For many years this song wasn't just my favorite Police song, it was my favorite song, period. It just leaps off the vinyl. That guitar sound by Andy Summers was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. The loop at the end ("I'm so tired, I'm the Omegaman") is perfect. This is as aggressive as The Police ever sounded. Sting is really chugging away on bass here. The last three tracks are the best on the album.
And written by Andy! The album where he stamped his creative genius on songwriting as well as guitar work. Such a shame Sting allowed ego to get in the way way where absolute control extended to wanting ALL songs on the albums to be his own
Dark and eerie song by Andy Summers. I really dig this, Secret Journey and Darkness. You made the comparrison between Summers and Fripp as in 1982 they collabbed and made 'I Advanced Masked' which is a great guitar album. The title track and Girl on A swing being album standouts. Youd really dig it.
I love the final trio of songs, on this album. All are great songs, and each was written by a different member. Sting: Secret Journey. Andy: Omegaman. And Stewart: Darkness, which I think features Stewart's best-ever lyric.
Justin there was a film called "Omega Man" in the early 70's staring Charlton Heston and yes it was based on the novel I am legend. Charlton fought mutant vampires that came out every night. Great fun film! This song reminds me a lot of that film.
I haven't read the book (sounds great though!), but I get the gist. As with Message in a Bottle, the song's narrator isn't literally a castaway on a desert island, or the last person alive, Summers* (Sting on "Message") is using that predicament as a metaphor for loneliness and disconnection. (*didn't realise this wasn't a Sting song til I read it below.)
First there was the 1964 movie "The Last Man On Earth," starring Vincent Price. And then came the 1971 classic, The Ωmega Man," starring Charlton Heston, which you should definitely watch on your movie reaction channel, JP. It's great!
@@pentagrammaton6793 Yes, the producers thought vampires had become passé by 1970 so decided to turn the vampires of the book into light-sensitive mutants affected by a virus.
Not quite! 'Omegaman' was inspired by the '73 movie 'Soylent Green' , which also features Charlton Heston. At least that's what Andy himself said in an interview on the Songfacts website.
"Ωmegaman" is one of the best songs from Ghost in the Machine and it should have even been released as a single according to the wishes of A&M Records, unfortunately Sting's excessive ego meant that this Andy Summers composition never made the subject of a single! Pitiful. FYI, Andy Summers and Robert Fripp released not one, but two collaborative albums: I Advance Masked (1982) and Bewitched (1984), both also released on A&M Records!
According to info on the 'Police Wiki' page, a different version had preceeded this one, with Andy saying "Always talking to myself", and stuff like that; I'd be intrigued to check that one out but I can't find it on YT.
Via Wikipedia, Andy Summer recorded with Robert Fripp, I Advance Mask, beginning from September of 1981. Andy Summer,..finished recording with the Police, for also, 1981's, Ghost In The Machine, in September of 1981. There was thus a month overlap between Summers Police Recording, and that of his Collaboration with Fripp.
I've always thought that Ghosts In The Machine lost it's way with the first few tracks of side two, then this track kicks it right back on, err, track! Then two further great tracks follow to close out the album. This has always been one of my favourite Police tracks.
Yep! Same impression as mine! Two pairs of three great songs bookending five rather mediocre ones that also include un-Police saxophone noises (It does work for me in 'Darkness', though).
Great album that came out in high school when “17 year old You” only had to pass for 18 at a local dive bar. On my first listen, about an hour after my first Alabama Slammer, the only thing that I can recall is my bedroom spinning as Omega Man was playing.
Great reaction to a great song, mate! 😃👍 I must've reacted the same way when listening to the LP for the first time (in '81, when I was 11) and finally having made it through all that saxophone BS 😅 You'd reacted to 'Darkness' already a while ago, which leaves only 'Secret Journey' now; Please add the B-side 'Shambelle' ! Thank you! 😊🙏
Strong, strong recommendation for Shambelle - this is a track that should have been on the album instead of a B side - replacing one of the middle tracks. Great instrumental track.
@@weepstah - Yes, it should've replaced that 'Hungry For You' BS! I still remember my shock during my very first listen to the album when I was 11 and this awful saxophone sh*t suddenly came up, after the three Hit songs 🤮😅 I still feel kinda relieved whenever I listen to 'Ghost...' today and 'Omegaman' starts 😄
Best track on the album. Robert Fripp & Andy Sommers album is called "I Advance Masked", and you should give it a listen. And you're right, I hear that influence here.
First was the novel "I Am Legend" by Richard (Shrinking Man) Matheson . About a decade later, the movie "The Last Man on Earth" staring Vincent Price. Then not quite a decade after that, "The Omega Man" staring Charlton Heston. And then 30+ years later, "I Am Legend" with Will Smith. Supposedly, there is an "I Am Legend, 2" in the works. I love this song, although, supposedly, according to Summers, it was insired by ANOTHER Heston movie, "Soylent Green". My guess would be that since both movies came out a couple of years apart and starred Heston, Summers was confused and probably meant "The Omega Man".
@@mightyV444 Yep ! ...And he also refused to sing on Andy's track "Someone to Talk To" which I suspect was recorded during the Ghost in the Machine sessions and which would end up as the B-side of "Wrapped Around Your Finger" ( or "King of Pain" in the US). Andy said he was disappointed that Sting wouldn't sing it. I think It's a great track and should have been on GITM or Synchronicity.
@@a.k.1740 - Oh wow! I had not known this! Thank you for the info! But at least this circumstance gave us Andy's best vocal performance (at least in _my_ opinion)! 😉👍 It's a great song indeed! 🤩
This album has a combination of some of my favorite Police songs and some of my least favorite songs. You're about to enter the section of my favorites. I loved this track fo much, for one it drives like crazy. and two, it climbs out of that chasm in the middle. And like most of the songs on this album that I really love, they are really short. Yes, list to Andy's solo album.
The two albums where Summers and Fripp joined forces would probably be blocked as much as Crimson albums, but Summers had a number of solo albums after the Police, which bordered on fusion. The music that Stewart Copland wrote for the original Equalizer TV show in the late 80's is worth a listen too.
I'd bought Andy's 'Synaesthesia' album at the time of its release in the mid 90's, and its style had absolutely nothing in common with The Police, and it was purely instrumental, too.
"Ghost in the Machine" takes an alluringly dark and cryptic turn towards the album's end, and it starts with this track
For many years this song wasn't just my favorite Police song, it was my favorite song, period. It just leaps off the vinyl. That guitar sound by Andy Summers was unlike anything I'd ever heard before. The loop at the end ("I'm so tired, I'm the Omegaman") is perfect. This is as aggressive as The Police ever sounded. Sting is really chugging away on bass here. The last three tracks are the best on the album.
And written by Andy! The album where he stamped his creative genius on songwriting as well as guitar work. Such a shame Sting allowed ego to get in the way way where absolute control extended to wanting ALL songs on the albums to be his own
Dark and eerie song by Andy Summers. I really dig this, Secret Journey and Darkness. You made the comparrison between Summers and Fripp as in 1982 they collabbed and made 'I Advanced Masked' which is a great guitar album. The title track and Girl on A swing being album standouts. Youd really dig it.
I Advanced Masked is masterful. I love it so much.
Oh yeah, his work with Fripp was great.
Love the guitar riff this is built around
I love the final trio of songs, on this album. All are great songs, and each was written by a different member. Sting: Secret Journey. Andy: Omegaman. And Stewart: Darkness, which I think features Stewart's best-ever lyric.
Justin there was a film called "Omega Man" in the early 70's staring Charlton Heston and yes it was based on the novel I am legend. Charlton fought mutant vampires that came out every night. Great fun film! This song reminds me a lot of that film.
I haven't read the book (sounds great though!), but I get the gist. As with Message in a Bottle, the song's narrator isn't literally a castaway on a desert island, or the last person alive, Summers* (Sting on "Message") is using that predicament as a metaphor for loneliness and disconnection. (*didn't realise this wasn't a Sting song til I read it below.)
Most underrated Police song EVER!!!! I love Andy Summers💙
First there was the 1964 movie "The Last Man On Earth," starring Vincent Price. And then came the 1971 classic, The Ωmega Man," starring Charlton Heston, which you should definitely watch on your movie reaction channel, JP. It's great!
And in 1973, there was 'Soylent Green' , also starring Charlton Heston, and that one had been this song's main inspiration 🙂
The album also contains Stewart Copeland's probably best song, "Darkness".
This song is actually about a Charlton Heston film called The Omega Man.
Good film, a loose adaptation of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend.
@@pentagrammaton6793 Yes, the producers thought vampires had become passé by 1970 so decided to turn the vampires of the book into light-sensitive mutants affected by a virus.
@@SmartCookie2022 worked for me!
Not quite! 'Omegaman' was inspired by the '73 movie 'Soylent Green' , which also features Charlton Heston. At least that's what Andy himself said in an interview on the Songfacts website.
This song and the next are what make this my favorite Police album.
"Ωmegaman" is one of the best songs from Ghost in the Machine and it should have even been released as a single according to the wishes of A&M Records, unfortunately Sting's excessive ego meant that this Andy Summers composition never made the subject of a single! Pitiful.
FYI, Andy Summers and Robert Fripp released not one, but two collaborative albums: I Advance Masked (1982) and Bewitched (1984), both also released on A&M Records!
Thanks for sharing that info.
Said this on the last Police video JP did, but this would've been a great opener to the album
According to info on the 'Police Wiki' page, a different version had preceeded this one, with Andy saying "Always talking to myself", and stuff like that; I'd be intrigued to check that one out but I can't find it on YT.
@@mightyV444 I don't remember that. thank you for the info !
@@a.k.1740 - De rien! 😉👍
Via Wikipedia, Andy Summer recorded with Robert Fripp, I Advance Mask, beginning from September of 1981. Andy Summer,..finished recording with the Police, for also, 1981's, Ghost In The Machine, in September of 1981. There was thus a month overlap between Summers Police Recording, and that of his Collaboration with Fripp.
What can I say, flawless.
Enjoyment abounds.
Deep cuts like this are why this is my favorite Police record, and you’re right Summers was friends with Fripp and there was def influence there.
saw the police in my hometown leeds in 1982 and thought they were superb
I've always thought that Ghosts In The Machine lost it's way with the first few tracks of side two, then this track kicks it right back on, err, track! Then two further great tracks follow to close out the album. This has always been one of my favourite Police tracks.
Yep! Same impression as mine! Two pairs of three great songs bookending five rather mediocre ones that also include un-Police saxophone noises (It does work for me in 'Darkness', though).
Has anyone ever noticed how much Sting and Chris Squire, both great bass players, sound so very similar in their vocal tone?
Yes, Chris’s solo stuff just steals Sting’s mojo… jk. Fish Out Of Water was where I could really hear it.
Great LP
I love this whole album
Great album that came out in high school when “17 year old You” only had to pass for 18 at a local dive bar. On my first listen, about an hour after my first Alabama Slammer, the only thing that I can recall is my bedroom spinning as Omega Man was playing.
There are two Andy Summers, Robert Fripp albums. I Advance Masked, and Bewitched.
Great reaction to a great song, mate! 😃👍 I must've reacted the same way when listening to the LP for the first time (in '81, when I was 11) and finally having made it through all that saxophone BS 😅 You'd reacted to 'Darkness' already a while ago, which leaves only 'Secret Journey' now; Please add the B-side 'Shambelle' ! Thank you! 😊🙏
Strong, strong recommendation for Shambelle - this is a track that should have been on the album instead of a B side - replacing one of the middle tracks. Great instrumental track.
@@weepstah - Yes, it should've replaced that 'Hungry For You' BS! I still remember my shock during my very first listen to the album when I was 11 and this awful saxophone sh*t suddenly came up, after the three Hit songs 🤮😅 I still feel kinda relieved whenever I listen to 'Ghost...' today and 'Omegaman' starts 😄
Best track on the album. Robert Fripp & Andy Sommers album is called "I Advance Masked", and you should give it a listen. And you're right, I hear that influence here.
This is a personal favorite of theirs of mine. LFG!!!
This is where you can hear the intersection between Andy Summers and early 80's Robert Fripp.
First was the novel "I Am Legend" by Richard (Shrinking Man) Matheson .
About a decade later, the movie "The Last Man on Earth" staring Vincent Price.
Then not quite a decade after that, "The Omega Man" staring Charlton Heston.
And then 30+ years later, "I Am Legend" with Will Smith.
Supposedly, there is an "I Am Legend, 2" in the works.
I love this song, although, supposedly, according to Summers, it was insired by ANOTHER Heston movie, "Soylent Green".
My guess would be that since both movies came out a couple of years apart and starred Heston, Summers was confused and probably meant "The Omega Man".
Was thinking of Omega Man with Charlton Heston...
It's got nothing to do with the Will Smith version of I am Legend. This song is inspired by Charlton Heston's *The Omega Man* made in 1971.
Andy himself said it was Charlton Heston's 'Soylent Green' from 1973!
Record company wanted to release this as a single but Sting wouldn't allow it.
Sting's ego as usual !🙄
Sting also had refused to play bass on Andy's 'Behind My Camel' instrumental (from the 'Zenyatta...' album), but it still won a Grammy 😄
@@mightyV444 Yep ! ...And he also refused to sing on Andy's track "Someone to Talk To" which I suspect was recorded during the Ghost in the Machine sessions and which would end up as the B-side of "Wrapped Around Your Finger" ( or "King of Pain" in the US). Andy said he was disappointed that Sting wouldn't sing it. I think It's a great track and should have been on GITM or Synchronicity.
@@a.k.1740 - Oh wow! I had not known this! Thank you for the info! But at least this circumstance gave us Andy's best vocal performance (at least in _my_ opinion)! 😉👍 It's a great song indeed! 🤩
This album has a combination of some of my favorite Police songs and some of my least favorite songs. You're about to enter the section of my favorites. I loved this track fo much, for one it drives like crazy. and two, it climbs out of that chasm in the middle. And like most of the songs on this album that I really love, they are really short. Yes, list to Andy's solo album.
3 weeks since the last track from the Beatles' White Album. 3 weeks.
The two albums where Summers and Fripp joined forces would probably be blocked as much as Crimson albums, but Summers had a number of solo albums after the Police, which bordered on fusion. The music that Stewart Copland wrote for the original Equalizer TV show in the late 80's is worth a listen too.
I'd bought Andy's 'Synaesthesia' album at the time of its release in the mid 90's, and its style had absolutely nothing in common with The Police, and it was purely instrumental, too.
Fripp and Summers did 2 albums:
I Advance Masked
Bewitched
I play them at work periodically from hard copies. Bewitched got a bit discoeee. Still good.
this and Every little thing she does is Magic are the best songs in that magnificient album
JP, if you said you were a fan of those Sharknado movies I was going to have to unsubscribe on general principles .😂 Just kidding
Cool tune thanks Jp
RIGHT?????
Don't get slapped by Will Smith and watch Omega Man with Charlton Heston instead.