King of Pain

"King of Pain" is a 1983 song by English band The Police. It is the fifth and final single from their fifth studio album Synchronicity. It went to number 1 in Canada, number 3 in the United States, number 7 in Ireland, number 17 in the United Kingdom and number 19 in Belgium.

"King of Pain"
Single by the Police
from the album Synchronicity
B-side	"Tea in the Sahara" (live) (UK) "Someone to Talk To" (US)
Released	August 1983 (1983-08) (US) January 1984 (1984-01) (UK)
Recorded	December 1982, January–February 1983
Studio	AIR, Montserrat (basic tracks) Le Studio, Quebec, Canada (overdubs and mixing)
Genre	New wave
Length	4:59
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Sting
Producer(s)	The Police Hugh Padgham
Police UK singles chronology
"Synchronicity II" (1983) "King of Pain" (1983) "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" (1986)
Police US singles chronology
"Every Breath You Take" (1983) "King of Pain" (1983) "Synchronicity II" (1983)
Alternative covers
Audio
"King of Pain" at YouTube

Track listing

7": A&M / AM 176 (UK)

1. "King of Pain" – 4:59
2. "Tea in the Sahara" (Live) – 5:05

7": A&M / AM-2569 (US)

1. "King of Pain" – 4:59
2. "Someone to Talk To" – 3:08

7": A&M / AMS 9722 (NL)

1. "King of Pain" – 4:59
2. "Once upon a Daydream" – 3:28

12": A&M / AMX 176 (UK)

1. "King of Pain" – 4:59
2. "Tea in the Sahara" (Live) – 5:05

Alanis Morissette version

"King of Pain"
Single by Alanis Morissette
from the album MTV Unplugged
Released	19 April 2000
Recorded	18 September 1999
Genre	Acoustic rock
Length	4:05
Label	Maverick Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Sting
Producer(s)	Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette singles chronology
"That I Would Be Good" (1999) "King of Pain" (2000) "You Learn (acoustic)" (2000)

Canadian singer Alanis Morissette covered King of Pain for her 1999 live album MTV Unplugged. It was released as a single on 19 April 2000. It went to number 54 in Brazil and number 92 in the Netherlands.

Track listing

1. "King of Pain" (MTV Unplugged) – 4:05
2. Thank U (MTV Unplugged) – 4:11
3. Baba (MTV Unplugged) – 5:11
4. Your House (MTV Unplugged) – 4:37