Tears for Fears Album: “Chronicles: The Hurting/Songs From the Big Chair/T”

Description :

CHRONICLES contains: THE HURTING (1983)/SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR (1985)/THE SEEDS OF LOVE (1987). <p>Tears For Fears: Roland Orzabal (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming); Curt Smith (vocals, keyboards, bass instrument); Ian Stanley (keyboards, programming); Manny Elias (drums, programming). <p>Additional personnel: Oleta Adams (vocals, piano); Tessa Niles (vocals); Neil Taylor, Phil Palmer, Robbie McIntosh (guitar); Peter Hope-Evans (harmonica); Kate St. John (oboe, saxophone); Mel Collins, William Taylor (saxophone); Jon Hassell (trumpet); Nicky Holland (piano, kurzweil, background vocals); Andy Davis (piano); Simon Clark (Hammond b-3 organ, synthesizer); Pino Palladino (bass instrument); Chris Hughes (drums, programming); Jerry Marotta, Manu Katche, Phil Collins (drums); Carol Steele (percussion); Maggie Ryder, Sandy McLelland, Dolette McDonald, Caroline Orzabal, Marilyn Davis, Annie McCaig, Carole Kenyon (background vocals). <p>Liner Note Author: Ian Cranna.

The first three Tears For Fears albums are all quintessential 80's pop. That is to say, the singles are phenomenal, the album tracks have cool synth experimentation, but there are a few slow spots on each disc.

"The Hurting" is almost like a therapy session on record. Some of the lyrics may be a little too introspective, but the hooks more than make up for it. Mad World is an amazing song (follow it up with great cover version in "Donnie Darko") and Pale Shelter remains a sturdy single.

"Songs From the Big Chair" contains this group's biggest hits. Shout is almost like an ode to primal scream therapy, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World may be the best single of the entire decade. Head Over Heels turns out to be part of a pretty cool song suite. There is no filler on this album with the possible exception of track 8 (the instumental last track of the original album which just doesn't really seem to go anywhere).

"The Seeds of Love" start to drop the synth-pop vibe for more Beatles-like sounds and late 80's pop values (which these guys actually do quite well). The title track and Woman In Chains are the singles here, but my favorite is Standing On The Corner Of The Third World, featuring Manu Katche on drums and some really cool worldbeat sounds.

The packaging on this set is a bit of a problem. The CD's seem to have trouble holding in their spots, and I had to exchange this set because of strange warping on the second disc. My next copy still had a few strange warped marks on it, but at least it plays ok. Additionaly, while you do get the CD booklets, this set leaves out the back covers. This unfortunately makes putting these discs in normal CD cases less desirable, as well as robbing the owner of the back cover art. Still, this is a pretty cheap way of getting these albums remastered with bonus tracks (as separate purchases it would cost $45-60).