REISSUE: Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair - 35th Anniversary

80’s pop-rock duo Tears For Fears recently celebrated the 35^th anniversary of their breakthrough sophomore album Songs From The Big Chair.  Led by the absolutely massive and still inescapable singles, “Shout”, Everybody Wants To Rule The World and “Head Over Heels”, Songs From The Big Chair is one of the absolute best pop albums of the 80’s.  To celebrate the occasion, Mercury/UMe has recently released the album on picture disc vinyl and a reissue of the out of print 5CD/1DVD Super Deluxe box set, originally released in 2014 for the 30^th anniversary.   

The Super Deluxe version is the definitive edition of this highly-influential album as it is loaded with extras.  Disc one is comprised of the original album, remastered in 2014 as well as nine B-sides from the era including standouts, “The Marauders”, “The Conflict” and the piano version of “The Working Hour”.  Disc two is made up of single and radio edits of the songs as well as an audio interview with Curt and Roland.  Disc three features remixes and extended version of the songs including the Urban mix of “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” and Dub and Acapella versions of “Shout”.  Disc four is worth the price of admission with fourteen unreleased recordings including early mixes and versions of the songs recorded with Richard Skinner and six songs recorded live at Massey Hall.  Disc five includes both a new 5.1 audio mix (mixed by Steven Wilson)  and the 2014 stereo mix of Songs From The Big Chair that make these already huge songs sound even clearer and more incredible.  The sixth and final disc is a DVD with an interview with producer Chris Hughes, the “Scenes From The Big Chair” documentary, BBC TV appearances and the music videos that helped make Tears For Fears stars in the MTV age.  Completing the package is a replica tour program and a booklet filled with rare photos and new interviews with Roland and Curt.   

Songs From The Big Chair, with its huge pop hooks and layered, nuanced sound proved that Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith were ahead of their time and after 35 years, these songs live on and will live on for another 35 years with this incredible box set. 

For more info: https://store.udiscovermusic.com/search.html?term=tears+for+fears

Revisit the very 80’s video for “Head Over Heels” now newly remastered in HD here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsHiG-43Fzg