Studio Album · No. 4

Ghost in the Machine Songwriting Credits by The Police

1981 A&M Records 11 tracks 41 min

Produced by The Police, Hugh Padgham  ·  Engineered by Hugh Padgham

A&M Records New WaveAvant-PopRock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Police carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by The Police 0 tracksoutside writers
The Police's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1981
Released
Data Insight

Sting wrote the large majority of Ghost in the Machine, including the singles 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,' 'Spirits in the Material World,' and 'Invisible Sun.' Andy Summers contributed 'Omegaman,' Stewart Copeland wrote 'Darkness,' and the two share a co-write with Sting on 'Rehumanize Yourself.' The album marked the start of the band's work with producer and engineer Hugh Padgham, who co-produced it with The Police, and it brought in horns and keyboards that broadened their sound. It became a multi-platinum success in the United States.

Hugh Padgham replaced Nigel Gray behind the desk for the fourth album, and the band spent six weeks at AIR Studios in Montserrat, which Stewart Copeland described as a twelve hour flight from the nearest record company. Padgham recorded the three of them in separate rooms, Andy Summers in the studio with his amplifiers, Sting in the control room, Copeland with his drums in the dining room. Keyboards and saxophone came in heavily for the first time, a direction Summers openly disliked, saying the raw trio feel was getting lost behind a singer doing his pop songs. It debuted at number one in the UK and reached number two in the US. 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' became the band's fourth UK number one, and the BBC banned the video for 'Invisible Sun' over its footage of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Spirits in the Material World #11
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
2
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic #1
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
3
Invisible Sun #2
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
4
Hungry for You (J'aurais toujours faim de toi)
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
5
Demolition Man
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
6
Too Much Information
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
7
Rehumanize Yourself
StingStewart Copeland StingStewart Copeland The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
8
One World (Not Three)
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
9
Ωmegaman
Andy Summers Andy Summers The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
10
Secret Journey
Sting Sting The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)
11
Darkness
Stewart Copeland Stewart Copeland The PoliceHugh Padgham Sting (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

S
Sting
Writer · Vocals
On this album9 written
SC
Stewart Copeland
Writer
On this album2 written
AS
Andy Summers
Writer
On this album1 written
HP
Hugh Padgham
Producer
On this album11 produced
TP
The Police
Producer
On this album11 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Ghost in the Machine

Did Sting write all of Ghost in the Machine?
Sting wrote the large majority of the album, including the singles. Andy Summers wrote 'Omegaman,' Stewart Copeland wrote 'Darkness,' and 'Rehumanize Yourself' is a co-write by Sting and Copeland. The album's title and themes drew on Arthur Koestler's book of the same name.
Who produced Ghost in the Machine?
The album was co-produced by The Police and Hugh Padgham. Padgham, known for his work with other major acts, also engineered the sessions. It was the first of two consecutive Police albums he produced, the other being Synchronicity.
How did Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic chart?
'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Sting wrote the song, which he had drafted years before the band recorded it. It was the album's lead single and one of its biggest hits.
Who wrote Omegaman by The Police?
Andy Summers wrote 'Omegaman.' The record label reportedly wanted it as a single, but Sting objected. It is one of Summers's compositions for the band, alongside his earlier instrumental 'Behind My Camel.'
What was Invisible Sun about?
'Invisible Sun,' written by Sting, addresses the violence of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Its accompanying video was banned by the BBC for showing images of Belfast.
Did Ghost in the Machine win any awards?
The album itself did not win competitive awards such as Grammys, though it was a major commercial success. It reached the top of the UK albums chart and went multi-platinum in the United States. The band's Grammy recognition from this era centered on the preceding and following albums.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ghost in the Machine (album) Wikipedia: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic Wikipedia: Spirits in the Material World Wikipedia: Invisible Sun (song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Ghost in the Machine by The Police