Songs From the Big Chair
by Tears for Fears
- Type: Album
- Released: 25 February 1985
- Label: Mercury, Phonogram[1]
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 41:49
- Community rating: 4.33/5 from 32 ratings
Artists on this release: Ian Stanley, Curt Smith, Manny Elias, Roland Orzabal
Album Notes & Community Reviews
On 'Songs from the Big Chair', Tears for Fears pivoted from the synth-pop of their debut to a more expansive, guitar-driven pop-rock sound, characterized by intricate, layered production and diverse stylistic influences including progressive rock and jazz. The album's songwriting broadened from purely psychological themes to encompass social and political commentary on topics like power and conflict, as evidenced in the anthemic singles 'Shout' and 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World.' This fusion of ambitious, sophisticated studio craft with immensely accessible songwriting yielded a massive commercial success that became a defining pop album of its era.
Genres
Descriptors: synth, sophisticated, bombastic, reflective, polished, synthesizers, melodic, accessible, orchestral
Tracklist
- Shout (06:33)
- The Working Hour (06:31)
- Everybody Wants To Rule The World (04:11)
- Mothers Talk (05:06)
- I Believe (04:55)
- Broken (02:38)
- Head Over Heels (05:02)
- Listen (06:53)
Credits
- Roland Orzabal - vocals, keyboards, guitars, synth bass, linndrum programming, grand piano, writer
- Curt Smith - vocals, bass guitar, synth bass, writer
- Ian Stanley - keyboards, linndrum programming, arrangements, writer
- Manny Elias - drums, drum arrangement
- Chris Hughes - producer, drums, linndrum and midi programming, remaster, writer
- Sandy McLelland - backing vocals
- Andy Davis - grand piano
- Mel Collins - saxophone
- Will Gregory - saxophone solos, saxophone
- Jerry Marotta - percussion and saxophone arrangements
- Neil Taylor - second guitar solo, guitar solo
- Stevie Lange - backing vocals
- Marilyn Davis - backing vocals
- Annie McCaig - backing vocals
- David Bascombe - engineer
- Mike Gill - compilation producer [supervisor]
- JL - graphics [remastered graphics]
- Tim O'Sullivan - photography by [cover]
- Jon Astley - remastered by