Tears for Fears Album: “Songs From The Big Chair: Deluxe Edition [Remaster”

First off, the sound quality to this remastered version of the album is magnificent ... In fact, I also own the Original Master Recording gold CD, and the sound/volume is notably louder and clearer on this reissue than on the gold! It's still nice to own both versions though, because the gold CD features bonus extended mixes of "Shout" and "EWTRTW" (Which includes a fantastic extended guitar solo in the middle of the track), which the reissue doesn't have.

I wasn't too fond of most of the bonus tracks on the reissue ... They sounded more like a hodgepodge of sound effects to me, rather than music. It's too bad that, in the space of those recordings, the extended mixes from the gold CD weren't used instead. I did enjoy the mixes of "Shout" and "Mothers Talk," though ... The slowed-down vocal in the middle of both remixes of "Shout" is hilarious, but I have no idea what he is saying! :) I could take or leave "Broken Revisited" ... The slowed-down, backwards vocal in the beginning freaked me out!

"EWTRTW" and "HOH/Broken (Live)" were two of my favorites, because they sounded the most upbeat to me. The beautiful yet eerie "Listen" was the true highlight for me, because it sounded like the most experimental and surreal track on the album. I love how the synthesisers emerge from the crowd cheering, from the previous track, plus there are loads of amusing sound effects throughout the recording. The song also overflows with beautiful keyboard sounds and the guitars really rock, too! "Listen" is a creative explosion, and reminds me of something from "The Moody Blues" ... My brother thought it sounded like "Enya," too! :)

In my book, the factor of brilliant sound quality outweighs the factor of bonus tracks that I'm not crazy about, when it comes to this re-release. As for the original album, I wouldn't change a thing ... It's a perfect ten by me! :)

*There is one interesting tidbid that I wanted to add ... On the gold CD, near the end of "Head Over Heals," there are two extra bars of the chorus chanting, before the final lyrics, but I'm not sure if this was material that was edited down for the reissue or looped just for the gold CD release! :)

A while back I picked up "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection" release issued by Universal Records in 2000. According to the liner notes, the songs have been remastered. I never really thought they sounded that great for remastering. I bought the remastered and reissued "Songs From The Big Chair" (which was actually issued in 1999) album a few weeks back and was blown away by the difference in sound quality. I really don't think the "20th Century Masters" collection was really remastered. Some tracks are quite dull. I've compared "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Head Over Heels" on both discs and the versions on "Songs From The Big Chair" are much more crisp and clear. I have gained a whole new appreciation for these songs, among the many others featured on this disc. So thumbs up to Universal for at least offering this better, remastered version. For those who say this reissue isn't worth it, take a listen to the difference in sound quality. Then again, if sound quality isn't that important to you, then stick with your original copy.

Vincent Marino is right. The 1999 remaster sounds brighter than this 2006 remaster. One would think it would be the other way around, right? Not in this case. While the sound quality isn't necessarily bad it simply isn't that good in comparison to the 1999 remaster and the 2003 3-CD 'The Ultimate Collection' release (which was 32-bit mastered). The release claims to use the "original master tapes". Such could very well be the case, but the audio sounds quite flat. It doesn't have the depth heard in those previous masters. I suppose this is the result of the mastering engineer - Gary Moore @ Universal Mastering, London. Universal should have given this release to those wonderful folks at Studio Jules Hilversum, Netherlands (2003 'Ultimate Collection) or Jon Astley and Chris Hughes ('99 remaster).

The remastering isn't my only complaint, however. The tracklisting had the opportunity to be so much better. Like other 'Deluxe Edition' compilations this one is missing several rare gems. Where is the original UK 12" version of "Shout"? Again, we get the same old U.S. Remix, which can be found on numerous compilations. Where's the 12" version of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"? We do, however, get the "Urban Remix" of this track. Where's "Everybody Wants To RUN The World"? It would have fit nicely on this release. There's room for these tracks!

On a positive note, we do get 7" versions of "Shout" and "Head Over Heels." The 7" version of "Shout" is simply the UK 7" edit, which clocks in at 4:43 but is incorrectly labeled as 4:03 on the back sleeve (which happens to be the playing time of the US 7" edit, not present here). The 7" version of "Head Over Heels" gives the listener to hear the track by itself, not combined with "Broken (Live)" on the album. I can't tell the difference between the 7" version of "Rule The World" and the album version. I'm not sure why it was included. It should have been replaced with the 12" version! "The Way You Are (7" version)" should have been placed at the end of disc one, making room for these missing mixes and tracks on disc two.

The only thing that merits a 4-star rating for this release is the packaging and booklet. I'm very pleased with the photos and overall glossy look of this 'Deluxe Edition'. The liner notes are a plus as well. The tracklisting on the back sleeve, however, is quite sloppy with incorrect playing times and some tracks without any listed times! Overall, it's still nicely presented.

I would have probably given this release a 4-star rating if the sound quality was excellent. At least I could have enjoyed the "rarities" on disc 2 more, but now Universal has left me wanting more from the recordings. I guess I'll have to go back to my 1999 remaster and 2003 'Ultimate Collection' release to hear some of these Tears For Fears gems in better quality. Perhaps a 30th anniversary release will be bring us more?

For many TFF fans, The Big Chair album will be forever remembered for it's giant hits 'Shout' and Everybody Wants To Rule The World' as well as the lesser number 3 hit 'Head Over Heels'.

For me while Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are some of the best songs the 80s had to offer, this album has far more to offer than just those two songs alone. I enjoy the parent album versions of Shout and EWTRTW more than the shortened versions that have often appeared on many 80s compilations. I hate when they shorten the great Shout to only 4 minutes. It decreases it's listenability. On the other hand I love the 6 and a half minute version far more.

While Shout and EWTRTW are absolute classics, I often find myself listening to a lot of the other songs on this album more than those two major hits. For example, The Working Hour is in my opinion an incredible song with a strong disturbing melody filled with passion that burns like fire and radiates more emotion and talent with the first few notes of the synthesizers alone than anything that most of todays throwaway artist exhibit on their entire albums. The Working Hour is one of the best songs TFF have ever composed and is one of the major highlights.

The song Head Over Heels is a rich and powerful song. The version on the Tears Roll Down and Shout: Very Best Of TFF CDs ends with just the voice echoing away. On The Big Chair LP, the ending merges with a live performance of Broken that greatly increases it;s listening capibility. It ends with the sound of a crowd cheering ushering in Listen. Listen is a very ominous song with almost apocolyptic lyrics and a dark, brooding atmosphere and thundering beats that sends chills through me during every listen.

The version of The Big Chair I,m reviewing is the remastered version. The original version realeased in February of 1985 had only eight tracks. The remastered edition features seven bonus tracks for an even greater spectrum of TFFs incredible talent. The first three bonus The Big Chair, The Maurauders, and Empire Building, tracks are also available on the B-Sides Rarities collection Saturnine Martial Lunatic. These are moslty quirky instrumentals that casual fans might not enjoy too much but for me, I love every second of them. The Conflict is a song that was previously unreleased. It's a cool song with almost Phil Collins-like beats and bizarre electronic blips. The other three bonus tracks are remixes. Broken Revistited is longer than the original version although less powerful and not as heavy but still great.

The remix of Mothers Talk was the hit version, not the heavier parent album version. I love both versions. The remix version is more jazzy and not quite as aggressive. The U.S. remix of Shout is an eight minute mix that is great. Although it does not do the original version justice at least this is like a good reworking of the song.

I,m so glad I got the remastered version of this CD. In fact I have all three of TFFs first three albums remastered.

For all fans of 80s music get this incredible CD. I would recommend the Remastered edition more because it's almost twice as long as the 1985 version and with 15 tracks instead of just 8.

This is definately one of the best albums of the 20th Century. Don't stop there get the Seeds Of Love next. You'll be surprised at the difference between these two masterpieces. Get The Hurting as well but get the Big Chair and Seeds Of Love. Grrrrrr... Just get every TFF CD. They are all worth owning.

It's a classic effort that should be in everyone's music collection. I seriously don't believe it is possible for someone to NOT like something on this cd. Pay attention to the very underrated "Listen" and the soft humming of the piano in the masterful "I believe" This cd is for everyone and it is the best TFF cd and in my opinion the best cd of the 80's.