Tag Archives: Tears for Fears

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: Raoul and the Kings of Spain

On October 10, 1995, “Epic” label released “Raoul and the Kings of Spain”, the fifth Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded 1993 – 1994, at “Neptune’s Kitchen” in England, “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Tim Palmer, Roland Orzabal and Alan Griffiths.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Alan Griffiths – keyboards, guitars
  • Jeffrey Trott – guitars
  • Jebin Bruni – Hammond organ
  • Gail Ann Dorsey – bass
  • Brian MacLeod – drums, percussion
  • Oleta Adams – guest vocalist
  • Mark O’Donoughue – backing vocals, engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Gail Marowitz – design
  • Jose Galle – front cover photography
  • David Tack, Pamela Springsteen – inner sleeve photography
  • Jason Geake, Philippa Sprigg – album coordinators

Track listing:

All tracks by Roland Orzabal and Alan Griffiths, except where noted.

  1. Raoul and the King of Spain
  2. Falling Down – Roland Orzabal
  3. Secrets
  4. God’s Mistake
  5. Sketches of Pain – Roland Orzabal
  6. Los Reyes Católicos
  7. Sorry
  8. Humdrum and Humble
  9. I Choose You – Roland Orzabal
  10. Don’t Drink the Water
  11. Me and My Big Ideas
  12. Los Reyes Católicos (reprise)

Tears for Fears: Elemental

On June 7, 1993, “Mercury” label released “Elemental”, the fourth Tears for Fears studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at Roland’s Neptune’s Kitchen, and was produced by Roland Orzabal, Tim Palmer and Alan Griffiths.

Personnel:

  • Roland Orzabal – vocals, instruments
  • Alan Griffiths – instruments
  • Tim Palmer – instruments
  • Mark O’Donoughue – Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Guy Pratt – additional bass guitar
  • John Baker – backing vocals
  • Julian Orzabal – backing vocals
  • Mark O’Donoughue – engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Area – design
  • David Austen – collages
  • Pamela Springsteen – photography
  • Julian Lavender – technician

Track listing:

All tracks by Roland Orzabal and Alan Griffiths, except where noted.

  1. Elemental
  2. Cold – Roland Orzabal
  3. Break It Down Again
  4. Mr. Pessimist
  5. Dog’s a Best Friend’s Dog
  6. Fish Out of Water
  7. Gas Giants
  8. Power
  9. Brian Wilson Said
  10. Goodnight Song

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

Jon Hassell

On June 26, 2021, Jon Hassell died aged 84. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as creator of the “Fourth World” music concept. He recorded and performed with artists such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, the Theatre of Eternal Music, Talking Heads, Farafina, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Ani DiFranco, Techno Animal, Ry Cooder, Moritz von Oswald, Carl Craig, Francesco Guccini, La Monte Young, David Sylvian, Lloyd Cole, Alice, Marc Beacco, Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses, Hector Zazou, Stina Nordenstam, David Toop, Jackson Browne, K. D. Lang, Holly Cole, Mandalay, Hal Wilner, Nick Wood, Rick Cox, Frou Frou, Ibrahim Ferrer and John Balke. As leader, co-leader, Hassell released 18 albums.

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