Ghost In The Machine

Studio album by The Police
Released:	1981-10-02 (UK) 1981-10-21 (Japan)
Recorded:	June / July 1981
Length:	41:03
Label(s):	A&M
Producer(s):	The Police & Hugh Padgham
Studio(s):	AIR Studios, Montserrat Le Studio, Quebec, Canada (demo keyboards)

Introduction

Ghost In The Machine was recorded and mixed at AIR Studios on Montserrat - between 1981-06-21 and 1981-07-27.

The first song to be recorded was Demolition Man, a song that Sting originally composed for Zenyatta Mondatta, but was left off that album. It was chosen to be the first song as it was supposedly easy to record.

Once Upon A Daydream and Love Lessons were recorded, but left off the album.

While on Montserrat Andy's song I'm So Tired got his new title: Omegaman.

I Burn For You was probably the last song to be recorded during these sessions - several photos of song sheets behind the mixing desk show that this song's sheet was added last. It was also left off the album and re-used for the Brimstone & Treacle soundtrack.

Jean Roussel's keyboards for Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic were recorded for Sting's demo at Le Studio in January 1981. As the band couldn't improve what Sting and Jean did back in January they eventually played their parts to the demo, keeping the keyboard part. Jean was present on Montserrat for a few days, so it's possible that he also added keyboard parts there.

Personnel

Sting - bass, keyboards, saxophone, lead vocals
Stewart Copeland - drums, backing vocals
Andy Summers - guitar, guitar synth, backing vocals
Jean Roussel - keyboards on "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"

Track listing

All songs written by Sting unless otherwise indicated.

"Spirits In The Material World" – 2:59
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" – 4:22
"Invisible Sun" – 3:44
"Hungry For You (J'aurais Toujours Faim De Toi)" – 2:53
"Demolition Man" – 5:57
"Too Much Information" – 3:43
"Rehumanize Yourself" (Sting, Stewart Copeland) – 3:10
"One World (Not Three)" – 4:47
"Omegaman" (Andy Summers) – 2:48
"Secret Journey"– 3:34
"Darkness" (Stewart Copeland) – 3:14

Singles released

"Invisible Sun" Released: 1981
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" Released: 1981
"Spirits In The Material World" Released: 1981
"Secret Journey" Released: 1982

Variants, special editions and re-releases

On 2022-11-04 this album was re-released as a picture disc LP (also as download) with a changed running order and more or less subtle differences for a few songs. Some songs included Stewart Copeland's count-in. I Burn For You was not the album, but the movie version.

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Country	Position
1981	Billboard Pop Albums	U.S.A.	2
1983	Billboard 200	U.S.A.	111
1983	Billboard 200	U.S.A.	118

Singles

Year	Song	Chart	Country	Position
1981	"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	U.S.A.	1
1981	"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"	Billboard Pop Singles	U.S.A.	3
1981	"One World (Not Three)/Too Much Information/Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"	Billboard Club Play Singles	U.S.A.	60
1982	"Secret Journey"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	U.S.A.	29
1982	"Secret Journey"	Billboard Pop Singles	U.S.A.	46
1982	"Spirits In The Material World"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	U.S.A.	7
1982	"Spirits In The Material World"	Billboard Pop Singles	U.S.A.	11

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
U.S.A.	RIAA	Album	Gold
U.S.A.	RIAA	Album	Platinum
U.S.A.	RIAA	Album	Double Platinum

Quotations and trivia

The cover was designed by Mick Haggerty who would later direct Sting's video for Fortress Around Your Heart.

There's one different album cover design - only used in early German prints for the record. The three head symbols were shown inside a calculator and not on black background.

UK ads: