Songs from the Big Chair

Songs from the Big Chair
Studio album by Tears for Fears
Released 25 February 1985
Recorded 1984 ("Broken" (live) recorded December 1983 at Hammersmith Odeon)
Studio The Wool Hall, Beckington, Somerset, UK
Genre
Length 41:52
Label Mercury / Fontana
Producer Chris Hughes
Tears for Fears chronology
The Hurting
(1983)The Hurting1983		 Songs from the Big Chair
(1985)		 The Seeds of Love
(1989)The Seeds of Love1989
Singles from Songs from the Big Chair
  1. "Mothers Talk"
    Released: 6 August 1984
  2. "Shout"
    Released: 23 November 1984
  3. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
    Released: 22 March 1985
  4. "Head over Heels"
    Released: 10 June 1985
  5. "I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)"
    Released: 30 September 1985

Songs from the Big Chair is the second studio album by the British rock/pop band Tears for Fears, released on 25 February 1985 by Mercury Records in most countries and distributed internationally by Phonogram Inc. The album peaked at number two in the UK and number one in the US and Canada. It spawned the international hit singles "Mothers Talk", "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", "Head over Heels", and "I Believe". It remains their best-selling album to date.

Background

"The title was my idea. It's a bit perverse but then you've got to understand our sense of humour. The 'Big Chair' idea is from this brilliant film called Sybil about a girl with 16 different personalities. She'd been tortured incredibly by her mother as a child and the only place she felt safe, the only time she could really be herself was when she was sitting in her analyst's chair. She felt safe, comfortable and wasn't using her different faces as a defence. It's kind of an 'up yours' to the English music press who really fucked us up for a while. This is us now – and they can't get at us anymore."

—Curt Smith explains the album's title, March 1985[3]

The album title was derived from the 1976 television film Sybil about a woman with multiple personality disorder who only feels safe when she is sitting in her analyst's "big chair". A mostly-instrumental track called "The Big Chair" (which includes dialogue samples from the film) was released as the B-side of "Shout" in 1984, but was not included on the album.

The album peaked at no.2 in the UK Albums Chart and remained in the Top 10 for over six months. In the US, it reached number one for five weeks (non-consecutive), and in Canada it reached number one for nine weeks (non-consecutive) and spent six months in the Top 3. In all three countries, the album went multi-platinum. It also reached number one in Germany and The Netherlands and Top 10 positions in various other countries including Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Italy.

A companion video documentary entitled Scenes from the Big Chair was released in late 1985. Once the band had finished a lengthy touring and promotion schedule for the album, they took an extended hiatus from the music industry. In 1989, their third album, The Seeds of Love, marked their return.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Consequence of SoundA+[5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
The Guardian[7]
Mojo[8]
Pitchfork8.9/10[9]
Q[10]
Record Collector[11]
Smash Hits8/10[12]
The Village VoiceB[13]

In his review of Songs from the Big Chair, Barry McIlheney of Melody Maker stated that "none of you should really be too surprised that Tears for Fears have made such an excellent album", calling it "an album that fully justifies the rather sneering, told-you-so looks adopted by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal on the sleeve", before concluding, "An awful lot of people will, of course, go on and on about overcoats, The Lotus Eaters and an alleged lack of depth. And an awful lot of people will have to eat an awful lot of words."[14] Ian Cranna of Smash Hits described it as "looser, more exploratory than before" in nature, and noted its "unflinching lyrical honesty".[12] Rolling Stone critic Don Shewey wrote that Tears for Fears "sounds a lot like a lot of other British bands" and observed traces of "U2's social conscience, the Bunnymen's echoing guitars and XTC's contorted pop wit" on the album, but commented that Chris Hughes' production "nudges Songs from the Big Chair slightly ahead of the pack."[15] Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic in his review for The Village Voice, observing some substantial lyrics, particularly on "The Working Hour", and musical elements such as an "uncommon command of guitar and piano, Baker Street sax, synthesizers more jagged than is deemed mete by the arbiters of dance-pop accessibility". However, he felt these are all beneath grandiloquent lamentations suggesting "a depth and drama English lads have been falling short on since the dawn of progressive rock."[13]

In a retrospective review published on AllMusic, Stanton Swihart wrote: "In the loping, percolating 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World', Tears for Fears perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the mid-'80s while impossibly managing to also create a dreamy, timeless pop classic. Songs from the Big Chair is one of the finest statements of the decade."[4] Mark Elliott of Record Collector agreed, while adding that it contained the band's "most consistently interesting material".[11] Q remarked that the album "zeroed in on every angsty adolescent's desire to feel heroic, with a sound of spotlit, spacious sophistication plus anthemic choruses you'd bet your house on."[10] In Stylus Magazine, Andrew Unterberger concluded that "even today, when all rock musicians seem to be able to do is be emotional and honest, the brutality and power of Songs from the Big Chair's catharsis is still quite shocking."[16] Songs from the Big Chair has been included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[17] Slant Magazine listed the album at number 95 on its list of the best albums of the 1980s.[18]

Re-issues

In 1998, MFSL remastered and re-issued the album with an extended "Head over Heels" (running 5:24) and two bonus tracks (extended mixes of "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World").

The album was remastered and re-issued on CD in 1999 with bonus tracks, including B-sides and remixes. The track listing is based on the Special Edition cassette version of the album, which featured five B-sides as bonus tracks—including three tracks ("The Conflict", "The Marauders" and "Broken Revisited") from The Hurting period. In addition to these tracks, it includes two remixes.

The album was re-released again in a deluxe edition 2-disc format in 2006 with the full collection of B-sides and many alternate versions and remixes of the album's tracks.

In 2014, the album was released by Universal Music Japan on SHM-SACD.

To mark the album's 30th anniversary, Universal Music released the album in five different formats on 10 November 2014, including a 6-disc Super Deluxe Edition which includes four CDs and two DVDs (1 audio, 1 video).[19] This edition also includes a 30-page replica 1985 tour programme and a 32-page booklet. Additional formats released simultaneously include another 2-disc Deluxe Edition, a single disc remastered edition, a 180-gram heavyweight vinyl album, and a "Pure Audio" Blu-Ray edition. The 5.1 surround sound mix is done by renowned remixer and progressive rock musician Steven Wilson.

Track listing

Original release

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shout"Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley6:32
2."The Working Hour"Orzabal, Stanley, Manny Elias6:30
3."Everybody Wants to Rule the World"Orzabal, Stanley, Chris Hughes4:10
4."Mothers Talk"Orzabal, Stanley5:09
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."I Believe"Orzabal4:53
6."Broken"Orzabal2:38
7."Head over Heels/Broken (Live)"Orzabal, Curt Smith5:01
8."Listen"Stanley, Orzabal6:48

Notes

  • "I Believe" is dedicated to 'Robert Wyatt (if he's listening)'[20]
  • In some US editions, the live reprise of "Broken" was omitted, and the end of "Head over Heels" led directly into "Listen". On these same US editions, the full 5:09 version of "Mothers Talk" was replaced with the 3:53 short version.
  • In some later Canadian editions, "Head over Heels" and the live reprise of "Broken" was split into two separate tracks creating a nine-track release; the booklet and other CD artwork still had the original tracklist, however.
  • A limited edition UK cassette[21] version of the album contained many bonus tracks ("The Big Chair", "Empire Building", "The Marauders", "Broken Revisited", "The Conflict") as well as a short version of "The Working Hour" (titled "Piano Version", although there is none); the configuration was recreated on CD for the 30th anniversary with even more additional tracks appended.
1999 remastered CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."The Big Chair"Orzabal, Smith, Stanley, Hughes3:21
10."Empire Building"Smith, Orzabal, Stanley2:52
11."The Marauders"Orzabal, Stanley4:16
12."Broken Revisited"Orzabal5:16
13."The Conflict"Orzabal, Smith, Stanley4:05
14."Mothers Talk" (U.S. remix) 4:13
15."Shout" (U.S. remix) 8:02

Note

  • "Mothers Talk" (U.S. remix) on the remastered CD is the correct version of this remix, but has had additional reverb applied. The 1999 remaster is the only CD on which this "extra reverb" version can be found.

Deluxe Edition (2006)

Notes

  • Track 4 was intended to be "Everybody Wants to Run the World" but was mistakenly replaced by a repetition of the album version (incorrectly labeled as the '7" version', but such a version does not exist); the album's liner notes confirm this.
  • Track 7 is labeled "U.S. remix" on the packaging but is in fact a different version from the real U.S. remix of "Mothers Talk" on the original vinyl singles. On CD, the real "U.S. remix" can be found on the compilations The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tears for Fears and Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears, as well as the 30th anniversary edition.

Super Deluxe Edition (2014)

Personnel

Tears for Fears

Additional personnel

Production

Charts and certifications

Singles

References

  1. ↑ Jackson, Josh. "The 50 Best New Wave Albums". Paste magazine.
  2. ↑ Munro, Scott (July 21, 2017). "Steven Wilson meets Bollywood in Permanating video". Team Rock.
  3. ↑ FitzGerald, Helen (9 March 1985). "On the Beach". Melody Maker. London, England: IPC Media: 20–21 & 29.
  4. 1 2 Swihart, Stanton. "Songs from the Big Chair – Tears for Fears". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  5. ↑ Roffman, Michael (11 November 2014). "Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair [Reissue]". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
  7. ↑ Gibsone, Harriet (11 December 2014). "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair box set review – beefy, bizarre preposterous pop". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair". Mojo. London: 115. 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World''s lens flare and Robert Wyatt homage 'I Believe' prove durable.
  9. ↑ Rosenberg, Tal (20 August 2017). "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair". Q. London: 115.
  11. 1 2 Elliott, Mark (December 2014). "Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair". Record Collector. London (435). Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 Cranna, Ian (28 February – 13 March 1985). "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair (Mercury)". Smash Hits. London. 7 (5): 21.
  13. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (28 May 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  14. ↑ McIlheney, Barry (2 March 1985). "Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair". Melody Maker. London: 23.
  15. ↑ Shewey, Don (23 May 1985). "Tears for Fears: Songs From the Big Chair". Rolling Stone. New York (448). Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  16. ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (28 February 2006). "Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair – On Second Thought". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Dimery, Robert, ed. (2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-2074-6.
  18. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  19. ↑ Pryor, Terrance. "Tears For Fears To Reissue 'Songs From The Big Chair'". prefixmag.com. Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  20. ↑ Songs from the Big Chair vinyl record (1985)
  21. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Tears-For-Fears-Songs-From-The-Big-Chair/release/493063
  22. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "RPM 100 Albums, April 13, 1985". RPM, Vol. 42 No. 5. Canada: Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Longplay, 25 March 1985". Top 100 Longplay. Germany: Media Control. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  28. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  30. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  32. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  33. ↑ "Billboard 200, retrieved from "Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair" Awards at Allmusic". Billboard 200. United States: Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  34. ↑ "Tears for Fears | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  35. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  36. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985". RPM, Vol. 43 No. 16, p. 14, 28 December 1985. Canada: Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  37. ↑ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - ALBUM 1985" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  38. ↑ "Les Albums (CD) de 1985 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "OFFIZIELLE DEUTSCHE CHARTS - TOP 100 ALBUM-JAHRESCHARTS (1985)" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  40. ↑ "Gli album più venduti del 1985" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  41. ↑ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1985 - OFFICIAL TOP 40 ALBUMS". RIANZ. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  42. ↑ "SCHWEIZER JAHRESHITPARADE 1985" (in German). hitparade.ch. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  43. ↑ "Top 100 Albums". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 11. 18 January 1986.
  44. ↑ "1985 Billboard 200 Albums". Nielsen SoundScan. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  45. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Music Canada.
  46. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Songs from the Big Chair in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  47. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Tears for Fears; 'Songs from the Big Chair')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  48. ↑ "British album certifications – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Songs from the Big Chair in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  49. ↑ "American album certifications – Tears for Fears – Songs from the Big Chair". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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