snobby and it had a kind of corny jazziness to it." 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. Live performances 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. Personnel Sting – bass guitar, synthesizer, saxophone, lead and backing vocals Andy Summers – guitar, Prophet-5 synthesizer Stewart Copeland – drums Olaf Kubler – saxophone on "Low Life" Track listing 7-inch: A&M / AMS 8194 (UK) "Spirits in the Material World" – 2:59 "Low Life" – 3:45 7-inch: A&M / AM 2390 (US) "Spirits in the Material World" – 3:01 "Flexible Strategies" – 3:44 Charts 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 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 The Police songs 1981 songs 1982 singles Songs written by Sting (musician) Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham A&M Records singles