several times - probably with all of the music (especially drums) at [[AIR Studios (Montserrat) | AIR Studios]] on Montserrat and possibly overdubs at [[Le Studio]].
−
The version that's on the LP was filed as the [[Le Studio]] version. It's unedited length would be roughtly 5:06 minutes - with a few more "[[King Of Pain]]"s at the end...
 
  
−
In its original version the drum break into the 2nd "little black spot" verse was much easier to access than the single snare beat that made it onto the LP. On its own that snare beat is "off" and confusing. Together with the original beats that were cut off it would be much easier to "understand" the beat. This is NOT the drum break from Recording 2, but a new one...
+
===Alternate Mix===
 +
In its original version the drum break into the 2nd "little black spot" verse was much easier to access than the single snare beat that made it onto the LP. On its own that snare beat is "off" and confusing. Together with the original beats that were cut off it would be much easier to "understand" the beat. This is NOT the drum break from the prviously mentioned AIR version, but a new one...
  
−
In "Studio Sound" from March [[1984]] producer [[Hugh Padgham]] remembered that the final mix didn't bear much resemblance to what they initially recorded on the multitracks. The first verse of the LP version was recorded on another day and edited into the next bit.
+
A 4:58 minute version Alternate Mix with this drum break can be heard on the [[Synchronicity]] box set (released on [[2024-07-26]]) - but the drum sound here is strange.
  
−
The whole seems to have been re-recorded several times - probably with all of the music (especially drums) at [[AIR Studios (Montserrat) | AIR Studios]] on Montserrat and [[Sting]]'s vocals at [[Le Studio]].
+
===Instrumental===
 +
There is (or at least was...) also an 4:56 minutes instrumental version of this which was mixed by [[Hugh Padgham]] at [[Le Studio]] in February [[1983]]. It's not on the [[Synchronicity]] box set, but a photo of the tape is.  
  
 
=Personnel=
 
=Personnel=
Line 273: Line 287:
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
−
* early [[AIR Studios]] version's lyrics
+
* 4:20 [[AIR Studios]] version
 
<pre>
 
<pre>
−
(tape's rolling...
+
Tape's rolling...
 
shut up
 
shut up
 
ooh oh
 
ooh oh
 
yeah-eah
 
yeah-eah
 
ho-ho
 
ho-ho
−
ha-ha-ha)
+
ha-ha-ha
 +
 
 +
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
 
 +
I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
 +
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
 +
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
 +
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
 +
 
 +
There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
 +
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
 +
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
 +
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
 +
King of pain
 +
 
 +
oooh oooh oooh oooh (8 x)
 +
 
 +
There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a little black spot on the sun today
 +
It's the same old thing as yesterday
 +
 
 +
I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
 +
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
 +
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
 +
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
 +
 
 +
King of pain
 +
I'll always be king of pain
 +
I'll always be king of pain
 +
I'll always be king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
 +
that's my soul up there...
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
* 4:40 [[AIR Studios]] version
 +
<pre>
 +
There's a little black spot on the sun today
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
It's the same old thing as yesterday
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a black hat caught in a high treetop
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop
 +
(That's my soul up there)
 +
 
 +
I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
 +
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
 +
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
 +
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
  
 
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
 
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall

Latest revision as of 09:39, 28 August 2024

"King Of Pain"
UK cover
Recorded by The Police
Released: 1983
Recorded: 1983
Length: 4:59
Album(s): Synchronicity
Label(s): A&M
Writer(s): Sting
Producer(s): Hugh Padgham & The Police
Studio(s): AIR Studios, Montserrat
Released as single? YES

"King Of Pain" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police in 1983.

About the song

Writing

Sting wrote the song at Ian Fleming's "Goldeneye" residence on Jamaica around May / June 1982.

Utopia demo

On 1982-11-23 he recorded a 4:12 minute demo at Utopia Studios in London, England, UK.

The main melody was played with the sequencer and guitars. Vocals were already in place, but the chorus parts were sung lower than on the LP.

AIR version

Alternate version

The AIR Studios version of this song comes in various stages of mixing... All are based on the same recording which is different to the song we know from the LP. The 4:48 minute Alternate Version can be found on the Synchronicity box set (released on 2024-07-26).

The basic differences to the LP version are:

  • the first "little black spot" verse is not repeated when all the instruments kick in - the song continues with the "fossil" verse instead
  • different drum pattern, louder backing vocals, different bass
  • additional "happy" middle part, "oooh oooh" vocals and a short guitar solo (played on electric sitar, doubled with clean guitar)
  • different ending with "that's my soul up there" backing vocals and some "happy" guitar bits

The complete song lasts 4:48 minutes and fades out.

4:20 minute mix

There's a strange shorter 4:20 minute mix, too.

It starts with a rather cheesy intro which sounds like a demo, but features additional Copeland drums. Sting is ad-libbing a bit:

"tape's rolling... shut up ooh oh yeah-eah ho-ho ha-ha-ha"

This short intro blends into the longer AIR version, starting with the "fossil" line. As the AIR version is slower than the "cheesy" intro there are sound and timing issues when one part replaces the other. This version does not fade out and ends on strange instrumental bits that were probably recorded earlier on the same tape.

Le Studio version

LP version

The version that's on the LP was filed as the Le Studio version. It's unedited length would be roughly 5:06 minutes - with a few more "King Of Pain"s at the end...

In "Studio Sound" from March 1984 producer Hugh Padgham remembered that the final mix didn't bear much resemblance to what they initially recorded on the multitracks. The first verse of the LP version was recorded on another day and edited into the next bit.

The whole song seems to have been re-recorded several times - probably with all of the music (especially drums) at AIR Studios on Montserrat and possibly overdubs at Le Studio.

Alternate Mix

In its original version the drum break into the 2nd "little black spot" verse was much easier to access than the single snare beat that made it onto the LP. On its own that snare beat is "off" and confusing. Together with the original beats that were cut off it would be much easier to "understand" the beat. This is NOT the drum break from the prviously mentioned AIR version, but a new one...

A 4:58 minute version Alternate Mix with this drum break can be heard on the Synchronicity box set (released on 2024-07-26) - but the drum sound here is strange.

Instrumental

There is (or at least was...) also an 4:56 minutes instrumental version of this which was mixed by Hugh Padgham at Le Studio in February 1983. It's not on the Synchronicity box set, but a photo of the tape is.

Personnel

For this song Sting used the Van Zalinge Bass, combined with the Steinberger L2.

Release History

Albums

King Of Pain appears on the following album releases:

Cover art Album title Release date Release country
Police-album-synchronicity.jpg Synchronicity 1983-06-01 UK
Police-album-messageinaboxthecompleterecordings.jpg Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings 1993-MM-DD UK

Singles

7" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song/B-side song Release date Release country
King uk7.jpg AM 176 "King Of Pain"/"Tea In The Sahara (live)" 1984-01-06 UK
King usa.jpg AM 2569 "King Of Pain"/"Someone To Talk To" YYYY-MM-DD USA
King nl.jpg AMS 9722 "King Of Pain"/"Once Upon A Daydream" YYYY-MM-DD The Netherlands

12" Singles

Cover art Catalog no. A-side song(s)/B-side song(s) Release date Release country
King uk.jpg AMX 176 "King Of Pain"/"Tea In The Sahara (live)" (add more songs as necessary) 1984-01-06 UK

Video

"SONG TITLE" appears on the following video and dvd releases:

Cover art Video title Release date Release country
Stub.gif Video or dvd title YYYY-MM-DD Country


Awards, nominations, and certifications

Awards

This section needs more information.

Year Winner Award Category
YYYY WINNER (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Nominations

This section needs more information.

Year Nominee Award Category
YYYY NOMINEE (album, song, producer, etc.) AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) CATEGORY

Certifications

This section needs more information.

Country Certifier Classification Certification
COUNTRY CERTIFIER (RIAA, IFPI...) CLASSIFICATION (Album, singles, foreign artist...) CERTIFICATION (Gold, Platinum, Diamond...)

Lyrics

Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.

  • LP version lyrics
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high treetop
There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a little black spot on the sun today
(That's my soul up there)
It's the same old thing as yesterday
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black hat caught in a high treetop
(That's my soul up there)
There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
(That's my soul up there)
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
(That's my soul up there)
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
King of pain
King of pain
King of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain...

Tape's rolling...
shut up
ooh oh
yeah-eah
ho-ho
ha-ha-ha

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
(That's my soul up there)
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain

oooh oooh oooh oooh (8 x)

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
(That's my soul up there)
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

King of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
that's my soul up there...

There's a little black spot on the sun today
(That's my soul up there)
It's the same old thing as yesterday
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black hat caught in a high treetop
(That's my soul up there)
There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
(That's my soul up there)
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
(That's my soul up there)
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
(That's my soul up there)

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain

oooh oooh oooh oooh (8 x)

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
(That's my soul up there)
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
(That's my soul up there)
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

King of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - king of pain
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
that's my soul up there - always be king of pain
that's my soul up there...

Quotations and trivia

UK ad:

1984 01 05 Smash Hits King Of Pain ad.jpg

Alternative and cover versions

  • In April 1984 "Weird Al" Yankovic released a parody of "King Of Pain" titled "King Of Suede."[1][2]

Cover versions of King Of Pain appear on the following album releases:

Cover art Artist Album title Release date Release country
Vinyl.png Inner Circle Reggatta Mondatta Volume II 1998-06-30 ??
Policia cover.jpg Brandtson Policia! A Tribute To The Police 2005-MM-DD USA

See also

This section needs more information.

External links

This section needs more information.

References

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