Tag Archives: Curt Smith

Tears For Fears: Everybody Loves A Happy Ending

On September 14, 2004, “New Door” label released “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending”, the sixth Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2004, at “Charlton’s Garage” in Sherman Oaks, California, “Sound City Studios” in Van Nuys, California, “O’Henry Sound Studios” in Burbank, California, “Old Soul Studios” in Catskill, New York, and was produced by  Charlton Pettus, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Curt Smith – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, bass
  • Kenny Siegal – guitars, backing vocals
  • Charlton Pettus – keyboards, guitars
  • Fred Eltringham – drums
  • Brian Geltner – drums
  • Joel Peskin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Rick Baptist – trumpet
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • David Washburn – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Steve Kujala – flute
  • Alexander Giglio – backing vocals
  • Gwen Snyder – backing vocals
  • Laura Gray – crowd vocals
  • Julian Orzabal – crowd vocals

Orchestra on “Secret World”

  • Paul Buckmaster – arrangements, conductor
  • Charlie Bisharat, Eve Butler, Mario DeLeon, Joel Derouin, Julian Hallmark, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Norm Hughes, Peter Kent, Michael Markman, Robert Matsuda, Sid Page, Sandra Park, Sara Parkins, Bob Peterson, Lesa Terry, Josefina Veraga, John Wittenberg – violin
  • Bob Becker, Denyse Buffman, Roland Kato, Carole Mukogawa, Karie Prescott, Evan Wilson – viola
  • Stefanie Fife, Barry Gold, Maurice Grants, Vahe Hayrikyan, Suzie Katayama, Miguel Martinez, Dan Smith, Rudy Stein – cello
  • Gayle Levant – harp
  • Suzie Katayama – contractor
  • Charlton Pettus – recording, drum recording
  • Neil Dorfsman – drum recording
  • Tom Schick – drum recording, additional guitar recording
  • Miles Wilson – drum recording assistant
  • Mark O’Donoughue – additional engineer
  • Steve Churchyard – orchestra session recording
  • Tim Palmer – mixing 
  • Andy Gwynn – mixing assistant
  • Pete Novak – mixing assistant
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Jayce Murphy – Nuendo programming
  • Alan Aldridge – illustrations, logo design
  • Ryan Rogers – additional design
  • Zoren Gold – photography
  • Michael Kachko – product manager
  • Cindi Peters – project coordinator
  • Ute Friesleben – production manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith and Charlton Pettus, except where noted.

  1. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
  2. Closest Thing to Heaven
  3. Call Me Mellow
  4. Size of Sorrow – Roland Orzabal
  5. Who Killed Tangerine?
  6. Quiet Ones – Roland Orzabal
  7. Who You Are – Curt Smith, Charlton Pettus
  8. The Devil – Roland Orzabal
  9. Secret World – Roland Orzabal
  10. Killing with Kindness
  11. Ladybird
  12. Last Days on Earth

Tears For Fears: The Tipping Point

On February 25, 2022, “Concord” label released “The Tipping Point”, the seventh Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded 2013 – 2021, and was produced by Charlton Pettus, Florian Reutter, Sacha Skarbek, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, mixing
  • Curt Smith – vocals, keyboards, bass guitars, mixing
  • Max von Ameln – guitars
  • Charlton Pettus – keyboards, guitars, programming, mixing
  • Sacha Skarbek – acoustic piano, vocal production
  • Doug Petty – accordion, Hammond organ, acoustic piano, string arrangements
  • Aaron Sterling – drums
  • Jamie Wollam – drums
  • Jason Joseph – choir, vocal arrangements
  • Charles Jones – choir
  • Jessi Collins – choir
  • Lauren Evans – choir
  • Carina Round – backing vocals
  • Florian Reutter – programming, vocal production
  • Tim Palmer – mixing
  • Craig Silvey – mixing
  • Tony Maserati – mixing
  • Steven Wilson – surround mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering
  • Max von Ameln – engineer assistant
  • Tommy Steele – art direction, design
  • Carrie Smith – art direction
  • Cinta Vidal – cover art
  • Frank Ockenfels 3 – photography

Track listing:

  1. No Small Thing – Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith
  2. The Tipping Point – Roland Orzabal, Charlton Pettus
  3. Long, Long, Long Time – Roland Orzabal, Curt Smith, Charlton Pettus
  4. Break the Man – Curt Smith, Charlton Pettus
  5. My Demons – Roland Orzabal, Sacha Skarbek, Florian Reutter
  6. Rivers of Mercy – Roland Orzabal, Charlton Pettus, Doug Petty
  7. Please Be Happy – Roland Orzabal, Sacha Skarbek
  8. Master Plan – Roland Orzabal
  9. End of Night – Roland Orzabal
  10. Stay – Curt Smith, Charlton Pettus

Tears for Fears: The Hurting

On March 7, 1983, “Mercury” label released “The Hurting”, the debut Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, and was produced by Chris Hughes and Ross Cullum.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – lead and backing vocals, guitars, keyboards, rhythm programming
  • Curt Smith – lead and backing vocals, bass, keyboards
  • Ian Stanley – keyboards programming, computer programming
  • Manny Elias – drums, rhythm programming
  • Chris Hughes – rhythm programming, tuned percussion, conducting
  • Ross Cullum – jazz high, dynamic toggle percussion
  • Mel Collins – saxophones
  • Phil Palmer – Palmer picking guitar
  • Caroline Orzabal – child vocal

Track listing:

All tracks by Roland Orzabal.

  1. The Hurting
  2. Mad World
  3. Pale Shelter
  4. Ideas as Opiates
  5. Memories Fade
  6. Suffer the Children
  7. Watch Me Bleed
  8. Change
  9. The Prisoner
  10. Start of the Breakdown

Tears For Fears: Songs From The Big Chair

Tears_for_Fears_Songs_from_the_Big_Chair

On February 25, 1985, “Phonogram” label released “Songs from the Big Chair”, the second Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “The Wool Hall” in Somerset, and was produced by Chris Hughes.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, grand piano, vocal styling, bass synth and Linn Drum Programming
  • Curt Smith – vocals, bass guitar
  • Neil Taylor– guitar
  • Ian Stanley – keyboards, synths, Linn Drum programming, arrangements
  • Andy Davis –grand piano
  • Manny Elias– drums drum arrangement
  • Chris Hughes– drums
  • Chris Hughes– drums, MIDI programming
  • Jerry Marotta– percussion, saxophone arrangements
  • Will Gregory– saxophone
  • Mel Collins– saxophone
  • Will Gregory– saxophone
  • Annie McCaig – backing vocals
  • Stevie Lange– backing vocals
  • Sandy McLelland –backing vocals
  • Marilyn Davis – backing vocals, operatic vocal
  • Tim O’Sullivan –cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Shout – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley
  2. The Working Hour – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Manny Elias
  3. Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes
  4. Mothers Talk – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley
  5. I Believe – Roland Orzabal
  6. Broken – Roland Orzabal
  7. Head Over Heels / Broken– Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley
  8. Listen – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley